5 Success Tips Learned From Ladies At The Top
Success takes many forms. Many who find themselves at the top are eager to help those on their paths to success. Just take Lady Gaga, Shonda Rhimes, Beyoncé, Condoleezza Rice, and Amy Poehler for example. These 5 quotes that mention female trailblazers on how they chose what they loved and made it into a career are sure to empower you.
If you set your eyes on success rather than what your passion is, you will soon find yourself lost with little to no drive. Lady Gaga once explained how she grew unhappy when she overextended herself by agreeing to deals that she didn’t align with. Once she refocused on her music and creative spirit, she once again found her passion, drive, and energy.
“I feel sad when I’m overworked and I just become a moneymaking machine and my passion and creativity take a backseat,” said Lady Gaga. “That makes me unhappy. So what did I do? I started to say no. I’m not doing that. I don’t want to do that… And slowly but surely, I remembered who I am.”
Leave your comfort zone. -Shonda Rhimes
Few people achieve success without taking a risk or two and award-winning television writer and producer, Shonda Rhimes knows it. It wasn’t until the mastermind behind “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy” was challenged by her sister to start saying yes more often – even when it felt uncomfortable – that she achieved success. In an interview with NPR, Rhimes confided:
“My oldest sister said to me, ‘You never say yes to anything.’ And by that, she meant I never accept any invitations… All I did was go to work and come home… Once I sort of realized that she was right, I was going to say yes to all the things that scared me, that made me nervous, that freaked me out, that made men think I’m going to look foolish doing it. Anything that took me out of my comfort zone I was going to do it if asked to do it.”
Don’t be afraid of failure. -Beyoncé
Like the weather, failure does not discriminate. Even the most famous and successful people can fall victim to failure. In part 2 of a video miniseries, Beyoncé reflects on finding beauty in the imperfection and states:
“The reality is, sometimes you lose, and you’re never too good to lose, you’re never too big to lose, you’re never too smart to lose, it happens. And it happens when it needs to happen. And you have to embrace those things.”
Never Give Up. -Condoleezza Rice
If you give up on your goal every time you run into hardship, you will never reach your full potential. No one wants to invest in someone who doesn’t show grit and determination. Take it from former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
“I’m very glad my mother didn’t let me quit piano lessons at age 10.” Said Rice. “She said I wasn’t old enough or good enough to make that decision, and she was right. I remember at the time I was shocked. I did not like that my mother said those things to me. But when I got a chance to play with Yo-Yo Ma or more recently with Aretha Franklin, I thought, I’m really glad she said what she did.”
Even in something as small as a hobby or educational lesson, determination and stick-to-itiveness are key.
No one else is indeed going to have the same love and devotion to your brainchild as you will. But that being said, going about things lone-wolf style may not be the best way to find success. Take it from Amy Poehler:
“What I have discovered, is this: You can’t do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”
By: Miranda Hardesty Hoffpauir
