How to 'Live Better and Lead Best' in 2019
by Brittany Cole
At the end of last year, all I could think of was "hurry up 2019!" Then I had to stop and remind myself that 2018 was truly a blessing.
You see, 2017 was a year of extremes. I’d accomplished a big career goal and learned through experience what resilience and persistence truly meant. Talk about a high! We, my husband and I, moved to my dream city, New York City, so I could take on a new marketing role that was the first of its kind, and I just knew was meant for me!
Enter disruption.
Three months after relocating from Chattanooga, TN to New York, NY my mom died unexpectedly. So, 2017 brought a whole new meaning to the word resilience and the amazing power of grace. I was so glad to welcome the new year.
In contrast, 2018 was the year of clarity, purposeful living and growth – both personally and professionally. I’m grateful for the amazing people I’ve had the opportunity to work with this past year and all the lessons I’ve learned.
Professionally and personally I’m most proud of:
Exceeding my 2018 goals as a brand manager and being recognized across by my company for my innovative work as a digital marketer
Earning a promotion to relocate back to my hometown of Nashville, TN to lead a sales team and see them continue to achieve
Sharing my voice and being invited to speak to groups within my organization that I would’ve never been exposed to otherwise
Raising my hand to lead diversity and inclusion initiatives within my organization that truly fuel my people development passion
Expanding my speaker and coaching opportunities with STYLE by Britt to inspire collegiate to C-Suite leaders across various universities and companies thrive in the workplace
Gaining clarity on how my professionally career, purpose and calling all intersect and how every obstacle has been necessary to help me serve others with greater impact
Seeing my husband elevate within his profession, serve on boards that fuel his passion and land his dream job
I believe that every experience is an opportunity for continuous improvement. As I continue to learn and grow, here are a few lessons from 2018 that I’ll be taking with me into 2019:
Every obstacle I’ve encountered personally and professionally has shown me that I’m more equipped, capable, qualified and ready than I thought. It’s time for me to start believing BIGGER.
I can create the opportunities I want to see in my workplace. Sometimes my biggest obstacle was staring back at me in the mirror.
Beyond a vacation, spa appointment or salon visit, self-care is about learning to say no to experiences and even people that don’t align with my purpose and mission
Bringing my authentic self to work, every day, creates opportunities in alignment with who I am and where I thrive best. The more I’ve shared my love of speaking and professional development, the more opportunities I received – even within my organization.
Vulnerability is strength and it creates trust, which is essential to thriving in relationships and business.
Take the vacation. There will always be more to do, and if my leadership is creating more leaders then there will be people on my team that can cover the gaps in my absence.
Saying and being told no makes room for my best YES! Once again, it’s essential!
I hope you’ve also taken some time to reflect on all that you have accomplished, experienced and, most importantly, learned this year!
What are some of your big aha moments and lessons that you’re taking into 2019?
As I commit to more purposeful living and flourishing in my gifts, I look forward to doing more speaking and coaching in the new year! If you’re interested in working with me to help you thrive in your career or booking me to speak, please visit www.stylebybritt.com for more info!
Brittany Cole is a brand manager, speaker, and career coach who helps diverse millennials identify their personal brand and cultivate executive presence to thrive in the workplace. Learn more about her at www.stylebybritt.com or follow her on social media @stylebybritt
