“Heather, you’re a shareholder now. Figure it out.” [Said a former mentor soon after I was promoted to shareholder, when asking him for some feedback].

And yes, he responded rudely. But that didn’t mean he was wrong. I did need to start acting like a shareholder.

But how? What, exactly, did that mean?

It’s not like you get training on exactly what to do now that you’ve been promoted to shareholder/partner. Even if they did give training like that, I doubt it would have helped much. I had to learn how to BE a shareholder on my own.

Messily.

“Fake it until you make it” Is Terrible Advice (Here’s Why)

I’ve never liked the phrase “Fake it until you make it.” Your brain knows “faking” isn’t real. That is why it’s so hard – impossible, even – for most of us to follow this advice.

So…How do you start acting like you belong before you feel like you actually belong?

That’s where courage comes in.

Courage means a willingness to feel vulnerable. To admit that you are vulnerable. So that you can take ownership (of your decisions and your results).

One messy step at a time.

The thing I’ve learned over my 52+ years?

No one has everything figured out. But everything is figure-outable (to borrow a phrase from entrepreneur Marie Forleo).

Your Takeaway?

Three things:

• Trust in yourself and your abilities.
• Have a support system (and seek out their support + advice, often).
• Be open to feedback.
• Most importantly, accept that you’re imperfect (and it’s okay for things to be messy).

This will allow you to go all-in, do your best, and not hold yourself back. Which is what acting like you belong is really about.

XO,

Heather