You might be a financial whiz. You might even have that brilliant idea that would turn Einstein green with envy. But without the right attitude you won't get anywhere.
Granted, you probably aren't a curmudgeonly jerk, barking at children to get off of your lawn. But everyone can benefit from a fresh attitude, one that really drives them forward.
Whether your entrepreneurial journey is starting out, cruising along or going nowhere, you can take inspiration from these powerful women's attitudes, and see where they take you. You'll be amazed by the results.
Every moment is a great moment
"My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." -- Oprah Winfrey, Media Icon
Oprah Winfrey's childhood offered no indication that she would become the mega-mogul that she is today. She lived in abject poverty on a farm without indoor plumbing, and she had to wear homemade clothes. Still, she understood that her success was only up to her, and every powerful woman has had this same realization.
That might sound daunting, particularly to women trying to elevate themselves from dead-end situations that seem hopeless at best. But you should use it as an inspiration anyway, no matter how lousy your circumstances happen to be.
You're going to experience a lot of setbacks in life, but they don't necessarily have to determine whether you're successful or not. It's your attitude towards the future that will determine that, so make sure that you're bringing your "A game" to everything that you do--it will put you in the best position possible to move on to something better.
Embrace the unknown
"Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else." - Sara Blakely, Spanx Founder
Sara Blakely experienced a lot of failure on her way to the top. She had to get a job as Goofy at Disney World, and failed. She tried to go to law school, and failed the LSATs. Since she wasn't a quitter, she took the LSATs again, and failed. Again. She eventually realized that she needed to change course and do something--anything - besides stay on the path she was on.
Blakely knew next to nothing about the fashion industry, but when she took a pair of leggings and cut off the toe end so that her feet would look better in an open shoe, she knew she was onto something and didn't let her inexperience in the business stop her. She just kept going like a runaway freight train. Today, she's the world's youngest female billionaire.
The best, most revolutionary ideas usually come with a lot of excitement. What they don't usually come with is an instruction manual. But powerful women don't let that scare them. They embrace the uneasiness of the unknown with open arms.
Of course, you're going to need a business plan and solid financial sense, or all you'll have is an idea, a lot of bluster, and not much else. But never let discomfort be the thing that stops you. I certainly didn't, and I'm grateful for that every day.
Appreciate everyone
"Appreciation can change a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary." -- Margaret Cousins, Women's Rights Activist
Being appreciative of others isn't only an excellent life practice, but is also a scientifically proven way to boost your own happiness.
Margaret Cousins realized this as she became a leader in women's rights, and you can do the same thing. Start small, by doing things like getting the office coffee and sending out "thank you" emails.
It may not seem like much at first. But showing gratitude to people you don't have to be nice to goes a long, long way.
Nothing is set in stone
"There is nothing like a concrete life plan to weigh you down. Because if you always have one eye on some future goal, you stop paying attention to the job at hand, miss opportunities that might arise, and stay fixedly on one path, even when a better, newer course might have opened up." -- Indra Nooyi, Pepsi Co. CEO
Indra Nooyi found great success when she started switching things up. One of Pepsi Co.'s biggest wins in the last decade came from an initiative to create a healthier product, which included removing aspartame from Diet Pepsi. At the time, it was heresy. Today, it's just a shrewd business move.
Nothing successful is set in stone. This nugget isn't just solid business advice -- it's an incredibly inspiring way to look at life. If you're unhappy with your job or feeling a little down, you should realize that there are always better opportunities ahead. All it might take is changing your path.
Embrace the impossible
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!'" -Audrey Hepburn, Actress, Humanitarian, and Fashion Icon
Survival in Europe during World War II must have seemed impossible.
After fleeing to Holland with her family from the Nazis, Hepburn--like millions of others--nearly died of malnourishment when the Nazis cut off all food supplies. Audrey was fearless under the most adverse of conditions and she embraced the impossible even at a young age. Thanks to this attitude, she not only secretly aided The Resistance during the war, but went on to become a world-famous humanitarian, fashion icon, and actress.
When all the cards are (seemingly) turned against you, it's very hard -almost... "impossible"--to feel grateful and happy. But, just like Hepburn, you should realize that anything is possible -just put your mind to it.