Henry Ansah

You can’t be yourself until you know who you are.

A lot of people wear masks so often that

it becomes hard for them to distinguish between their true selves and who they pretend to be

Because;
→ they want to fit in
→ they want to protect themselves from rejection and hurt
→ they’re not confident people will like who they actually are.

In a world where many are celebrated for being something other than themselves,

I believe being yourself is key to personal fulfillment and growth

even if it means facing criticism for not conforming to societal expectations.

Here are 5 ways you can live authentically and fearlessly;

1. Increase your self-awareness
Reflect on who you are, who you want to become and what you don’t want to be, to align your actions with your true self.

2. Recognise the mask you wear
Identifying the personas you adopt allows you to shed them.

3. Embrace vulnerability
Be open about your insecurities and imperfections to build genuine connections and for personal growth.

4. Don’t filter, just be
Authenticity comes from expressing yourself genuinely without censoring or conforming to others’ expectations. Trust your instincts, embrace improvisation, explore the unfiltered version of yourself.

5. Accept feedback as a gift
You attract what you are. Those around you are mirrors that reflect your blindspots so listen to them, and observe how they behave in your presence.

Don’t be afraid to let the world know who you are, at whatever level you are.

Being authentic doesn’t mean you should stay static.

Allow yourself to grow and embrace new interests.

Curiosity is often the spark that ignites our greatest adventures and accomplishments.

Personally, I have always been driven by a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity to understand what makes individuals thrive in their professional lives.

I recall an encounter with a client who was feeling stuck in his career.

Despite my expertise, I realized that I couldn’t rely solely on conventional wisdom or predefined solutions.

Instead, I needed to approach the situation with an open mind and a curious spirit.

Upon asking questions and actively listening to my client’s story, I uncovered hidden talents and passions he hadn’t even realized he possessed.

Through this experience and many others like it, I have come to appreciate the hidden power of curiosity.

I have witnessed the impact that curiosity can have on individuals’ lives by encouraging them to delve deep within themselves, celebrating questions as pathways to growth, and instilling the value of continuous self-improvement.

As I continue on this journey, I am committed to empowering others to embrace curiosity as a tool for personal growth.

What experiences have sparked your curiosity and led to transformative moments in your personal or professional life?

COVID was the ultimate test of workplace resilience for organisations.

Despite the difficulties, my team stuck together and emerged stronger.

This wasn’t because we were untouched by the pandemic – we were,

But it was because we had built in them the ability to adapt and bounce back in the face of setbacks and stress.

As a founder, here are practices I use at my company to promote satisfaction and resilience among my team;

1. Create a supportive work environment
I encourage everyone to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback so we can support each other and work together better.

2. Provide opportunities for growth
I offer training and mentorship programs, and career advancement prospects to support their professional growth.

3. Recognize and appreciate efforts
I acknowledge and celebrate my team’s contributions and offer constructive feedback. A simple “good job” goes a long way.

4. Promote stress-management techniques
I encourage them to take short breaks and make sure they use their vacation days.
We also do activities like breathing exercises and physical exercise to reduce stress.

5. Foster strong team relationships
I encourage collaboration and teamwork, and create opportunities for social interactions and team bonding activities to strengthen relationships.

It’s counter-productive to encourage employees to stay glued to their PCs and desks and compete for credit, as it leads to stress and burnout.

What other practices do you use to build resilience at work?

As a child, I was always drawn to play.

Whether it was building castles out of cardboard boxes or creating elaborate stories with my toys, I thrived in moments of imagination and exploration.

However, as I grew older, the pressures of adulthood began to chip away at my sense of playfulness.

Like many of us, I became entrenched in the routine of everyday life as I focused on deadlines, responsibilities, and the pursuit of success.

But amidst the hustle and bustle, I realized that something was missing. I longed for the sense of wonder and freedom that came with play.

During a particularly challenging project at work, I rediscovered the power of play and experimentation. At the time, the project took a roadblock and I decided to take a step back and approach it with a childlike curiosity.

Instead of fixating on the end result, I allowed myself to explore different possibilities without fear of failure.

I tried new techniques, embraced unconventional ideas, and welcomed feedback with open arms. And slowly but surely, something remarkable began to happen.

Through play and experimentation, I discovered solutions that I never would have considered otherwise. Ideas flowed freely. What started as a roadblock became a thing of the past.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson that play is not just for children but is a fundamental aspect of the human experience.

It is through play that we unleash our imaginations and tap into our innate creativity.

How can we incorporate play and experimentation into our lives and work?

It begins by giving ourselves permission to embrace the unknown by letting go of perfectionism and embrace the joy of exploration.

Whether it is through brainstorming sessions or simply allowing ourselves to dream, there are countless ways to infuse play into our daily routines.

P.S. When was the last time you allowed yourself to play and experiment freely, without fear of judgment or failure?

When it comes to building my brand, I always

focus on

Credibility, Vulnerability, and then Assurance.

1. Credibility:
Imagine creating an instant connection with your tribe so you immediately become someone they ‘know, like and trust.’

Through your written marketing materials as well as when you are speaking to individuals or groups, you can position yourself as a person that they want to do business with by creating credibility and showing vulnerability.

Regardless of your experience or education, you are credible—you are an expert in you niche.

But, being an expert doesn’t do you any good unless you wear the hat.

Take out your invisible expert hat and before you put it on ask yourself if you’re truly ready and willing to OWN your hat.

Now put it on!

Remember: 👇
No matter how credible you are you don’t have credibility unless you TELL OTHERS. This is not the time to be shy or humble. Own it!

2. Vulnerability:
Now that you’ve established yourself as an expert, you need to make sure that you’re not making yourself seem “unreachable”—meaning you want to remain HUMAN and REAL.

To do this, you will need to be willing to be VULNERABLE. This is where you take your story and work it into your message.

Show them who you really are and help them feel connected to you.

3. Assure them they’re in the right place:
Now that you’ve got on your expert hat and they know who you REALLY are, it’s time to assure them that they have come to the right place.

Remember: 👇
Credibility comes from the expertise to back it up, the connection you establish, and your ability to make them feel comfortable with what you are offering them.

There are many different ways to create revenues streams

from what you do, whether you have a physical product, virtual product, service based industry, are a speaker, or a combination of things.

One thing that you will want to do over time is creating multiple REVENUE streams.

This is important because your product or services can be presented and marketed in different ways for different needs.

For example, someone that makes jewellery can make money selling their jewellery online, but they can also sell their expertise about :-

– how to make it,
– how to buy it,
– how to use specific materials,
– and how to sell it.

Every product or service has many different dimensions to it and the reason
that you want to look at those streams is because it allows you to have money coming in from different directions, which allows you to have more FREEDOM and FLEXIBILITY.

Remember: 👇
There are many ways to create add-ons to your current offerings.

One good way to generate ideas for additional revenue streams is to look back at the Problem/Solution.

If you’re already solving a problem, ask yourself if they still have a lingering problem, and if they do (which they do) create another solution for them.

Make the most out of each product or service.

I don’t know about you, but my time is valuable. In fact, MY CURRENCY IS MY TIME.

When I put things together I try to find different ways to utilize the same content—making the most from my efforts.

There is no need to continuously try to reinvent the wheel. If you create something it is in your best interest to find different uses for it.

A perfect example would be if you create and present a teleclass or a workshop and you record it.

From that recording you can have it transcribed, which would give you a written document that you can sell or give as an incentive.

You can also use it for newsletters, blog posts, content to place on other websites (article marketing), short mini videos, an audio program, or you could even package it with other content to create bigger products.

By doing things like this you can leverage your time to create multiple streams of revenue out of one thing that you did.

For much of my life,

I found myself caught in of activities of constant strivings and doings, but
rarely taking the time to pause and truly connect with the present moment.

I never realized the importance of slowing down until one time I felt overwhelmed and lost.

No matter how hard I worked or how much I tried to push through, the
answers seemed to elude me. It was in this moment of desperation that I turned to mindfulness as a lifeline.

I began by simply sitting in silence, allowing myself to breathe and become aware of the sensations in my body.

And as the noise of the outside world began to fade away, I found clarity in the stillness.

Along the way, I learned to observe my thoughts and emotions without judgment.

In doing so, I gained a newfound sense of perspective that allowed me to
see the challenges I faced not as obstacles, but as opportunities for growth and learning.

But mindfulness was just the first step. It was through reflection that I was able to truly integrate these insights into my life.

I set aside time each day keeping a journal, which allows me to explore my thoughts and feelings in depth. And with each reflection, I gained a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me.

To cultivate mindfulness and reflection in our own lives, we simply have to be present and listen to the whispers of our own hearts.

Whether it is through meditation, keeping a journal, or simply taking a walk, there are countless ways to nurture our inner selves and cultivate a sense of mindfulness.

P.S. Please how do you incorporate mindfulness and reflection into your
daily routine, and what benefits have you experienced as a result?

Personal growth influences career success.

That’s why whether you’re currently in a job, in-between jobs or about to enter the job market,

It’s important to develop essential skills to ensure your success.

This way, you stand out and improve your chances of climbing up the corporate ladder.

Here’s how to achieve career success with personal growth;

1. Embrace change
Change is always happening.
If you try to avoid it, you’ll miss out on chances to grow.
But if you’re open to it, you’ll be better at dealing with new developments.

2. Develop a growth mindset
People with a growth mindset;
– see challenges as opportunities to learn,
– don’t let failure stop them, and
– keep trying even when things are tough.
It’s about believing you can improve and working at it.

3. Learn to overcome challenges
Personal growth is not always a smooth journey. You’ll face obstacles along the way. But believing in yourself and your abilities is key.
Develop self-awareness, challenge limiting beliefs, Cultivate self-compassion, Replace self-doubt with self-belief.

4. Irrespective of how small the win is, celebrate it.
When you take time to celebrate your successes, you set the stage for even greater accomplishments.

5. Set new goals
Set ambitious, yet achievable goals. Make sure what you set is within your reach to succeed. That way when you reach a milestone you have the capacity to set other goals.

When you actively seek personal growth, you increase your self-awareness, find greater fulfillment and are better aligned to achieve your goals.