By: Evelyn Summerville
I ’ll always remember the first two women I knew personally and recognized as iconic. They were smart and sassy. Confident and caring. Accomplished and authentic. They reached career heights unimaginable for many women 20 years ago. Remarkable in their own rights, these iconic businesswomen broke the mold and gave us hope for new career possibilities. I soaked up every lesson when I was in their presence. I enjoyed the mentoring conversations. I was mesmerized watching them in action, making swift decisions, challenging people to think deeper, inspiring others to reach for more. Unabashedly, I aspired to be like them.
And that’s when I started to observe the difference between those who excelled and the rest. Let’s face it. Iconic businesswomen seem to intuitively know the secret recipe for success. And if you, like me, are hellbent on being iconic, we need that knowledge. So, girlfriend, take these words of wisdom to heart.
Here are seven must-haves to propel you forward as an iconic businesswoman.
- A Personal Mission Statement
Your personal mission, or purpose, is your daily motivation to pursue success. It’s also your directional compass. It informs you when opportunities align with your aspirations or not. It emboldens you to speak power to truth. When you know and share your personal mission openly with others, it will resonate with them because they see it in your character, conversation and conduct. This is your gift to the world.
- A Clear Vision
Vision is your foresight. It’s a glimpse at your desired future state in life, career and even business. Iconic businesswomen view themselves not only as achievers now, but light years ahead. John C. Maxwell says, “You have to see it to seize.” In other words, to become iconic, you first need a vision of yourself as an icon. You must imagine it as your truth.
- A Solid Strategy
You’ve heard the saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” You’re probably tired of hearing it. I’m saying it anyway. Whether it’s a set of 90-day goals, a one-page business plan, or something more extensive, you must have a plan. This is your roadmap to your desired future state. It lays out your actions, resources and milestones. Strategy is dynamic. You evaluate it periodically to confirm whether it’s working to your benefit and adjust, as necessary.
- A Personal Advisory Board
Iconic businesswomen are surrounded by people smarter than themselves. Some have a close- knit group they consider an advisory board. This is the go-to crew when you’re making critical decisions and need advice. A personal advisory board can be relied upon for new insights, a reality check and a healthy challenge. If you don’t have one, you should. They are successful and, here’s the best part: They are vested in your success.
- A Healthy Self-Esteem
This is a total non-negotiable. You must believe in yourself and your potential. You must have a healthy self-esteem. This is the core of your power and worth. It’s defined by you, not others. A healthy selfesteem validates your strengths. It’s your center of positivity. It draws on affirmations. Having a healthy self-esteem allows you to pursue your goals with gusto. You deal with disappointments as opportunities and failures as lessons when you believe in yourself above all things.
- An Unwavering Faith
As an iconic businesswoman, you’ll believe in future achievements. You’ll also believe in concepts others do not. An unwavering faith says, “Hold on to your beliefs.” It’s your window into the tremendous possibilities that are ready to unfold in your life. Undoubtedly, your faith is charged by courage. It emboldens you to face fears and uncertainties assured that everything will work out in your favor.
- A Learner’s Mentality
One of my favorite sayings is, “Grow through what you go through.” Valuable lessons are present in every moment and experience. We learn from what worked and what failed. Iconic businesswomen regard curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge as paramount for success. Ask questions. Explore multiple options. Evaluate performance. Take courses. Listen to podcasts. Continue to grow in your knowledge. Strengthen your skills. Set personal development goals. Invest in yourself. That’s how you bank on your success.
That’s how you become an iconic businesswoman.
Evelyn Summerville is a leadership and lifestyle coach. She harnesses the experiences and lessons learned during her time as Director of Marketing Research & Analysis for a Fortune 500 firm to support leaders in fast tracking their success. In doing so, Evelyn empowers people to live and lead with purpose, passion and excellence.