by Ann Evanston | Jul 4, 2017 | Mental Mind Shifts
Growing up we did not have it easy. I have many stories which taught me money was scarce. Times are tough. We don’t have enough. In my book The Influence Factor I share how important it is to rewrite these “truths” with new stories that become truths.
Sometimes the best way is to find another story that can become the truth. I needed to find a way to change this belief about money, so I reflected upon my life. Here is what I found:
My mom always worked to make our birthdays special, but I could always remember the anxiety I felt asking for what I wanted. I guess because I knew how financially tough my mom had it raising two daughters alone. Every year, she always cooked what we wanted for dinner. For my thirteenth birthday, I just couldn’t make up my mind. I remember telling her I couldn’t decide: steak, or crab, baked potatoes or artichokes. She just looked at me and said: “let’s just do it all!” and she did! That night we feasted on steak and fully loaded baked potatoes, Alaskan King Crab baked with butter, and artichokes with lemon pepper butter — all my favorites!
This story helped me rewrite what had become my truths: scarcity , anxiety, not enough. I realized that it made me feel rich, and I have carried that with me to this day. Now I see abundance in every situation
[Tweet “You can 100% change your story”]
by Ann Evanston | Jun 27, 2017 | Mental Mind Shifts
Ah the Jury duty summons.
I remember turning 18 and being so excited about two things that I now had the honor of doing: voting, and serving on a jury! Do you remember that feeling? The enthusiasm and excitement to be a part of your country? To be able to influence and sway decisions in how we live and move in the world?
Fast forward 30 years and the jury summons arrives. Ugh, really? What a disruption in my life! Amazing how the mindset has shifted over time.
This year I shifted again. I realized that if I was accused I would want a jury who cared. Who saw it as a honor. So I will show up with that mindset.
[Tweet “Be honored to serve in your life.”]
There are probably other areas where I have burnt out, dried up; once saw something as a honor and forgot. I want to re-engage the positive of feeling honored in my life.
by Ann Evanston | Jun 13, 2017 | Mental Mind Shifts
Work! Damn word. Damn work. Work never ends….does it? OK, well not for me! I WORK on my career. I WORK on sales and marketing. I WORK to make my work better. I WORK out. I WORK at home: preparing meals, gardening, laundry, cleaning…..
I am tired just thinking about all the work!
That is why it is so important my purpose is a part of everything I work on. When my purpose is aligned work isn’t so exhausting. When I feel my purpose the work isn’t so bad.
[Tweet “Purpose is more than picking a career; it’s how you breathe life into everything you do.”]
See, I believe your purpose is more than just picking your career. Purpose is how you live. When you breathe purpose into everything…you feel free.
by Ann Evanston | Jun 6, 2017 | Mental Mind Shifts, Self-worth, Uncategorized
Bragging. That word gets such a strong reaction from many women I know. Somehow it has become bad to brag….especially when I speak with women. Ok, ok, I know, the definition of the word doesn’t seem positive. At the same time, the importance of doing what the word is asking of us is very important for our success and career goals.
I was once teaching a women’s conference where participants were asked to share one personal and one professional achievement. Many women struggled, the most common achievement was the same, safe wheel house. My kids, my degree. ( If I asked, could you brag about something not related to your kids or schooling?)
One woman actually said she could not do the activity. When encouraged, she started to cry.
Both are examples of having a negative mindset about self-promotion…..bragging.
It’s time to change our mindset about bragging. Why?
🏼 you cannot assume people know
🏼 you want people to be aware of your achievements and accomplishments
🏼 just putting your head down hoping to be recognized won’t work long term
🏼 by sharing you attract more opportunity and successes in you life and career
[Tweet “Own your accomplishments! Speak up and share.”]
So how can you embrace bragging positively?
- Change the word: proclaim, proud, speak up, sell (oh that one scares you? LOL), publicize, qualify, “own it”!
- Build self-worth: when you speak of yourself confidently, and share, others view you in high regard.
by Ann Evanston | May 31, 2017 | Influence Factor, Mental Mind Shifts, Relationship
The first step of truly becoming influential is to build and nurture your network. The specific challenge for women has to do with how we believe a network is based on deep knowledge of the other person, almost intimacy. In many ways we feel if we don’t know the person very well, and can speak and vouch for them personally, we cannot consider them part of our network.
From an influencing standpoint this does more damage than good. It limits our abilities: to:
be visible
demonstrate credibility
know experts that can solve a problem
build value through wide networks
increase opportunities
McKenzsey and Company did a study on how women successful women thrive. They found that women who understand that broader and more shallow networks are far superior actually increase opportunities and success.
[Tweet “Women who build broader, more shallow networks increase opportunities and success!”]
So what is the goal for women? To let go of the desire to know each person intimately in your network. That’s relationship building, which is a different strategy, for different reasons. This means find a memorable connection quickly with a person, and then practice a “keep in touch” mindset!
by Ann Evanston | May 18, 2017 | Mental Mind Shifts, Vivrant Woman
In everything we choose our energy. Too often we are unconscious of the energetic choices we make. It is quite possible to be conscious and choose to shift and transfer different energy in a situation!
Yes you can shift to negative, that’s not my goal with you though! Negative energy is around us all the time, it’s how we can shift to the positive instead of feeding the negative energy with even more.
Like when your significant other is being poopy. Unconsciously we may feel frustrated, even snipe back, or shut down. Transferring more negative energy. Turning an evening into an unfun, disconnected, negative night.
Or you can consciously choose to let it go, shift to positive, and change the energy. If you’ve done it you know it works. Poopy goes away.
[Tweet “You choose your energy in any situation”]
This is also true in any situation. When you focus on the negative you grow more negative. I recall in a program I was speaking. The room had tons of background noise, almost like construction. I chose not to focus on it. Putting my positive energy into the room and participants.
Another speaker mentioned it to me privately. Even said she’d go complain for me and see if there was another room. I simply said: “thank you, I’m just choosing not to focus my energy there, and creating a space where people don’t notice.” Later she interrupted the group and asked them! And guess that their response was: “I really didn’t notice it until you pointed it out.”
When you choose you can change any situation. Yes, you have that power within you.
