I recently read a great book by Stella & Dot founder & CEO, Jessica Dilullo Herrin. I had seen her on a previously aired Undercover Boss & wanted to learn more about her. She is a remarkable woman with such talent and vision. It was a great read and I thought you may benefit from some of the ‘highlights’ I took away from this read.

Enjoy…

Even if you’ve tried and failed before, have faith! Here’s the paradox: as much as getting off track is human nature, so is getting creative and surviving.

Simply aim to be a bit better every single day. We are all a work in progress.

Okay, so you don’t have to be perfect, or gifted from birth. Anyone can do something extraordinary. Do you ever look around at the world, evaluate your life, and see the way you would like it to be instead of the way it is? That’s all you need to get started. In fact, that desire to wonder what’s possible is what defines your entrepreneurial spirit. You can nurture this side of you into believing you have the power to create change.

Life is determined not by your past or your circumstances but rather by what you choose to do next. The doing is the difference.

Many times in my life when I’ve come to see that whenever I stop focusing one what I don’t have in comparison to others, and just focus on working hard to deserve what I want, I can change my life in the most extraordinary ways.

Another key lesson: you have to push through self-doubt. You have to embrace fear and failure, it’s the only way that extraordinary is made real.

You will always encounter challenges and setbacks on your journey. But the bold remain steadfastly optimistic and always on the lookout for that hidden doorway–because if you think of any road less traveled as too daunting, you will never even begin the journey to an extraordinary destination.

There is a how-to video on YouTube for just about anything! It’s not the how to do it that’s missing in most people; it’s the confidence and motivation to actually do it.

Mark Twain said it best. “There are two very important days in your life. The day you were born, and the day you figure out why.”

Too many people worry about how qualified they have to be to begin on a path. Too many people worry that their circumstances and knowledge don’t qualify them for taking the next step. But, actually, it’s the steps that qualify you.

I can tell you, I see far more people succeeding because they have focused on believing in themselves rather than being too worried about their lack of expertise to begin.

I find that people often procrastinate or keep spinning their wheels on superfluous tasks out of fear–a fear of moving forward into the unknown. People get stymied by fear of failure or rejection and by stranger danger. Be honest with yourself about what’s really going on if you are thinking too long and embrace the idea that forward momentum is essential.

Great ideas are worthless without action.

Better to hop on the 80 percent right train and get somewhere than stand alone at the station waiting for the perfection train to come along. Its not coming. It must have gotten into a crash with the Polar Express.

Become the leader you want to follow. Regardless of your current role or position, you are always leading the people around you.

I know that I am my greatest source of strength, but I also know that I shine brighter when I turn the light on others.

When I have had the privilege of meeting highly successful people and learning about their lives, I can’t help but note just how many have had to overcome personal hardships that required them to be resilient. They are successful not because they never faced adversity, but because in that moment of hardship they dove into the well of their own strength.

The more you tap into your well of strength, the deeper it gets.

Well, There is SO much more to this book–goal setting, time management, GREAT STORIES, leadership, Self, and more. This was a little sample of her greatness! It is a great read and highly recommended. She has her own great story that she has made & continues to make even better. Take the time to learn from others. It is an incredible personal investment in finding your own extraordinary.

-Peace and Love to you today.  -H