It’s Thanksgiving week, and I couldn’t be more excited! This has always been my favorite holiday. As a child, I loved gathering with my family, indulging in all the delicious food, and soaking up the warmth of the season. Now that I’m older, Thanksgiving looks different each year—sometimes I visit my family, other times I travel to California to be with my husband’s family, and occasionally I stay home. No matter where or how I celebrate, the holiday holds a special place in my heart, and I’m ready to embrace it once again.
As we approach the end of the year, you’ve likely noticed the flood of “year-in-review” emails and posts from apps and platforms summarizing 2024. It’s a reminder that this is the perfect time to pause and reflect on your own year—your results, your actions, and your journey. You may find you’ve accomplished more than you realized. But even if you fell short of your goals, take heart: there’s still time to take action before the year is over.
If you didn’t quite hit the mark, don’t see it as a failure. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to reassess. Are your goals still aligned with your vision? Do you need to pivot, tweak, or simply persevere a little longer? Sometimes, achieving your goal is just a matter of taking those final few steps. Only you can determine what’s next for you, and it’s important not to compare your journey to someone else’s.
Yes, it’s tempting to glance at others—whether it’s a neighbor, a colleague, or that picture-perfect social media personality—and think, Why not me? But here’s the truth: you don’t know their struggles or circumstances. Their journey isn’t yours. And honestly, it doesn’t need to be.
Instead of competing or comparing, let’s flip the script. What if, instead of envy, we chose empowerment? When you see someone else succeeding, remind yourself: If they can do it, so can I. There’s enough room for all of us to thrive. By shifting your mindset from Why not me? to What’s next for me? you open the door to new opportunities and attract the energy needed to create your next chapter.
This past week, I experienced my own mindset shift after receiving some news that made me uncertain about my next steps. I’m no stranger to practicing mental shifts and cultivating a positive outlook, but I found myself trying to jump into positivity before I was emotionally ready. That’s when I realized something important: it’s okay to feel nervous or apprehensive. Sometimes, you need to sit with those emotions, process them, and allow them to run their course before moving forward. Only then can you fully embrace a positive mindset and take your next step with clarity and confidence.
If you ever catch yourself viewing someone else’s success in a negative light, try reframing it as inspiration. A friend recently shared a heartwarming story about her daughter, who participates in pageants. Over time, her daughter has gained confidence and formed friendships with her fellow contestants. What struck me most was how these girls, despite being competitors, cheer each other on. They encourage one another to do their best, both onstage and off, demonstrating that competition and camaraderie can coexist. It was refreshing to read and hear about these young girls who are learning to empower each other at such a young age. It’s such a healthy relationship to know that they can be friends, competitors, and still encourage each other.
This story reminded me of how we, as entrepreneurial women, should approach our own “competitors.” They aren’t threats; they’re opportunities for growth. When we support each other—whether through collaboration, sharing ideas, or simply cheering one another on—we all rise together. Empowerment is contagious, and by lifting others, we elevate ourselves, too.
As 2024 winds down, take time to reflect on your journey. Celebrate your wins, learn from your challenges, and consider how you can continue to grow. Look at your competitors not as rivals but as allies in the shared goal of success. Together, we can achieve more, inspire one another, and empower each other to reach new heights.
So, let’s finish the year strong. Reassess your goals, cheer on your fellow women in business, and step into 2025 with confidence, clarity, and collaboration. Because when we rise together, we thrive together.
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