ASKING WHY NOT? WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CAREER

Before we worked full time at Stella Valle, we both had corporate careers. Ashley had a very successful career at Deloitte Consulting as a strategy consultant. She was a Senior Consultant on the fast track to getting promoted early to Manager. The early promotion process is somewhat tedious – you really have to campaign for the promotion. Deep down, she knew she was ready for the next step but throughout her campaign, many of her peers and seniors were continually asking her to think hard to determine if she was ready. She knew she was because she kept asking herself these questions. Why Not? Is there a good reason why I can't do it? What is the best and worst that can happen? Do I need to work harder to do a better job? Do I need to reach out to mentors or others to help me? She has always been one of those people that say, I'll figure it out. We've seen a number of our female colleagues doubting their abilities and letting the negative possibilities and the thought of failure hold them back. Obviously, not every career opportunity is worth jumping into, but at times you may need a little mental

nudge so you don't miss out on a great opportunity. Remember, if you don't advocate for yourself, you will be hard pressed to get others to stand behind you. If you're someone that's good at talking yourself out of taking a risk, talking yourself into something will require acknowledging that your historical thought patterns often focus on the negatives. Then you must proactively, think positively about the risk. What are potential benefits? Here are a few ways you can reframe your negative thoughts to more positive ones: Remember that there are pros and cons to every decision. When you think about a con to taking a risk, counter it by thinking about a pro. Evaluate the worst-case scenario, and how you might handle it. If you can convince yourself that even in the worst-case scenario, you would be able to work through it, chances are you are making the right decision. Not every decision has to be a decision for the rest of your life. Set a timeline to reevaluate the decision and potentially make changes. This perspective will put you at ease that what you decide today doesn't dictate your career for the rest of your life. Look to those that you trust and believe in you for advice and mentorship. Ask them for support as you embark on your new chapter or journey. Mentors that have been through similar transitions will have good insight and provide motivation and encouragement. The next time you are pondering a promotion, a career change or a new opportunity, ask yourself, Why not? You might be surprised to learn that you should and CAN do it! Lots of Love, Ashley and Paige