One thing I realized when I first started to teach was that no matter what, I had to act as if I belonged in front of the room. So even if my inner gremlin was saying to me “Who do you think you are? You have no idea what you’re doing” or “You have no business teaching these people,” I had to put that voice aside and act as if I did belong there and that I did know what I was doing.

Truth be told, it wasn’t always easy. See, even if I made a mistake, I just kept going. I didn’t dwell on it in my head and I proceeded on. I acted like the expert… and well, I was. I was the one standing in the front of the room presenting my knowledge and my material. It was probably one of the hardest things I ever did in my life. But it was one of the most important things, too.

I was able to do this because I had learned that the number one secret to success is not what you know, what you do or how you do it… the secret to success is in your head. Your mindset. If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, well… you can’t.

Much has been written on mindset over the years. We have quotes from Henry Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt and the story of The Little Engine That Could, and yet we continue to talk ourselves out of success. We don’t give ourselves the credit to be confident. We believe we are less worthy others.

Oh boy, I seem to have gotten on a soap box. Well, while I am here, I might as well keep going.

I’ve taught numerous classes over the years and worked with many people in groups and individual settings. One thing I observe over and over is that there is a point where people will take themselves out of the game. They decide that they can’t do whatever it is they are asked to do… or even what they want to do. It truly isn’t that they can’t physically or mentally accomplish it; instead, they take themselves out psychologically. Their mindset is that they aren’t good enough or nor worthy.

But I always know that they can. I’ve seen countless expressions of amazement, astonishment and sheer joy when they do what they formerly believed they could not. I’ve shared in the tears and laughter when they realize they are greater than they once believed they were.

So the next time you think “I can’t do that”, I invite you to act as if you can and then do it. Because once you realize you can, there will be no stopping you.

Here are a few suggestions for you as you embark on your personal success track:

1. Act as if. Act as if you can do or do know what you need to know in order to get it done.  Give yourself a pep talk. Simply saying “I can do this” or “I’ve got this” will help.
2. Visualize yourself successful. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Visualize yourself being successful, whatever that is for you. Put yourself in the place you are going and see yourself standing tall and confident and acting from a place of empowerment.
3. Make a list of your strengths. List those things which you know you are good at and read them daily. By keeping your strengths front and center, it will be easy to step into them any time you need to.

Truly, to be successful you have to be the greatest version of you that you already are!  You already are strong, confident and successful; you might just need to remind yourself of that.

Need more help acting as if and being your authentic self, I can help you.  Email me at kim @ kimravida.com.  And if you want to share your experiences or even tips, please post them below here on my blog!