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You are what you read

My Top 3 Books of 2020

I prefer - 'you are what you do' and that 'reading can help you improve, expand, shift, upgrade, change.'

Unless I am reading a book for pure entertainment, I am always thinking about applying what I'm reading to improve my mental, physical, or emotional well-being.

The long and short of it: Taking care of your needs and remembering you are a human being is the first step to being a better leader, and books can help you not forget that.

Akua Favorite 2020 Books

My top three books from 2020 are about:

  1. How a talen…

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How to make new year resolutions stick

Blog Week 2

Step 1 is to:

NOT Set New Year Resolutions

But on a more serious note, I talked through several ways to set better 2021 goals including:

👉🏽 Leveraging your self-awareness and starting with a vision.

👉🏽Picking a guiding theme or word of the year instead.

👉🏽Focusing on behavior and actions that can be turned into a regular habit.

On my Facebook and Instagram Live last week.

Tune in to hear the rest of my thoughts and let me know which of the tips you found most helpful.

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I’m a work in progress

12Lessons

This year I decided to do something uncomfortable. Each month I shared my highs and lows on my Instagram.  Each month I shared my reflections and lessons learned. 

These were the top 12 lessons I learned in 2020:

  1. Planning gives me confidence
  2. I have an amazing network
  3. I can be sad and grateful at the same time
  4. I have a strong sense of self and it can be very overwhelming to others
  5. Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries
  6. Consistently put yourself out there
  7. I can be vulnerable and still an exp…

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We Made It to the End of 2020 (+ my freebie launch)

Week 52 - Blog Image

This is the last installment of my 20/20 Vision series.  2020 is the year in which I'm focusing on Exponential Value and Visibility.  A huge part of being able to achieve this is reflecting on how far I have come and celebrating my progress. You can follow my journey to experience my vision here. 

I try to practice what I preach, and gratitude and self-promotion go hand and in hand for me.  

In terms of my business, I’m grateful for the amazing amount of visibility I was able to achieve this y…

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I Still Have a Fear of Public Speaking But...

#47 Blog Posts

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to talk about three things I've learned through having leadership positions at one of my favorite female-focused organizations, FemGems.

I mentioned that I am primarily an introvert, and someone asked how I became comfortable expressing myself out loud. I responded with three key thoughts:

  1. Taking the time to learn the stories I was telling myself around speaking: The main story I told myself was that I couldn't slow down and that slowing down my speaki…

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Do you ever find it challenging to be authentically you?

YouTubeCovers for Jen

Throughout my growth as a leader, I’ve noticed that negative thoughts tend to creep in. These thoughts are based on circumstances in the past, but they get in the way of my being productive in the present.

I’ve found that the best way to get past these thoughts is to have a conversation - to get out of my head and talk through them with someone who can provide a new perspective.

One of my favorite spaces to have that conversation is the Conspiring Women Peer Coaching Co-Op, run by Jen Walper R…

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Your Weaknesses Don't Matter

#41

Ok, that is not entirely true, but what I want to suggest is that you focus on how best to leverage your strengths instead.

I love using assessments to learn more about myself and to share how others can use me more effectively.

This week I wanted to share an assessment I sometimes use with my clients:

How You Self Sabotage

I love this assessment because it gives you the vocabulary to talk about some of the things that hold us back.  

When I need to help a leader explain some of the negativ…

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I'm My Own Worst Enemy

7 resources

❌ This is just who I am

❌ I can’t change

❌ I can’t do any better

Those are all versions statements I used to tell myself and mutter to others when I was afraid or feeling uncomfortable.


Now when I say those statements to myself, I get really curious and start to ask myself:

Is this true?

Is this statement holding me back?

✅ Am I just afraid and starting to get close to the edge of my comfort zone?

 

I find that usually, I am my own worst enemy.

A lot of my success has come from jus…

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Let’s Give Better Feedback

#40

Feedback is a key component of being a better leader and human in general.  

Sometimes it seems like it is easier to give feedback than it is to receive.  

I have found both to be difficult.

If you are looking for a few questions to give feedback, even if it is to yourself check out the questions below.

START HERE

  • What do you expect?
  • What is she/he/you doing well?
  • How is he/she/you not meeting expectations?
  • What you want him/her/yourself to do differently
  • What support does he/she/ nee…

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Is Money the Only Thing that Motivates You?

#39

I would argue that it isn’t.

I’ve worked in places where they tried throwing money at the problem and it didn’t turn out well.

I’ve learned that each person (and employee) might need to be recognized and acknowledged in a different way

And we have to get comfortable with that fact.

Here are some thoughts around different rewards and approaches:

incentives_money.png

LET ME KNOW

Do you have any other ideas of what could be a great reward or incentive?

 

Share this with someone who might need some help thinki…

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