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Women You Need to Pursue Your Dreams Despite the Fear

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You hear it all the time…. you just have to follow your dreams. They make it sound so easy, but if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Right? But have you considered what can happen to you if you stifle those feelings that you meant for something more? If you try to ignore those feelings by telling yourself it’s not the right time, you don’t have time for that, or any other excuse there is?

I never thought of myself as someone who would hold themselves back from trying new things, but I did, and there were consequences. I didn’t realize that how I chose to escape my feelings, led to me feeling bad because I was denying myself the pleasure of following my dreams, which then led me to overeat and overspend in an effort to make myself feel better. It’s a cycle that I fell into without giving it much thought, and I mindlessly overate and overspent in an effort to feel good about myself.

Humans are complicated people, and our emotions guide us strongly. But if you have a calling deep inside you that keeps telling you to try something new and follow a new path, don’t you owe it to yourself to explore it?

Personally, I had a deep seeded feeling that spoke to me for about 10 years. I wanted to start my own business, but I was so scared to step out of my comfort zone and really put myself out there. I distracted myself from these feelings from eating too much and spending too much. Yet no matter how much I ate or spent, the feeling always came back to me. I struggled with it for some time.

“Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire.” — Dale Carnegie

Then on Christmas Day 2018, my husband had a massive heart attack at the age of 46.  Thankfully he survived, but those are the kind of events that punch you in the face and wake you up. And at that point I knew I had things I wanted to change in my life, and I started working with a life coach, desperate for a way to cure the bad habits I had formed with eating and spending.

I am so grateful I found my life coach and worked with her. She helped me put myself first, get over the fear, and live my life. Within a few months of working with her I managed to finally start my own business, and I’ve never been happier.

What I learned with my coach is a lesson that applies to so many of us. I’d like to share these lessons with you.

Why you choose not to pursue our dreams:

  1. You let fear hold you back – It’s a lot easier to stay where you are comfortable and not challenge yourself. But when you stay within your comfort zone you become complacent, never challenging yourself, and lose the opportunity to learn and grow.
  2. Women put everyone else’s needs first – You may have kids or other family members to take care of, so if you were to do something for yourself when they need you so much right now, you’d feel too guilty.
  3. You’re looking for the “right” time – If you’re waiting for the perfect time to pursue your dreams, the perfect time is now. There will never be a better time, because if you are feeling the pull towards your dreams, it means you have to give it some attention.
  4. You care too much about what others will think – The idea of putting yourself out there and letting other people judge you may seem like it’s too much to bear, but have you considered that their opinions do not matter?
  5. Fear of failure and fear of success – Fear of failure is a common fear, but failure just allows you try again in a different way. Failure is part of the process.

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” — Jack Canfield

What most don’t explore is the fear of success, which is just as real. And these are feelings worth exploring because often those feelings are attached to not feeling worthy of success.

Today I wake up every morning excited to serve my clients. I feel so much energy and love for life, gratitude, and I’ve even lost 20 pounds in the process!

I hope what you takeaway from this story is that if your gut is telling you something, it’s alerting you for a reason. There are consequences to ignoring these gut feelings. My hope for you is if you are sitting on a dream, that today is the day that you take action on it. Start with one step, that’s usually the hardest, and keep going until you find your momentum, and joy!  Life is too short to be held back.

Melissa Houston is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) and a financial coach, who helps entrepreneurs overcome both their personal and business finance issues and earn more money. With over 20 years of financial management experience, Melissa understands how to improve your bottom line without making another sale.  Melissa works with business owners through coaching programs and signature course offerings. Reach out to Melissa on her LinkedIn account.

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Change Your Mindset

The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers

Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.

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Why Daily Rituals Matter

Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)

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Did You Know

How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub

Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.

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Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution.  (more…)

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Personal Development

These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident

Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

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Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.

But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.

Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.

1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task

Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.

After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.

Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.

But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.

2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First

Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.

Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”

For example, if you’re a writer:

  • Research your topic at night.

  • Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).

  • Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.

You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.

3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace

Focus is the foundation of success.

According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.

Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.

Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.

4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”

This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.

If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.

5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills

Knowledge compounds over time.

Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.

I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.

Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.

Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.

7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You

I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.

If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.

Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.

Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.

8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions

Good mentors can fast-track your growth.

While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.

If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.

9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations

Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”

Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.

When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.

10. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.

If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.

A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.

Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.

11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

Your beliefs shape your reality.

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.

Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.

Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.

Final Thoughts

Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.

Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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