The challenge of choosing a career, building it successfully, and standing your ground among the often male-dominated management. And amidst all that dynamism, also just staying true to yourself. Many organizations see the added value of having more women at the top, but for many companies, there is still a long way to go.
When I sold my company after 10 years of entrepreneurship, I got a place in the management team of the acquiring organization. That was a big change not only for me but also for the company in question. I was the first and only woman in the management team, and that was quite an adjustment for both parties. The lessons I learned during my sports career came in handy.
Valuable lessons
It is often said that karate is a 'way of life,' and in my case, it really was. It made me stronger and more resilient and taught me discipline and perseverance. I also learned how to deal with setbacks. Those lessons had a significant impact on my life and later became decisive for my business success. The four most important lessons I want to share with you are: (1) how you deal with challenges determines the quality of your life, (2) choose yourself more unapologetically, (3) discipline and perseverance are the keys to long-term success, and (4) make sure you are visible.
Lesson 1: How you deal with challenges determines the quality of your life
Life rarely goes as you hope it will. Just when you think everything is going well, the next obstacle presents itself. There are many things we have no control over; we simply have to deal with them. What you do have control over is how you deal with these challenges. You always have a choice in how you respond and whether you let obstacles knock you down. The more aware you are of this, the better you will be able to prevent unpleasant situations from having a negative impact on you.
Lesson 2: Choose yourself unapologetically
Too often, people let themselves be guided by the opinions of others. Due to the fear of failure or because they are afraid of what others might think. The reality is that everyone has an opinion, but that has little to do with you. People view things from their own frame of reference, so their opinion says more about them than about you. So do not let yourself be guided by what others say or might think. It's about your career and your life, and thus your happiness!
Always make your own plan and determine what makes you happy. What do you need in your life, what career do you aspire to, who do you want to be as a person, and what do you find important? Do not let yourself be guided by the frameworks of others, because if you think and live within their frameworks, you will never achieve your own ambitions and dreams. Other people's opinions are not yours, and you can and should shamelessly set them aside.
Lesson 3: Discipline and perseverance are the keys to long-term success
What distinguishes successful people is that they do not give up. Winning does not happen in one day, but involves a long lead-up of hard work. You build success by working on it consistently every day. That makes the difference between winners and those who do not reach the top. Often we only hear the beautiful stories, but success is not only accompanied by ups but also by downs.
You have to make choices and stick to them. What do you spend your time on and what do you not? I chose karate at the highest level and participating in international tournaments. That choice also meant that I had to let go of many things and train long and hard. I won tournaments, but I lost many more. That was a hard fall, and then finding the motivation to get back up and continue. But losing is not failing; it is a learning moment that you must seize to move forward with full force afterward.
Lesson 4: Make sure you are visible
People often think that if they just work hard enough, they will be seen automatically. But in practice, that rarely happens. You will have to consciously and actively ensure that you are visible. That you position and present yourself within the organization. Share your successes with others, even if it feels uncomfortable. That is absolutely not arrogant or selfish; you are showing what your added value is and what milestones you have achieved. Keep a list of the successes you achieve and bring it to your performance reviews.
Build a network and discover how things work within the organization. Do not hide your ambitions, but make them known. Be clear about what you expect from the organization and have a conversation with your manager about how you can shape those expectations together.
If a meaningful comment is on the tip of your tongue during a meeting, just say it. Your opinion matters. Claim your place at the table, ask questions, and share your ideas and suggestions. You were hired for your qualities and competencies, so use them!
Make your plan and take action!
Make sure you create a plan that helps you take action. If you do not have your own plan, you will quickly become part of someone else's plan and be driven by the whims of the day. Take control of your career and your life! Make your goals a priority – no one else will do that for you. This not only provides direction but also focus, making it easier for you to say no to things that are unimportant to you.
You can only spend your time once, and it is a shame if you do not get to the things that make you happy and successful!
Hendrika Willemse-Vreugdenhil is a speaker, high-performance coach, and former top athlete. She worked for over 20 years in the tech sector and was a three-time world champion in karate. So she knows better than anyone that with ambition, discipline, and perseverance, you can achieve exceptional results. In recent years, she has helped countless professionals, teams, and organizations to also deliver top performances. Recently, her book Kick-Ass, the ultimate handbook for ambitious women, was published.
