I remember standing there in Shanghai, China and my world had just fallen apart. My beautiful and warm apartment was suddenly cold and ugly. I wanted to crawl under a rock. I have left a full-time single mum living in a foreign country and I had no idea what I was going to do next. I suppose it was when the survival mode of my brain kicked in and I knew I had to make a choice. I made a choice to stand tall and reinvent myself. Here my journey began. A journey where today I am the unlikely Entrepreneur of a leadership consulting company. One that has been the toughest but best thing I have done.
My unlikely journey was one that I never expected I would take but I had to adapt to the circumstances and environment I was in at the time, and survive. I wonder why I waited until my world fell part to take control of my life and follow my passions and not before? Don’t wait for something life-changing to happen to change your life!
How did I do it?
I discovered my passion, leadership. I became a semi-expert. Not an expert as I didn’t want to stop learning. I became a flip chart and journal queen for a year and wrote down every insight and idea. I created an amazing company from a blog! I was clear on my brand and purpose. I use social media big time. I surrounded myself with people (my cheerleaders) who encouraged and supported me unequivocally. I found myself some amazing mentors (3 incredible men!). I live and breathe leadership. I read, I learn, and I practice self-development every day. I create opportunities for myself. I drive my own path and say yes to things that I know will challenge me. I empower and inspire those around me, as I want everyone to be more successful than me! I am always driving change and innovation. I ask for feedback, okay sometimes this is hard to hear. I am always thinking outside the square. I backed myself and have incredible self-belief. I learnt confidence.
Lessons and Learning
I keep abreast of the industry. I nurture my relationships and believe in karma. I never give up, even though I get some big knocks. I share my business with my amazing daughter and she loves being involved! I look forward and learn from my past. I reflect and grow; I learn lessons. I see failure as learnings. I stay true to my values. I share knowledge and insights to help others. I work with people who have their own amazing strengths (I can’t be great at everything!). I let go of people who put holes in my row boat (this is tough at times). I watch my thinking and only let positive actors on my stage (Brain). I watch my ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) and squash them. I accept I am not perfect. I am enough.
I am not saying it is easy.
Far from it. There have been plenty of days where I wondered if it is worth all this VERY hard work. But then I think of the days where I am making a difference, creating great leaders, teams, and organizations, being published in magazines and newspapers and sharing my insights and ideas. The days I am speaking at amazing conferences, working and meeting with great people. I am creating and innovating new ideas and programs. Okay, it is REALLY cool. I am inspired every day.
I am an unlikely Entrepreneur. I am an unlikely number of things, we all are. But I wonder if you had a passion, idea or dream, how unlikely or brilliant it is, whether you are willing to do something about it?
All I can say is that I if I can do it, you can!
Phone 1300 719 665 www.soniamcdonald.com.au
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