Part 2 - Mindset: Unleashing Your Potential With Ten Tenets
The following is a continuation of our work from June focusing on the FIERCE Mindset. If you missed the first five tenants, please make sure and go back and check them out. Now on to the final five. As a quick reminder:
The FIERCE Mindset Top Ten
1. Always Authentic
2. Be a Tiger
3. Have Courage
4. Day One Can Be Today
5. Execution Makes You Elite and is Sexy
6. Empathy is a Superpower
7. Hustle Like You Mean It
8. Move Your Body Every Day
9. Predictability Builds Reputation
10. Resilience Is Mandatory
These tenets embody the essence of the FIERCE mindset, offering a guide to thriving both personally and professionally.
6. Empathy is a Superpower
Quote: “In the past jobs were about muscles, now they’re about brains, but in future they’ll be about the heart.” - Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, President of Columbia University.
Empathy involves putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, being aware of, and sharing another person’s feelings, experiences, and emotions. Unfortunately, we may be experiencing a global empathy drought. The silver lining is that by exercising our empathy superpower, we can stand out and be more effective in our interactions.
Example: When selling Security for AI, customers often feel vulnerable due to their limited understanding of AI. They may hesitate to ask questions for fear of seeming uninformed. To address this, we anticipate their questions and provide clear, repeated explanations, ensuring they feel supported without needing to ask for clarity. This approach is deeply rooted in understanding their sense of uneasiness.
I am fortunate to collaborate with our Chief Scientist and Co-founder, Tanner, who epitomizes empathetic technical expertise. Tanner’s focus in every interaction is on making others feel comfortable and supported while helping them achieve their goals efficiently. His empathetic approach sets a standard we strive to emulate.
7. Hustle Like You Mean It
Quote: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?” - Ayn Rand
Hustle is synonymous with a strong work ethic. It means doing what you say you will do, grinding through challenges, and delivering results. People trust you with important tasks because they know you will follow through. Hustle is about being results-oriented and steadfast in your efforts.
Work ethic is a belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. Desire or determination to work serves as the foundation for values centered on the importance of work or industrious work.
Example: Launching our LLM security product within six weeks without additional resources exemplifies hustle. This involved twice-daily stand-ups, meticulous program planning, and cross-functional execution. The team” commitment to delivering on this ambitious timeline showcased our collective work ethic.
8. Move Your Body Every Day
Quote: “Grab water, grab a towel and get your life together.” - Robin Arzon
Health is wealth. Regular movement is essential for maintaining health, which, in turn, impacts all other aspects of life. Movement is medicine, accessible to everyone, and crucial for both physical and mental well-being.
Exercise reduces the occurrence of:
Osteoarthritis by 83%
Death due to cardiovascular disease by 22%
And very important to all of us: exercise in children: can help them improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as: heart disease and cancer.
Example: FIERCE members often tell us how when they prioritize regular exercise their lives, both personally and professionally get better immediately. Exercise is a constant source of strength and resilience, underscoring the importance of daily movement.
Another perspective: Instead of viewing exercise as an obligation, consider it a privilege.
Movement is an opportunity to invest in your well-being.
9. Predictability Builds Reputation
Quote: “Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers.” - Elizabeth Arden
Predictability involves consistently repeating actions, behaviors, or decisions, making it possible for others to know what to expect from you.
Example: When colleagues come to me with problems, they know exactly how I will respond. This consistency builds trust and encourages open communication, essential for effective leadership.
10. Resilience Is Mandatory
Quote: “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” - Maya Angelou
Resilience is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. It is a critical trait for overcoming challenges and continuing to move forward.
Example: My father’s cancer diagnosis taught me the importance of resilience. Despite the grim prognosis, we fought and extended his life by five years. Similarly, experiencing a startup failure early in my career hardened my resolve and prepared me for future leadership roles. These experiences underscore the necessity of resilience in navigating life’s obstacles.
Another way to consider our residence is to consider a difficult situation in the past and consider what would have happened if we weren’t resilient? What is we gave up in that moment a year ago, five years ago….how much worse off would we be now. Is there something you are holding on to – something that you haven’t recovered from that keeps you up at night or haunts you when a new setback happens? We have to do as Elsa says and let that shit go already.
We hope you will try out a tenant or two or ten from this list and let us know how it empowers you. Remember, it’s on each one of us to lift the other up in our collective desire to accelerate the advancement of women and girls.