The Biggest Barrier to Your Success Might Be You

It’s time to get out of your own way and unlock your full potential. 

That’s right. 

The biggest barrier to your success…is YOU! 

It’s no secret that women face unique challenges in the workplace, but maybe you didn’t know that sometimes, you’re the one holding yourself back. 

Ouch. 

Sorry, not sorry. 

Excuses, Excuses… 🙃❌

Let’s be honest: You’re smart, ambitious, and determined. You’ve achieved most—if not all—of your major goals. When you focus on something, you’re unstoppable! 

So why haven’t you made the career change that you’ve been thinking about for so long? 

You’ve come up with all the excuses: lack of time, lack of knowledge and transferable skills, lack of experience, and fear that you won’t be able to make as much money as you do now. 

Excuses, excuses, and more excuses… it’s time to start making changes instead.

Don’t worry, it’s a common issue and it’s one that we can overcome together. 

Let’s knock down these common excuses, one by one. 

“I don’t have any time.” ⌚👎🏾

First things first, let’s talk about lack of time. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, so why do some women seem to have it all figured out while others feel like they’re drowning in to-do lists?

We all know the struggle of trying to balance work, family, friends, and personal time. With so many demands on our time, it may feel like your time isn’t your own. 

But here’s the hard truth: we make time for our top priorities. ✔️

When we’re running around like chickens with our heads cut off, we often neglect the things that are truly important to us and our careers. We put off networking events, skip workouts, and sacrifice self-care all in the name of being productive. 

But what good is being productive if we’re not taking care of ourselves and our goals in the process?

⚡ Prioritize your tasks: Make a to-do list and rank your tasks in order of importance. This will help you focus on what’s truly essential and avoid wasting time on things that can wait. Focus on finishing the most important tasks first.

⚡ Learn to say “No”: It’s okay to turn down invitations or delegate tasks if they’re not a priority. Your time is valuable, and you should use it wisely. 

⚡ Get organized: Use a planner, calendar, or digital tool to keep track of your appointments and tasks. This will help you stay on top of your schedule and avoid missing important deadlines. 

⚡ Take breaks: Yes, you heard that right! Taking breaks throughout the day can actually boat your productivity and help you avoid burnout. So go ahead and take that coffee break, hit the gym, or just relax for a few minutes and breathe. 

⚡ Seek support: Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family, or coworkers for help. They may be able to offer valuable advice, assistance, or even just a shoulder to lean on. And remember that I’m always here to help you too! 

⚡ Delegate: …And along those lines, don't be afraid to delegate tasks to others, whether it's a coworker, a virtual assistant, or even just asking for help from a loved one.

If you want suggestions on how to fit career change tasks into your busy schedule, check out this blog post.

“I don’t know enough.” 🙅✌🏿

Sometimes, it’s not just about working hard or having the right connections. It’s about empowering yourself with information. 

This may seem like the biggest barrier or the elephant in the room. But don’t worry, this barrier is also one of the easier to overcome! All it takes is effort and an open mind. 

👉 Lack of confidence: Lack of knowledge will often manifest itself as a lack of confidence. For example, maybe you’re afraid of public speaking, or maybe you feel like you couldn’t negotiate a raise. Maybe you’re not confident in your financial literacy or you don’t feel comfortable using a certain type of technology. No matter what your individual challenge is, a lack of confidence can often be solved with one simple thing: education! 

👉 Use resources to your advantage: There are countless resources available to help you learn what you need to know. Whether you prefer online courses, books, or in-person workshops, the options are endless. You can even find free resources to get you started, like online tutorials, podcasts, and YouTube videos. Just make sure you choose a source that you trust and be open to learning something new every day. 

👉 Find the right people: Another great way to overcome a lack of knowledge is to surround yourself with successful, knowledgeable people. Find a mentor who you admire and ask them for advice. Attend events where you can network with others in your field. Join a professional organization and participate in discussions and workshops. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn just by talking to people who have already been where you want to go. 

👉 Don’t be afraid of risks: Seriously. Don’t be afraid to take risks. We all make mistakes, and that’s okay. The key is to learn from those mistakes and keep moving forward. Be brave, try new things, and don’t let a lack of knowledge hold you back. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. 

“I don’t have the skills/experience.” 🙄🔧

When it comes to experience, the best way to gain it is to simply start doing it. 

✍ Identify what you’re lacking: It’s important to identify the skills and experience you’re lacking. Do you feel like you’re not quite confident in public speaking? Are you unfamiliar with a specific software or programming language? Once you know what you need to work on, you can start taking steps to gain those skills. 

✍ Take courses and attend workshops: Whether online or in person, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and gain experience. Find classes that cater to what you’re interested in and what you need to learn and sign up! You’ll not only learn new skills but also meet people in your field. 

✍ Volunteer for projects outside of your comfort zone: This is a great way to gain experience and build your portfolio. When you volunteer for projects, you’ll be able to work through real-life experience that you can add to your resume and show off your skills. 

✍ Network, network, network: Attend industry events and connect with people in your field. This is a great way to learn about new opportunities, get advice from experienced professionals, and even find a mentor. 

✍ Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice a skill, the better you’ll become at it. So whether it’s public speaking or coding, make sure you’re practicing regularly. 

“I’ll take a pay cut.” ✂️ 💸

The fear of taking a job that pays less is definitely something that could be holding you back. 

It’s understandable to be concerned about financial stability, but sometimes, taking a step back in pay can lead to a giant leap forward in your career. 

It’s a scary thought, but the truth is that sometimes pursuing our passion means sacrificing a bit of our paycheck.

But before you hit the panic button, let’s look at the facts: 

Research shows that people who are passionate about their work are more likely to be fulfilled, happy, and successful in their careers. So…is a lower salary really a deal breaker? 

The answer is no. You can have it all—a fulfilling career and a decent salary. 

💥 Get information: The key is to get real information on what the actual salary range is for the position you’re interested in. You can do this by reaching out to people in the industry, networking, and using online salary calculators. Websites like Glassdoor or a LinkedIn search also help you see if there are any open positions that list the salary. Make sure your information is current! 

With this information, you can then make an informed decision and not let the fear of a pay cut hold you back. 

💥 Focus on the bigger picture: A lower salary today doesn’t necessarily mean a lower salary tomorrow. By pursuing your passion, you may open doors for future career growth and higher earning potential. You’ll gain valuable experience and knowledge that will set you up for future success in a field you’re passionate about. Plus, think about the other benefits of your dream job—a flexible schedule, a better work-life balance, and the opportunity to do what you love every day. 

And let’s be real: a job that you love and are passionate about is worth a lot more than a few extra dollars in your paycheck. 

Life is too short to be stuck in a job that doesn’t make you happy. Pursue your passion and the rest will follow. Who knows? You might just end up being paid what you’re worth and more. 

Get Out Of Your Way 🏃🏽🏃🏽

Don’t let you hold yourself back from achieving your goals. Take control of your time, empower yourself with education, gain more experience, and don’t be afraid to take risks. You have everything you need to be successful; you just have to get started! 

Remember knowledge, skills, and experience are just a few resources away. And when it comes to the fear of taking a lesser-paying job, just think of it as an investment in your future. And who knows, you might even have some fun along the way. 

So go ahead, take a deep breath, and go after what you really want. You’ve got this!

If you’d like some help with getting past these barriers, click here to schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation with me.

👇🏿 Tyche Takeaways 👇🏿

• You might be a barrier to your success. Time to get out of your way. 
• Stop making excuses and start taking action. 
• We make time for the things we prioritize. 
• The only way standing between you and knowledge is a few resources. 
• You can overcome a lack of skills and experience by volunteering and networking. 
• Sometimes your dream job is worth a pay cut but often you won’t need to take one
• Make an informed decision but don’t let prolonged research hold you back. 
• Don’t be too afraid of taking risks. 
• You have everything you need to be successful—just go for it!