How to Be the CEO of Your Own Life
The Most Important Business Venture We’ll Ever Have…
The quality of our lives depends entirely on ourselves — nobody else.
From the day we were born, we’ve been given the permanent position of CEO of our lives. The most priceless business venture we’ll ever undergo. Although a big responsibility, the benefits far outweigh the costs. For the better we are at the job, the better our lives become.
So, we can play the blame game, pointing a finger at this person or that thing, accusing them of holding us back. But all this does is make us victims of our own circumstances.
Instead, we must be our own biggest advocate.
Especially as women in today’s world, we have the opportunity to take back the reigns of our lives. We simply have to make the active decision to do so.
So, how can we be the best CEO of our own lives??
Speak Up on Your Behalf
This past Friday, while out to dinner with a best friend from college, we got to talking about another friend of ours who recently moved in with her serious boyfriend.
As my friend filled me in on the details, she brought to my attention that since moving in, there’s been this “unwritten” expectation in the household that all cooking, cleaning and chores falls onto our friend. Not to mention, on top of a physically and emotionally demanding job as a nurse at a hospital.
Not only does her boyfriend expect her to put dinner on the table and clean up after the both of them, but he’s also made comments about how her hours at the hospital are too long and inconvenient.
Yeah…
It made my heart sink, picturing my friend who only at age twenty-five is already having to play “wife”, feeling pressured to prioritize her boyfriends needs over her own.
Granted, this engrained gender expectation is no longer appropriate for any age group. But if this is already the case in her mid-twenties, just imagine five years down the line…Resentment and unhappiness will only continue to compound and build overtime.
I wanted to share this story as a reminder to us all that:
We must speak up and voice our feelings to the people in our lives.
Although it may feel uncomfortable, we must make an effort to have these difficult conversations when something is out of alignment with our values. Especially if it’s contributing to our unhappiness.
Why is this so important?
First off, the other may not even know how you’re feeling. So, give them the benefit of the doubt by communicating with them. Whether it be with a friend, significant other, boss — whomever.
Secondly, speaking up is the only way that things will change. If you never verbalize your wishes or frustrations, you can rest assured things will never get better. We must communicate our truths and speak our minds in order to maintain our well-being. To not let others impede on our joy.
Those who truly love us will respect these boundaries.
And if they don’t?
Then as CEO, we have a big decision to make…
Make Decisions with Confidence
As CEO, we don’t need anybody’s permission to live our lives.
You want to go on a trip? Book it. You want to quit your job? Put in your notice. You want to stay in one night and snuggle up on your couch with a bowl of popcorn instead of going out? Then, by all means, do it.
This study by the Indian Express reveals that a shocking 79% of women feel the need to seek permission. I find this statistic incredibly disheartening. And is sheer evidence that we require a shift in mindset and a necessary reminder that:
We don’t need anyone’s permission to live our best lives.
The best CEO’s act with confidence, making decisions that they think are best for the Company. They take action, despite feeling uncertainty or experiencing doubt. And they can sleep at night, not in knowing that they were 100% correct, but that they’re taking action and making decisions regardless. That they always having the Company’s best interest in mind, and are doing the very best they can.
In our own lives, having confidence doesn’t mean always knowing the right answers. Or never having doubt about our choices. But it’s taking action despite feelings of uncertainty.
So, allow the fact that nobody knows what you need better than you do to encourage you to make decisions with confidence.
Stop Caring so Much About What Other People Think
As CEO, there are always going to be people who don’t respect our choices. Somebody will always have an opinion about how we choose to live our lives and project their opinions onto us. Maybe they criticize our choice of who to date. Or a big career move.
Whatever it may be, we must remind ourselves that there will always be haters. No matter how great a leader is, there will be equally as many critics as there are supporters. It’s inevitable — some people just seem to enjoy projecting their negativity onto others.
But being a strong CEO means letting go of the nay-sayers, and not putting our energy towards negative people and their accompanying opinions. In doing so, we reduce the negativity in our lives and free up space to focus on all that is good. Staying focused on the path that lies ahead, the one that best serves us. And this starts with letting go of what anyone else thinks.
After all, the only opinion that really matters is our own.
Take Risks on What You Feel Passionate About
We all have dreams (as deep down as they may be) that we hope will someday become our reality. But, for many of us, these seem extremely far off. And look wildly different than our current day-to-day.
How do we get there?
By taking risks.
As CEO, we must take calculated risks if we ever hope to live up to our full potential. To bring us closer to living out our dreams. The most successful CEO’s don’t play it safe.
On the contrary.
They make risky investments, uncertain ventures, new products launches, mergers — you name it. And they do so knowing that big results only come by taking big risks. Many will fail, only some will flourish.
But the amazing outcome that could be waiting on the other end will never be revealed unless the first step is taken to get there.
Jump off the deep end.
Step into the unknown.
Venture outside of our comfort zone.
Start small, how can you incorporate something new in your life today? And tomorrow, try something else? Soon enough, taking risks will seem less scary and the benefits will begin to compound. Until, one day, you may even find that you’re living out your dream.
But until you take that first risk — you’ll never know.
So, remind yourself every day to be the best CEO of your own life.
Nobody’s better suited for the job than you are.
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