Why we need you to keep going

Self-leadership really does put the burden on us.

It means controlling the controllable and acting according to our values – even when the playing field isn’t equal. When times get tough, we force ourselves to walk away from the drama triangle and instead ask, “What can I do about it?”

That isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s often blimmin’ hard.

We know that women face unique challenges, from chronic underinvestment in healthcare to gender bias, microaggressions and the mental load. It’s unfair. And it’s hard to take the high road – especially after Kendrick Lamar has taught us how delightful the petty one can be. 😉

Nevertheless, we persist. Why? Because Charles Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ theory turns out to be not quite accurate. 

Survival of the fittest luckiest

Evolution could probably be better defined as ‘survival of the luckiest’ (⬅️ It’s a great article, read it!). Sometimes, it comes down to a roll of the dice – like a mouse winning an insignificant scuffle over a meal. Because it’s not just a meal they get; it’s an instant edge. Nourishment leads to energy, which leads to more wins – and a snowballing unfair advantage. Lucky mouse.

The same analogy applies to our careers. Nab an early promotion, make an influential golfing buddy, get backed on potential alone, and suddenly, you’re the mouse who won the meal. How lucky. However, many of us are unaware there was even a meal on offer.

But here’s the thing about luck: it may not be apportioned fairly, but you can create it. It’s scientifically proven – around half of all major breakthroughs are simply lucky accidents. We wouldn’t have antibiotics if Alexander Fleming hadn’t been curious about unexpected mould in a petri dish.

Creating our own luck

The startup world is littered with failure – about 90% of companies don’t make it. Sound scary? Try this. Less than 3% of Venture Capital goes to women founders.

With those odds, why on earth did we start Powrsuit? And how did we beat them when we sold our last company for $40m?

Quite simply, we kept going.

Yes, we work hard. We have a laser focus on our audience (you!), and we do a lot of stuff right – we adapt, experiment, and ruthlessly prioritise. But the single biggest factor in our success: We stick with it.

A disclaimer here: ‘Sticking with it’ never means staying in a dangerous or unhealthy situation. It means embracing one of our favourite labels: tenacity and not being put off by obstacles but instead seeing them as opportunities and continuing even when it is really hard, even when it’s really, really hard.

Making it to the finish line

Over the weekend, the Tarawera Ultra was held here in New Zealand. If you want to be inspired, check out their Instagram to watch the finish line. It’s humanity at its finest: Everyday athletes pushing themselves to their limits and finding the willpower to put that next step before the other… For 160kms.

As Powrsuiter (and personal branding expert) Rochelle Moffitt says, “Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor”. Starting an ultra doesn’t guarantee finishing, but every meter you traverse increases the odds. Yes, the genetically lucky may be faster, but every finisher covers the same distance – and that’s what creating your own luck is all about.

Things will invariably go awry 

Alexander Flemming could have chucked away his mouldy petri dish – it wasn’t the result he was after. Instead, he got curious about why the gel around the mould was free from bacteria. He kept pushing – even when his peers showed little interest in his findings. 

When Melanie Perkins started Canva, she was rejected by over 100 investors. She could have assumed the startup was dead in the water, instead she stuck with it, refined her pitch and now Canva is worth $40 billion.

Oprah was fired from her first job on television. Michael Jordan was cut from his varsity basketball team. Marie Condo struggled to find clients. Even Beyonce was dropped by her record label.

Obstacles will come up. And it’s bloody hard to move forward after a tough decision, recover from a career curveball, or realise you weren’t overlooked for a role – you just weren’t visible. But if we keep asking ourselves, “What can I do about it?” we will find answers that will take us to the next step.

Tough times come and go; tenacity is forever 

We had a bit of a rough start to the week, being let down badly by someone we trusted. While we gratefully receive support from our professional board of directors, we’ve also been reminded about the powr of tenacity. We can’t control the actions of others, just as we can’t control the roll of a dice. But we can make our own luck simply by staying the course.

So if you, like us, have had an unexpected setback, take a breath, focus on your next step and join us in our mantra: Just keep going.