team relies on you providing accurate information to make good decisions. So give them the information they need to succeed. Also, use every single resource within your power to get a job done when you say yes in order to meet that yes. There’s an old business adage, ”You can have it good, fast, or cheap. Pick two.” Pushing to have all three at once is a predictable recipe for failure. I absolutely know this to be true. That is why the effective “no” helps identify what efficiencies can be realized, ultimately leading to a successful “yes.” There’s always an answer. Adopt that mindset and you’ll find whatever problem you’re dealing with is not insurmountable. Everybody answers to someone All organizations have some sort of hierarchy, even families. Understanding what hat you’re wearing at a particular time keeps you confident and helps you find maximum joy. That said, it’s important to match your mindset to the tasks at hand, knowing when you’re running the show and when you’re in a supporting role. This is a mistake I’ve made myself and one I watch out for even now. I take a second banana attitude when I really need to acknowledge I’m now the top banana and I need to wholeheartedly accept it. If you can wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and be happy with the person staring back at you, that is worth untold amounts of riches in terms of mental health and your ability to manage your life and career. Even the people who think they are totally in charge don’t recognize that total control is an illusion; they are often the ones who do not succeed in the long term. Also keep in mind that money is great, but it can exact an extremely high cost. You might be driving fancy cars, living in a pricey apartment, and jetting off to exotic places. But the cost to you personally may be too high. Some people facing the end of their lives have kids who don’t talk to them and spouses who have long left or drifted away. They can have all the money in the world, but if they don’t have those things that make a life a life, the money doesn’t matter. After all, the hearse doesn’t come with a luggage rack. That’s not counterintuitive coming from me as an entrepreneur—it’s reality. Taking a chance I recognize it’s hard to break out of what seems like a comfort zone. Early on I had the opportunity to be a consultant, which meant I was basically self-employed with no 401K or health insurance. I made a bet on myself and struck out on my own. Prior to that, I was a good second banana to my boss. I had a lot of respect. But I have a taste for adventure and a penchant for risk. Ultimately, I bet on myself instead of betting on my job. It was a lucky decision on my part because my company has been a success. I’ve never been afraid to take a chance; and in the long run, it paid off. I didn’t wait around to become an overripe banana, which potentially turns into a rotting banana. I didn’t stay put and become a frozen banana either. That’s a good role to have unless the freezer goes on the blink and you become all soft and mushy. Regardless, over time a frozen banana loses some of its flavor. ESTHER POULSEN is a successful speaker, author, and entrepreneur who enjoys sharing her perspectives to help others thrive. She is the Founder and CEO of Raare Solutions LLC, a company that offers marketing operations and CRM consulting services. A member of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board, she loves travel, books, and raising orchids. She can be reached through www.raare.com. SECOND BANANA In her newly published book, SECOND BANANA, author Esther Poulsen shares her acumen with readers through entertaining storytelling and practical advice. Her insights are applicable across all kinds of relationships—both professional and personal. From her youth in South Philadelphia to a business that has her jet-setting around the globe, SECOND BANANA chronicles Poulsen’s lessons learned working and consulting for major corporations. In her relatable down-to-earth style, she reveals the ups and downs that led her to these revelations. Poulsen also shares her philosophy for letting go of ego to get ahead. “A standard notion of success entails striving to be front and center,” she explains. “Often reality forges another, equally satisfying path.” As an author, “I’m delighted to have this book come to fruition. Thanks goes to my editor and fellow Enterprising Women Advisory Board member, Leslie Atkins, who helped bring my ideas and vision to life. The process of codifying my thoughts was amazing.” SECOND BANANA is available in both print and e-book formats through www.amazon.com and www.raarebooks.com . Published by Raare Books. grey_and / Shutterstock.com enterprising Women 69
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