The Glitter Factor: A Reader Challenge

“All growth starts at the end of your comfort zone” – Tony Robbins 

The last two posts I wrote on Ms. Career Girl chronicle leaving my job in the world of finance for life as a marketing manager at a start-up and balancing a busy life which was written during a period in which I was working until 9pm most days during the week.  Now it’s time to reflect.

I’ve been in my new job as a “Community Marketing Manager” for YouSwoop.com (one of Chicago’s top daily deal sites) for just over a quarter now.  It’s been a fun and exciting ride; one that I often refer to as “Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.”

During the last few months I’ve done several things for the first time: I created a detailed quarterly marketing plan, I’ve hired and managed people for the first time and  I co-created a street marketing team program (which now has 100 members).  I’ve led meetings, trained staff, had tough discussions with team members, created marketing campaigns that weren’t as successful as I had hoped, made big decisions on how to spend company money and have been held accountable by both our founder and our CEO.  I had never done ANY of this during my 5 years after college.  Not to mention I’m hosting my first Ms. Career Girl event in Chicago at the end of this month which, for me, was terrifying.

Is my “dream job” everything I thought it would be?  Yes.  BUT, just like any job, all that glitters isn’t gold: the glitter factor is highly dependent on your attitude.

I had the honor of watching a presentation given by Tony Robbins‘ son, Jairek Robbins, last week and he gave some incredible advice.  He asked, “Are you living a life of ACTION or REACTION?”  He said that successful people are those who are in control of how they feel.  They wake up and say to themselves, “today is going to be a great day” rather than, “I wonder what will happen to me today.”  They go into work and have already decided how they will respond to issues before the issues even happen.  They don’t let other people effect how they feel.  Reactive people do the opposite, everything they feel is dictated by others.

Are you willing to get uncomfortable so you can start growing into your ideal life?

If you’re stuck in a rut, stop and write down the questions you’re asking yourself.  Are you saying things like: “Why does this always happen to me?” or “Why do I hate this so much?” Ask, “How can I enjoy what I’m doing more?” or “What is my favorite part of what I’m doing?”  Shifting the questions you ask yourself automatically shifts your focus.  When you shift your focus, you start thinking about, and maybe even visualizing, your ideal day and your ideal situation.  Once you get a bit of emotion attached to your ideal life, your actions will follow suit and only then is manifestation possible.

Today I challenge you to take a step toward increasing YOUR “glitter factor.”  Choose your attitude and then do something totally uncomfortable today.  Share your “uncomfortable action” in the comments section and let us know how it felt and what came of it for you.

Nicole Emerick

Nicole Emerick founded Ms. Career Girl in 2008 to help other ambitious young professional women thrive in a career they love. Ironically, growing MsCareerGirl helped Nicole transition her own career from commercial banker to digital marketer. Today Nicole leads the social media team at a large advertising agency in Chicago. Nicole also served as an adjunct professor at DePaul University where she helped develop the careers of PR, Advertising and Communications students. Tweet with Nicole @_NicoleEmerick.