Heather Monahan's Blog

What Inspired You To Take This New Journey To Create Your Personal Brand?

Years of knowing that I am not living to my fullest potential and feeling frustrated by it. This was not something that happened to me over night. This has been a lifetime in the works. Whenever I share with, or help other people, I am happy. I love to use my life experiences to elevate others, but so often find myself focused on my job and day-to-day tasks that I let go of doing what I love. Over the years I have had successes and have allowed amazing people into my life that have helped me to develop true self-confidence. Consequently, as my confidence has grown, it has forced me to look at what I am doing and how I am spending my time and how I can choose to change that in an instant, and that is what I am now doing.

What Does The Heather Monahan Brand Represent?

The Heather Monahan brand represents being unique by being you. It represents coming from nothing and overcoming hurdles and falling down and struggling and still moving forward. It represents the woman who has struggled and who has wanted to overcome those struggles by putting a voice and a plan and network to her strife’s. It is representative of any woman being whatever it is she wants to be because she can. By finding your own unique superpower that resides within you, you can make the world a better place. This is a brand built by women – for women.

What’s The Most Important Advice You Can Give To Women Starting Out In Their Career?

There are so many things that I would like to speak to, but to give only one piece of advice, I would have to think back to when I was starting out… I let making money be my sole goal. I did so because I didn’t have any and I knew I wanted some. In that ambition, I lost sight of the things that I liked to do. I didn’t understand back then that you should find out what your passions and loves are first and then pursue those, because if you do that you will find success. Instead I set out to find what would make me money quickly and that does not have a happy ending. I spent years trying to redirect myself to find my passion and true purpose for my self and my career. So, my advice is start off in the right direction with your passions in mind, and you will create a more seamless, peaceful path in life. Don’t fight them or your talents, or you won’t have a happy ending either.

Can You Name A Person Who Has Had A Tremendous Impact On You As A Leader?

I cannot name one person, as there has been a plethora of amazing people that have impacted my life. Admittedly, however, I used to get caught up with i.e. I can’t learn from my mom because she never made any real money, or I cant learn from my first boss because he was a slave driver and treated people poorly. What I finally learned is that you can take something from everyone. From my mom, I can now see that she was so desperate to provide for 4 children on her own that she worked 3 jobs and sacrificed her 30s and 40s to give to us. That is pretty amazing. My first boss taught me passion for work and never ending commitment to succeed, while simultaneously teaching me that people leave people that do not treat them well. No matter how smart, passionate and talented he was, people would always leave him. As I grew older, I found my self elevating my standards and working with people that treated me better and looked to help and advise me on my path to success. There have been too many to detail here, but I can promise you that without these amazing, supportive people, I would not be where I am today. Bottom line is – you can – and should learn something from everyone.   Look inside you to see how people affect you and why. Learn who you want to be by watching others.

What’s Your One Favorite Motivational Quote And Why?

Fear is a Liar. Whenever I’ve stopped myself from doing something in my life it has been because I have been afraid. What I continue to learn in life is that fear is a liar. It is not real. It is something that you or I have created in our heads in our own little world. It doesn’t exist. When you instead use that fear to fuel you forward, anything can happen. Now when I feel fear, I say to myself, it is time to go faster. It’s working.

How Would You Describe Yourself In One Word?

Special, but then again everyone is 

Carry Everything But The Kitchen Sink

Purchase a large bottle of water after you’ve gone through security. Staying hydrated while flying is crucial for your both your looks and health, and if you’re flight is delayed, you won’t be able to get any water until you’re on your plane. Also, always pack a snack that travels well. Protein bars, a bag of nuts, even a hard-boiled egg can quiet your tummy rumbles when buying a nibble or nosh isn’t possible, or you’re trying to avoid that tempting bag of kiosk chips.
Because airports and airplanes are one big germ factory: hand sanitizer, airborne, vitamin C packs and cough drops are must-have travel essentials. But, don’t stop there. Aspirin, Visine, and allergy meds should also be included in your Ziploc traveling pharma-pack.
Hey Girl Hey, don’t forget to tuck the following items into your purse or tote before takeoff: extra tampons, a nail file kit, dry shampoo (for when you don’t have time to wash your hair before that early morning meeting), bobby pins and a curling iron.

Runway Couture

Pack with one color theme, such as black, navy or grey. This will help you limit the amount of shoes and bags you’ll need to bring. Packing one predominant color of clothing (i.e. black) means you only need 1 black bag only and 1 pair of black (or even nude) shoes.
Socks are your friend on flights and when going through TSA. They keep your tootsies more germ-free and toasty. But, if you don’t want to remove your shoes at all, wear flats or heels for TSA screening.
Pack a jacket or wrap. Again, planes can get chilly, and weather can change wherever you’re headed.
Pack one extra skirt. Rips happen. That goes for hosiery and tights as well.
If you had your ear buds or headphones on, you probably didn’t hear me say that bringing them along is a Godsend, but indeed they are. Especially when you want to sleep on the plane, not hear the baby in 7B cry, or engage in small talk with your seatmates. 

We’ve All Got Baggage…

NEVER check your luggage if at all possible. Having to deal with lost luggage is a time consuming headache, not to mention a costly headache if you have to go out and buy an outfit or sundries until the airline can get your bags to you.
Get Your Carryon Into the Overhead Pronto to ensure you grab coveted real estate up there – preferably in your row, or a row or two ahead of your assigned seat. There’s nothing worse than having to swim downstream if you’re seated up front, but your carryon is waaay in the back. 

Be Your Own Power House

You don’t want to be that person who loses juice while on the road, so consider purchasing an extra phone charger and then just leave it in your travel bag indefinitely. Packing a back up battery is also a good option, as well as a portable charging unit.
Be prepared for no Wi-Fi. Whether you don’t like to use it publicly for security reasons, or it “goes down,” take a page out of the old school book and be sure to have a good paperback, crossword puzzles, or Sudoku in your bag.

Channel Your Inner Scout

Print out a hard copy of your ticket at home or the office (insert your Mom’s voice saying… “Just in case!”).
If you have tons of work to do and are looking forward to getting some of it done before you even takeoff, go to your departure airport’s website and identify whether or not there is a sky club or two that you can use pre-flight.
Download your carrier’s app, or set up alerts to your phone for gate changes.
As stressful as traveling is nowadays, try to keep a smile on your face and be pleasant to all you encounter, especially the people who are working your gate. Making friends with them can pay off in dividends!

The post Travel Like A Boss… A #BossInHeels That Is appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

The first tip is to not see asking for a promotion as YOU being bitchy or difficult, especially when positioning yourself for advancement. See it as an opportunity to highlight your accomplishments and position the company for future success instead.
Often times I hear women say, “I thought they would have given me a promotion by now.”  Well, no one is your best advocate besides you. Companies have hundreds, sometimes thousands of employees and their focus – when it comes to promotions – is on the people who are ASKING for the promotion.
 If you set expectations on the front end of the year, then great! That’s the time to revisit what you were asked by your supervisor to accomplish – and then review your success vs. the company’s ask of you. If you did not set this baseline, this is a good opportunity to go in and establish one.
Someone will be promoted or get the position you want. If you want that person to be you, you need to prepare. Do your homework on the position and pinpoint why you are the right fit. Treat this as a job interview and go in with examples of your work and show the alignment between your skill set, track record and what the company is looking for in the (new) position.
In order to get ahead, you need to have a plan to get there and work that plan. There is nothing wrong with ambition in the workplace, especially if it is backed up by a great work ethic, can do team attitude and results. 
Be a cheerleader of others success and be sure to highlight and praise them. When you are an advocate for others you build an arsenal of advocates for you. You never know who will be tapped to get feedback on your current performance and you want the team to be in your corner.
Don’t spend your time at work gossiping or conspiring for the promotion. Work your plan at home and when you’re in the office focus on delivering results and supporting your team. Everyone likes a positive team player that delivers solutions, not someone who complains and creates problems.
Speak up in meetings and contribute your opinion even when it is different. You are on the team for a reason and you want others to get to know you and see your value. Be your own PR firm at work by verbally sharing your insights and perspective.
Amass client feedback and recommendations of your work. When the time is right you can introduce this feedback during the interview process for a promotion. Having others praise you in writing is difficult to challenge.

The post Tips for Women to Work Towards a Promotion appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

There’s no denying that Social Media is a dominant force in many peoples lives now. It’s a 21st century norm. But, with this new standard comes a gray area wherein people’s personal and public personas can often crossover. And, it just so happens that nearly all who participate in or on social media are – or want to be – an employee somewhere. This is where things can get tricky for you and your Instagram feed.

With more and more employers scrutinizing potential employees Facebook pages and Tweets prior to hiring them, content is key. Your pics, posts and all that lie between are being viewed under a microscope. So, to avoid being fired, or having a non-hire worthy petri dish for companies to see, follow these easy Social Media Do’s & Don’ts for career success.

Do – Have A Social Media Profile

You have your own brand and it began the day you were born. Social media simply allows you to communicate that brand with so many more people. Be mindful of what your brand represents and how you are communicating it because social posts never go away.

Do – Have A Professional Page Such As LinkedIn If You Are Not Willing To Accept Colleagues As Social Friends

Something important to note here is that you will be connected to someone that knows someone at work, so people will know that you have a personal page. Some employees choose to have a professional page in addition to their personal page but also be aware that some people at work may be able to view your page through connected friends.

Do – Use Your Social Media Pages To Promote Your Peers And Your Company And Their Events

There is tremendous value in an employee that is spreading the word on the company’s success and encouraging others. This can be a part of your unique value proposition.

Do – Be Aware Of The Platform You Are On

Utilize LinkedIn for business exclusively. This means you need to adhere to using a business profile and professional picture. Don’t post pics of you at a party from Friday night unless there is a good tie back to how this is driving business for you.

Do – Edit Your Social Media Posts

Don’t allow for typos and misspelled words to flood your feed. Be aware that excessive typos can send a message that you are uneducated or careless.

Do – Show How Savvy And Creative You Are

Own your unique strengths and showcase them through social media. Give others a chance to get to know how unique and special you are from afar with artsy or creative pictures of your work etc.

Don’t – Use Social Media To Attack Others

Even if you don’t think anyone will see it, I promise you they will. I’ve had employees post about not liking other employees and this always ends badly. Keep your squabbles to face-to-face discussions with your direct manager and anyone you are having issues with, not with a global social platform.

Don’t – Post About Your Relationships Unless You Want To Invite Your Work Into Your Personal Life

This is a personal choice and needs to be thought out carefully. Don’t post pictures of yourself partying. Do I really need to explain this one?

Don’t – Post Pictures That You Don’t Want Seen By Your Boss Or Their Spouse

When I am recruiting people I search for them on all social handles and I search for connections we have in common. It is not impossible to get a glimpse of someone’s feed even if you are not connected. Be aware of the image you are projecting.

Don’t – Think That Your Current Employer And Potential Employers Aren’t Auditing Your Posts Because They Are

This is shaping how others view you at work, so be sure to use it to your advantage. And, yes, “Big Brother” is watching as I’ve had screen shots of employees posts sent to me by other employees that are connected to someone that I am not. Remember that social posts happen and can be shared via a screen shot to someone you didn’t want to see it.

Don’t – Make Disparaging Comments About Your Employer

This is grounds for termination in many companies.

Don’t – Post In The Middle Of The Day When You Are Supposed To Be Working

You very well may be called in by your supervisor inquiring what you have been doing that day instead of your work.

In closing, social media can be a phenomenal asset when used wisely. So, use it to HELP you, not HURT you at work – or when looking for work.

The post Today’s Employee: Social Media Do’s & Dont’s appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

As a single working mother, we all find moments where we realize we have not been paying attention to the things that matter most in life. Last week I was confronted with one of those eye-opening moments. On Sunday, I picked my son up from his father at noon and we headed out for a fun-filled day – planning to meet up with our friends at the beach then head to the movies. We needed to stop and get gas before we could get going. This is where everything changed.

I have pumped gas thousands of times in my life and this time, like so many others, I left my keys, wallet and phone on the center console of my SUV. I shut all of the doors, as my son was in the back seat and I proceeded to put my credit card into the pump and start entering my information to turn the fuel on. As I was doing this, I was not paying attention to what was happening on the other side of my vehicle. I was paying attention to the pump and thinking about the rest of our day. This was a big mistake. While I was occupied on the passenger side of my vehicle, a criminal had silently crept his vehicle alongside my driver’s side door, opened it ever so quietly, and jumped in and grabbed my wallet and phone.

Luckily, this criminal did not drive off with my car, or my son in the vehicle. A few moments later though, my son jumped out of my vehicle screaming that we had been robbed. I learned a number of things that day. The most important thing I learned is that as long as your loved ones are safe, everything is going to be okay. (I really struggled with the idea that my son could have been gone from my life in one instant).

Here are the key takeaways that I have learned in hopes that it will save another mother from going through a frightening experience like this:

First, make sure you have your iPhone set up on Find Your iPhone. When you have this set up and turned on through your computer, the police can track the whereabouts of your phone and locate the perpetrator.
Next, make sure you turn off the child locks in your car if your child is over the age of three. My son is nine and the fact that I had the child locks turned on made him unable to jump out of the car when the criminal entered the vehicle. Luckily, my son hid in the back seat and did not say a word, which ended up yielding him safe.
After having gone through this experience, I would suggest not taking kids to the gas station with you if you are the only adult in the car. The police let me know that poachers sit and wait at gas stations to rob people, typically single women as they pump gas into their cars. It is not worth the scare, so if you can find time to go to the gas station when your child is not with you, do it.
Another tip I learned from the police is to always lock your car doors with your key in hand while you are pumping gas. Makes all the sense in the world, but it never crossed my mind before.
The Police also taught us to always try to memorize the make, model and license plate of a criminal’s vehicle if you find yourself in a situation where there is trouble. By staying silent and capturing this information you can help the police do their job and apprehend the perpetrator.

What To Do When You’re Home From The Crime Scene

Once we had left the gas station, we headed home to meet the police and luckily I had someone call to begin cancelling all of my credit cards.

Keep a current list of all of your active credit cards and having a back up form of ID is critical in situations like this.
This was the first time I felt disappointed that I haven’t bought my son a cell phone. Not having an additional cell phone handy made it very difficult until I got my replacement phone.
Lastly, buyer beware: if you go to the Apple store and ask to buy a phone, you have to pay the whole retail fee vs. calling your phone provider, filing out the proper paperwork and getting a replacement phone shipped to you for a small fee. The only challenge with this is you may find yourself without a phone for a few days, which is headache to say the least.

Again, my biggest takeaway from this whole experience is that your whole life can change in an instant. Never take for granted your loved ones and don’t assume that everyone in the world has good intentions just because you do. Caring for our kids and keeping them safe needs to be a top priority. I am so grateful I still have the chance to do that for mine.

The good news is my son has had the chance to see how the Police can help and protect us when we are in need. He also had the opportunity to learn what to do if faced with a criminal again, and while I am hoping that never ever happens, we will be better prepared for the future in case it does.

The post Single Mom Alert: Leave The Kids At Home When You Gas Up appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

It’s okay to be single. That may sound like an obvious statement but for some, but I don’t think it seems that simple. Having been married and divorced and having come out on the other side, I realize that while there may be idealist pressures that others try to impose on you, it is really up to you to lead the life that you want. For some, the pressure to be married is very real and very painful. I luckily did not let external pressure to be married impact me in my life. Instead, what did impact me greatly, was realizing in my very early 30’s that I truly wanted to have a baby. This changed everything for me.

Over the years, I have seen friends excel in their careers and forgo relationships and babies, I have seen friends get married and dedicate their life to their families and I have seen friends be left by husbands, or in some cases find the loves of their lives when they turn 40. At the end of the day, what has become very obvious to me is that you need to make you happy and lead the life you want to lead because you can’t plan and dictate your future.

Having been lucky enough to experience so much through my life and through those close to me, it has become very apparent that the people I know that take responsibility for their health and happiness first and foremost, are the ones that end up winning in the game of life. By taking responsibility for where you are and who you are, you simply empower yourself. Being in an empowering situation is always a great place to be. When you are empowered, you can change your course if you so choose. When you are empowered, you alone can affect your next move and your future. And, when you are empowered you don’t need to point to others or torture yourself with wondering ‘what if?’ The moment you realize that you alone are the only one getting in your way, is the moment you truly empower yourself to lead the life that you want to live. I find that incredibly liberating.

Recently, I got the opportunity to spend some time with a great friend who just got divorced. She’s feeling scared, lost and down. All normal feelings after losing the hope that you would be married forever. What I have witnessed, however, is how much stronger she is becoming as a result of the divorce. For the first time in a long time, she is pursuing her own interests and traveling and spending time with friends instead of focusing on her husband. While she may not see it yet, she is liberating herself, and by turning her focus onto herself – instead of someone else – she is moving into a better place.

I also have another great friend who has been happily married for 20 years and she reminds me to pursue my life and my passions and not to lose sight of them. She continues to work even though she doesn’t have to, and she credits much of her success in marriage to not giving up on her career and her life outside of her husband and kids. While we all know what a juggle life can be when you have kids and work, it is still so important to continue to do the things that make you feel fulfilled. I used to think people that put themselves first were selfish, now I see that they are confident and strong. The better we take care of ourselves the better we will be able to take care of others and enjoy our lives.

What makes you happy? What are your passions? If you knew that the world was going to end, what is it that you would do differently today? The minute we begin to lead our lives acting on these answers is the minute our lives will improve and good things come to us. Every day is a chance to meet someone new, try something different and put joy into our lives and others. Whether you are single, married, divorced or otherwise, I hope you will see that those labels are just that, labels. It is up to you and only you to create a life you want to live. It also just so happens that when you do this, you forget about all of those pressures and preconceived notions and often that’s when that special someone can come into your life. This is true for any day, but especially helpful to remember during the holidays. Cheers to you living the life you choose!

The post It’s Okay To Be Single appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

Life is interesting in that the better you do and the more you elevate yourself and expand your reach and succeed, the more opposition you will face. This is a fact. This transcends industries, jobs, race, gender and basically all other factors. No matter who you are, you will have a situation where you have to deal with haters in your life. Over the years, I have changed my perspective on haters and consequently, how I respond to them. I hope that my experiences can help you when you are faced head-to-head with your own haters today or tomorrow.

Are You Hater Bait Or Not?

Essentially, the lower profile you keep and the more ‘go with the flow’ you are, the more you hide yourself from the haters glaring eye. If you decide to take this route to ward them off, read no further.

Otherwise, the problem with this is that the more you hide yourself from the haters, the more you essentially hide yourself from you. The downside to keeping a status quo life is that you are never really growing, challenging yourself, innovating, or putting yourself out there in a new way.

Remember this: The biggest growth experiences arise when you take fear head on and don’t back away, but instead push through. These moments are never easy and you will be confronted with so much resistance, but once you’re on the other side you will be able to find clarity and strength, which will continue to propel you forward to things you could have never imaged before.

Why Haters Gonna’ Hate

Haters typically hate you for one of three reasons

They see you as a threat
They hate themselves
They want to be you

Lose Your Fear of Being Hate Bait

Until you come to a point in your life where you decide to confront fear and uncertainly – and potential haters with abandonment – you will never truly reach your potential or your calling.

Remember this: It is better to be hated for who you are – than to be loved for what you are not.

Take Haters Head On

Address haters in your personal life head on – or find a way to cut them out of your life.
Do not give haters power over you – which means ignore them. Never respond to haters on social media. That is giving them your attention and your time, which they do not deserve.
Avoid taking Haters personally – do not let a hater create self-doubt for you, as that is their goal. They are unhappy with themselves and jealous of you for some reason, but don’t take that same insecurity on.
Keep yourself distant from haters physically and emotionally – surround yourself with positive people that support and encourage you, they will always drown out the voices of haters.
Set boundaries for yourself and don’t ever let a hater cross the line – when you have a hater in your day-to-day life, have a direct conversation with them about not wanting negativity and hatred in your life and try to find a solution, even if that means removing that person from your life. Your mental health is worth so much more than allowing a hater to impose on your life.
Prioritize yourself and put yourself first – haters can come way after that regardless of who they are in your life. Take care of you.
When haters come, don’t take it as a sign that something is wrong; take it as a sign that you are doing something right! If everyone loved you, you wouldn’t be evolving, growing or innovating and that is something to be afraid of.

Don’t Be A Hater Yourself

Lastly, if you stand on the riverbank long enough, you will see all of your haters float by. Keep doing the right thing, be true to yourself and be good to others and karma will take care of the rest.

Remember this:

You will face your greatest opposition when you are closest to your biggest miracle.

― Shannon L. Alder

The post How To Deal With Haters Who Gonna’ Hate appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

A female co-worker asked me today, “What does it take for a woman to get ahead? How did you get to where you are in business?”

This was an easy one for me to respond to, “It takes a lot of work and pushing and not giving up, and fighting and not backing down. It takes being a pitbull basically.” When I shared this concept with her, she said, “That’s hard to do, because most women don’t want to appear bitchy.”

Loosen Your Own Leash

This conversation struck a chord in me. Here this woman is bright, beautiful, talented and interested in advancing. And, while I don’t know what level she will rise to, I do know that what WON’T hold her back is her talent. This woman has everything it takes to get ahead. Yet, the only thing that could potentially hold her back is she herself.

Her decision to not want to appear a certain way, bitchy or otherwise, would be her only leash. She made another great comment to me that really resonated with me; she mentioned that when she moved into her new role – one that she did not have previous experience in – she felt like a fraud. In fact, she felt so much like a fraud that she let her husband know that she had a Plan B in line in case they discovered that she was not qualified for the job.

I Feel Like A Fraud

I find this interesting as this “fraud” epidemic has been admittedly alive and well in me throughout fleeting moments in my career. But, while it’s a trait that I’ve seen so often in women, I have YET to see it in a man.

Quite to the contrary, the men I work with feel the opposite way. If I’m interviewing a man on my team and he wants to advance without prior experience, he will simply use his prior success as the catalyst to determine that he WILL succeed in his new role. There is no big leap in his mind, it is a natural progression along his path to future success.

My Secret Is Out

Women often times don’t see this natural progression and instead feel afraid of being “found out.” Found out that they are not perfect, found out that they have commitments at home to their families, found out that they simply don’t have all the answers.

Conversely, I meet with men on my team that cant wait to share with me that they leave work early to coach their kid’s team and how it benefits the company because their “coaching” techniques are refined on the field and applied back in the workplace.

Let’s Put Things Into Perspective

Everything about how we approach things is in the perspective that we take and the lens in which we see things through. By making a definitive decision to no longer accept the idea that we are a fraud, but instead find a lens to look through that allows us to celebrate our unique and refreshing approach and skills instead, we will finally end this epidemic of holding ourselves back.

So, yes, I have been one of the “frauds” at different times in my career, but the difference with me is that I have been lucky enough to stop myself in that moment and reach out to someone in my life to remind me how I can see myself differently. Perspective is everything. And settling for a perspective that the opposite sex would never even consider is the fastest way to short-change ourselves professionally.

Let Us Be Frauds No More

Let us be “frauds no more” is my new mantra for the female faction. Let us embrace a refreshing new perspective, even if it’s sprinkled with a touch of testosterone here and there. Let us celebrate what is different and unique about us, and what makes us worthy of the opportunity in the first place. We rule the roost with no qualms, we learn as we go, we make executive decisions that are steadfast; this is life. No one knows everything. So, let’s be frauds no more with our careers and in the boardroom.

The post The Fraud Mindset: A Woman’s Career Nemesis appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

Healthy self confidence: We know people who have it, but how do you improve your self worth when it’s in need of repair? It can be done! If you want to truly be successful in your personal and work life, you have to improve your confidence. It’s the most important thing you can do for yourself. And I’m here to tell you how to do just that, in 10 easy-to-follow steps.

Building self esteem is a skill that anyone can learn. Think of confidence as a muscle: When we work it, it only gets stronger and more defined.  Once you improve your self confidence, you’ll be amazed at what you can do!

Tip 10: Help Others, Help Yourself.

There is a funny little trick that boosts your confidence quickly: helping other people.  It doesn’t have to be a big thing; it can be something small like helping an elderly person lift a bag or helping a child get up when they fall. These acts help put things in perspective for you. You realize that no matter where you are, you are capable of bringing value to others. That is a powerful moment! This means that you are in a position to help others. Others needed you and you showed up and delivered. There is a lot to feel good about there.

If you are feeling low in confidence, find someone in your world and help them. Ask them how they are doing with their divorce. Listen to them. They will thank you. Ask them if you can help them practice for their big speech, and they will appreciate you. Ask them if you can bring their child to work for a day to shadow you since they are always worried that their child will not get a job. They will adore you! Show up at a charity event and lend a hand; hold the door for the elderly lady—she will be so grateful. 

Confidence is always available right in front of us if we choose to go after it. Work the confidence muscle daily and watch what happens. You will feel good about yourself…and you should!

The post Help Others to Help Yourself appeared first on Heather Monahan Boss in Heels #bossinheels.

A healthy dose of self esteem can do wonders to enhance your life. But how do you improve your self confidence when it’s in need of repair? It can be done! If you want to truly be successful in your personal and work life, you have to improve your confidence. It’s the most important thing you can do for yourself. And I’m here to tell you how to do just that, in 10 easy-to-follow steps.

Building self worth is a skill that anyone can learn. Think of confidence as a muscle: When we work it, it only gets stronger and more defined.  Once you improve your self confidence, you’ll notice that your overall outlook is improved, as well.

Tip 9: Fake It ’Til You Make It.

We’ve all heard this standby, and it works.  If you stand up tall, make eye contact, deliberately shake people’s hands and smile, you enter a room with what appears to be confidence.  Whether you have it or not in this moment is irrelevant; the important thing is that it appears that you do.

People treat you differently when they think that you are confident. Many times, men are asked to take an advanced role which they may have no experience in and they jump at the chance.  Usually, women will talk about not having prior experience in that role. In my life, I have always said I can do it and figured it out later. That tactic has never failed me in my personal life or at work.  If there is a challenge or opportunity that I am interested in, I go for it—even when I don’t have the confidence that I can do it. The confidence follows when I start making it work.  It is almost backwards logic, but I promise you that it works!

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