Are you all in or playing it safe in your career?

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Do you ever get the feeling you are playing it safe in your career? We’ve all had those moments when our gut tells us one thing but our brain says the exact opposite. The bigger the decision, the more confounding it can be. When was the last time you used your intuition in business decisions? You know, things like…

…Deciding whether to sign up for that business course that will launch you 10 steps ahead in your career but has a price tag that’s well beyond your spending comfort zone.

…Weighing whether to accept the job offer that you know will fill your soul but drain your income by half.

…Pondering whether to go for the fancy job title with major perks or a hefty raise.

How do you decide? Do you rely on your heart or head to make the call? More important, once you decide, do you have the courage to go in with an unstoppable drive or a “let’s see how this works out” attitude with one leg still on the safe side of the fence?

Know the facts, but listen to your heart, too

Here’s a secret I’ve learned: If you’re serious about attaining what you envision as your professional pinnacle as a female financial services professional, you need to engage both your head and your heart.

In other words, know your stuff. Apply your analytic reasoning skills. But definitely be open to using and trusting your intuition in business decisions.

Intuition can be subtle. The “nudges” coming at you may be easily missed. But when you stay open, you’re tapping into something very powerful. As women, we have the advantage when it comes to intuition in business decisions. We’re hard-wired to integrate emotion and reason. Men, on the other hand, are more attuned to reasoning and action.

If you’re not used to listening to your gut, it can be scary. In my teens and early 20s, I was the most comfortable and confident when I knew exactly what I had to do and in what order. I was all head and no heart.

It took me a while to trust my intuition – what I think of as my internal guidance system. It by-passes my analytical mind and provides feedback based on all of my life experiences so far and the big lessons they’ve taught me.

Looking back, I know that relying on my intuition in business decisions has served me well. I did this when I decided to leave a great financial services job in Montana and move to Pittsburgh (where I knew no one!) to relaunch my career. I relied on my intuition again in a business decision to start my own financial services firm.

So many years ago, I never would have guessed that I could reach the level of success I have achieved today. Thankfully, I paid attention to what my gut was saying – beyond just reason and logic – to make the best (and often the scariest but courageous) decision at those crossroad moments.

In those moments, something in my gut said, “you need to take this next step” and I listened (despite some compelling arguments coming from my head).

Are you secretly preparing to fail?

Here’s something else I learned: Once you make a decision, you have to commit to it. Be 100 percent in.

After working in the industry for decades, I’ve certainly had moments of doubt when a tornado of thoughts about why my career wouldn’t work out kept me up at night.

But my intuition told me I was good at financial services advisement and that it brought me joy when my clients hugged and thanked me for helping them secure their future. So, I made a whole-heart commitment to give everything I had to my work.

Because the male-dominated financial services industry presents unique challenges for women, it’s tempting to approach the profession in a low-risk way.

Just as you can audit a class in college – semi-commit to showing up, give the coursework a good but not great effort, and not worry about accountability in the form of a final grade – the “see how it goes” game plan can feel like the safer route.

Even if you’re drawn to the work and you enjoy what you’re doing, the running loop of chatter in your head may go something like this: “I’ll give it a go.” “I’ll try my best.” Not to crush your hopes, but It’s internal chatter like this which creates doubt and actually sets you up for failure.

This kind of talk is an escape hatch that you always know is there if the obstacles start to feel too big. It’s a safety net that gives you an “out” when you’re afraid and it’s easier to shrink instead of grow.

While you and I know that our work in the financial services industry is about creating safety nets for our clients, be aware that a safety-net “Plan B” mentality for your financial services career can potentially sabotage your efforts.

Get clarity and go for it

If you know in your gut that working in financial services is something you truly enjoy and have the desire to really do well – despite the challenges that females in this industry face – just woman-up and take the plunge. Commit to being all in.

And, if you’re just starting out, I encourage you to use your imagination to envision what you can achieve, the positive effect it will have on your clients and the rewards that are waiting for you. Write it down. Revisit it often. Doing this will help you construct a positive mindset that will fuel your daily actions and help you gain momentum.

Pay attention to your instincts; don’t be afraid to use your intuition in business decisions. Above all, keep learning, no matter where you are in your career.

Be decisive, be intuitive

My journey to becoming a successful female financial services business owner wasn’t easy, but the personal and professional rewards have been so worth it. I had some lucky breaks along the way, but that “luck” was usually due to hard work on my part and the willingness to trust and follow my internal compass.

So, are you a head or a heart girl? Are you able to apply your intuition in business decisions or does that feel too “woo woo”? Have you made a personal commitment to succeed in this business or are you hovering on the fence? Only you can decide.

It’s a balancing act for sure, but the combination of a well-tuned inner guidance system and a full-on commitment to whatever you decide is best is one of the most powerful approaches I know to elevate your career and reach your professional goals!

Have questions about how you can succeed in your business and accelerate your journey toward reaching your goals? I invite you to learn more about ELEVATE, an exclusive group coaching program specifically designed to help female financial advisors. Start with a no-cost 30-minute consultation to discuss where you are in your career and where you want to go.

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