by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
I regularly go to gym on a Saturday morning at 8am, I have been doing it for years. My weekly gift to myself is my trainer who is mainly there to be my motivation when I start convincing myself why I should stay in bed. As it happens, my daughter was sick on the Friday night and I was up with her most of the night. She still decides to wake me at 6am despite the disturbed sleep. I contemplated cancelling my work out for a good thirty minutes and then decided I wasn’t about to let a few hours of sleep break my habit and let down someone who is also getting up early for me.
And so, I arrived. For the first 15 minutes, I was really flat and tired and then my energy began to pick up and I finished so much stronger than when I arrived. I share this story because it taught me a lesson that I am so much tougher than I think I am and it really highlighted to me the power of our thoughts. I could have convinced myself and justified either choice.
What was most powerful was not the fact I went through the workout, but that I had won the day. The small wins are the big wins! For me, it is practice both mentally and physically for the real challenges like having to present a talk or an important meeting with the same circumstances of not enough sleep or not feeling my best. I’m not saying don’t sleep or put yourself through physical strain when you don’t feel well. I’m saying sometimes just challenge yourself a little bit and push yourself to do something you don’t think is possible. And you will always surprise yourself. It’s incremental nudges over time that get us to where we want to be.
Here’s to owning your mind-set,
Warm wishes,
Lori
LORI MILNER is the engaging facilitator, thought leader and mentor known for her insightful approach to being a modern corporate woman. Her brainchild, the successful initiative Beyond the Dress, is the embodiment of her passion to empower women. Beyond the Dress has worked with South Africa’s leading corporates and empowered hundreds of women with valuable insight on how to bridge the gap between work and personal life. Clients include Siemens, Massmart, Alexander Forbes, Life Healthcare Group, RMB Private Bank and Unilever to name a few. Lori has co-authored Own Your Space: The Toolkit for the Working Woman in conjunction with Nadia Bilchik, CNN Editorial Producer. Own Your Space provides practical tools and insights gleaned from workshops held around the world and from interviews with some of South Africa’s most accomplished women to provide you with tried-and-tested techniques, tips and advice to help you boost your career, enhance your confidence and truly own your space on every level. Own Your Space is the ultimate ‘toolkit’ to unleash your true power. It’s for the woman who wants to take her career to new heights and who is ready to fulfil her true potential.
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