8 Tricks to Become a Successful Lady

You want to be successful in life? Of course you do! But it’s not going to be easy, so you must work hard and smart if you want your dream job, dream house, and dream life. Here are 8 tricks to help you become a successful lady

1) Start Early

In her book Mindset, Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck talks about two mindsets she calls fixed and growth. People with fixed mindsets believe their talents are innate and unchangeable. By contrast, people with growth mindsets believe that talents can be developed. If you have a growth mindset, you tend to accept challenges; see effort as an opportunity for growth; embrace constructive criticism; and view mistakes as opportunities to learn. All of these things will help you become successful. And if you start early—if from a young age your parents, teachers, and peers tell you how smart and talented you are—you’re more likely to hold on to your confidence in yourself as time goes on.

2) Learn from Your Mistakes

No one is born with all of life’s answers, and no woman (or man) has her act together 100 percent of the time. However, successful women tend to learn from their mistakes quickly, avoid putting themselves in similar situations down the road and bounce back from difficult circumstances with grace. Take notes when you make a mistake at work or elsewhere; it may be worth revisiting that situation in six months and seeing how you can respond differently. If you notice patterns emerging, ask yourself why that happens—and what you can do differently next time around.

3) Network & Make Connections

Getting out into the world and meeting people is a great way to make valuable connections that can help you land your dream job. Make sure you’re making connections with everyone you meet, from strangers in line at Starbucks to friends of friends on social media—and don’t forget about keeping an eye out for potential mentors, who might not necessarily be LinkedIn-pros but are still happy to connect with fresh new talent. People love talking about themselves; give them a chance. When they feel heard and their ego gets stroked, they will start giving you information (like their email address) and advice (like how to get ahead). And remember: it takes time for these relationships to develop, so keep yourself accessible by being responsive—don’t sit around waiting for someone else to reach out first.

4) Become Financially Savvy

While money can’t buy happiness, women who are financially secure are more likely to be happy. Work on your financial IQ by taking stock of your current financial situation and creating a budget you can stick with. The extra effort will pay off in increased confidence and better overall health. I found that getting an additional credit card worked best for me when I needed a fast source of cash; otherwise, it’s easy to get carried away without even realizing how much money you’re spending. Another strategy: Take advantage of resources like Mint or Yodlee, which aggregate all your accounts so you can see where your money is going at any given time.

5) Invest in Business Solutions

If you want to be a successful lady, you need to invest in your education. Whether it’s taking an online course or two, or working on your English and public speaking skills, investing in yourself is key. Take some time over coffee with friends and talk about money. Money is something that we all have, but not everyone spends it wisely. Think of ways you can cut costs and save more so that you have room for savings as well as investments that will grow over time. Time and money go hand-in-hand – sometimes it seems like there just isn’t enough time! The truth is you probably have time – and if not, find creative ways to squeeze out a few extra minutes here and there. Remember: everything takes longer than expected! But planning ahead helps ensure that you are able to work within your schedule without compromising quality.

6) Be Adaptable & Responsive

In business, you never know when some new opportunity is going to come your way. It’s important that you’re flexible enough and open-minded enough to move with these opportunities as they come up. You may not have planned on it, but in order for your business to flourish, adaptability and responsiveness are key. For instance, if someone wanted you to develop some new product or service for them, can you be open-minded enough to do so? Or how about if someone approaches you to partner with them; will you be responsive enough to make that happen?

7) Celebrate Victory

Whether you’re graduating from high school, completing an advanced degree, or finally stepping out of your parent’s house, it’s always nice to kick back and celebrate. This doesn’t have to be super serious—it can be as simple as treating yourself out for a fancy meal or going on an adventure that you always wanted to try but never found time for. Even something as simple as getting yourself a new outfit can help you feel proud of your accomplishments and ready for what lies ahead. Having big dreams is great, but making sure to enjoy every step along your path is important too! And don’t forget: giving yourself credit when things go right helps make sure they will keep going right in the future.

8) Never Burn Bridges

When it comes to your career, it’s important never to burn bridges. That means no gossiping or spreading rumors, especially when you’re looking for work and don’t want anyone else knowing your business. Don’t do anything that will make you hard to be hired—such as being late all of the time or being unprofessional on social media, where things have a way of getting around fast. If you need help burning (figuratively) positive impressions into your résumé and into people’s minds, check out our post The Fine Art of Shady Résumé Tactics: How to Get Ahead in Business by Being Bad at It.

The First Career is Never Your Last: If it didn’t work out with one job, don’t worry.