Emma

As with so many women, I've been stuck in the perfectionist trap where I felt like I needed to be great at everything and have all the answers. The fear of not being good enough or falling short of expectations can be overwhelming. Perfectionism often arises from this desire to avoid criticism or rejection, which is so real when you're out of your comfort zone, just like I am now somewhat.

As with so many women, I've been stuck in the perfectionist trap where I felt like I needed to be great at everything and have all the answers. The fear of not being good enough or falling short of expectations can be overwhelming. Perfectionism often arises from this desire to avoid criticism or rejection, which is so real when you're out of your comfort zone, just like I am now somewhat.

But when you're starting something new and when you're pushing yourself, it really comes up over and over again. I've sat in meetings and I've masked what I didn't know. And I thought for a long time that not being particularly strong with numbers or with finance meant that I should actually never be allowed to run a business.

But when you're starting something new and when you're pushing yourself, it really comes up over and over again. I've sat in meetings and I've masked what I didn't know. And I thought for a long time that not being particularly strong with numbers or with finance meant that I should actually never be allowed to run a business.

Until that is, until one day I started asking questions, not just to the people I had directly around me, but actively making calls to anyone I thought that might want to chat and help me work for a problem. I called my agency clients. I called my old colleagues. I spoke to the bosses of friends. I even called competitors. And I started to become someone who would find answers.

Until that is, until one day I started asking questions, not just to the people I had directly around me, but actively making calls to anyone I thought that might want to chat and help me work for a problem. I called my agency clients. I called my old colleagues. I spoke to the bosses of friends. I even called competitors. And I started to become someone who would find answers.

When I started my first business, I thought I should be able to do it all. I thought being in charge meant having every answer. I micromanaged everything. I thought if I didn't control it, then it would never get done. But you know what? That only created chaos. And the moment I stepped back and trusted the people that I hired, my business exploded.

When I started my first business, I thought I should be able to do it all. I thought being in charge meant having every answer. I micromanaged everything. I thought if I didn't control it, then it would never get done. But you know what? That only created chaos. And the moment I stepped back and trusted the people that I hired, my business exploded.

But in reality, what it actually meant was being honest with myself and being crystal clear on what I wasn't good at and what skills I needed to hire for. It took me a while to get there, but being willing to hire the best people and get out of their way was a breakthrough. Today, if I'm really honest, one of the best parts about my job is finding talent.

But in reality, what it actually meant was being honest with myself and being crystal clear on what I wasn't good at and what skills I needed to hire for. It took me a while to get there, but being willing to hire the best people and get out of their way was a breakthrough. Today, if I'm really honest, one of the best parts about my job is finding talent.

I love nothing more than bringing the best people from all over the world to work with me. And I lean in to what I don't know. I don't despair that they might be more knowledgeable, that they might have more experience, that they might be more articulate or present better than I do. In fact, it's the absolute opposite because surrounding myself with the best people makes me look good.

I love nothing more than bringing the best people from all over the world to work with me. And I lean in to what I don't know. I don't despair that they might be more knowledgeable, that they might have more experience, that they might be more articulate or present better than I do. In fact, it's the absolute opposite because surrounding myself with the best people makes me look good.

And I don't need to go around pretending. I can double down on what I do uniquely well and what I bring to the table. The key take out here is that you don't need to be an expert at everything. Just make sure that you create awareness of your weaknesses. Don't fake it. Find people that know better than you do and learn to ask the right questions whenever you have the opportunity.

And I don't need to go around pretending. I can double down on what I do uniquely well and what I bring to the table. The key take out here is that you don't need to be an expert at everything. Just make sure that you create awareness of your weaknesses. Don't fake it. Find people that know better than you do and learn to ask the right questions whenever you have the opportunity.

And know your strengths and then hire people that are better than you in areas where you're weak and then get out of their way and let them work. In other words, know what you don't know and be in relentless pursuit to ask the right questions. Next, number two. Leverage what you've got. This is a key strategy that changed the trajectory of my career.

And know your strengths and then hire people that are better than you in areas where you're weak and then get out of their way and let them work. In other words, know what you don't know and be in relentless pursuit to ask the right questions. Next, number two. Leverage what you've got. This is a key strategy that changed the trajectory of my career.

Leverage is taking one thing, whether it's an opportunity, a skill, or even a relationship, and using it to springboard into something bigger. Now listen, I don't know about you, but I've never had a problem with vision. I've always been able to see into the future and know exactly what was coming down the path for me.

Leverage is taking one thing, whether it's an opportunity, a skill, or even a relationship, and using it to springboard into something bigger. Now listen, I don't know about you, but I've never had a problem with vision. I've always been able to see into the future and know exactly what was coming down the path for me.

But I'd be lying if I said that it had all worked out or that I knew exactly how I was going to get there. And that's why I started making plans shortly before my 30th birthday. So I could really chart how I was going to be successful and what I needed to do to get there. I ultimately realized that one of the superpowers I have is the ability to leverage.

But I'd be lying if I said that it had all worked out or that I knew exactly how I was going to get there. And that's why I started making plans shortly before my 30th birthday. So I could really chart how I was going to be successful and what I needed to do to get there. I ultimately realized that one of the superpowers I have is the ability to leverage.