Molly Fletcher's Blog

GamechangHER 2024: Event Recap

What would your life look like if you were able to show up as your best self? That’s the question we delved into at the GamechangHER women’s event, a transformative online gathering celebrating International Women’s Day. Thousands of women attended, and so many women have reached out to share the impact it had on their lives. 

Live Boldly!

As the host and one of the speakers, I’m thrilled to recap some of the highlights from this empowering event. What I loved about the event was how each speaker brought her unique perspective and insights to the table and yet there was a common theme: live boldly and step into opportunity!

My Favorite Moments from GamechangHER

Here are some of my favorite quotes to give you a glimpse of what we discussed:

Molly Fletcher: Former Top Sports Agent and Keynote Speaker

“Control what you can control and let go of what you can’t”

Tamron Hall: Emmy-Winning Host and Broadcaster

“The best of who we are often comes from the company that we keep.”

Amy Porterfield: NYT Bestselling Author, Entrepreneurship Advocate, and Podcast Host

“What’s keeping you comfortable is keeping you stuck!”

Carla Harris: 30+ Year Wall Street Veteran, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley

“Your real power is who you know.”

Diana Nyad: Maverick Open-Water Long-Distance Swimmer

“Never, ever give up.”

Nedra Glover Tawwab: NYT Bestselling Author and Boundaries Expert

“Setting boundaries isn’t selfish; it’s an act of self-care. Protect your time and energy like the precious resources they are.”

Kara Goldin: Entrepreneur, Author, Podcast Host and Founder of Hint® water

“You cannot figure out if something is possible if you don’t actually try.”

Tunde Oyeneyin: Peloton Instructor, NYT Bestselling Author, and Confidence Creator

“Living quietly is neither rewarding or fun.”

Jen Cohen: Influencer, Author, and Podcast Host

“Success isn’t just about what you accomplish; it’s also about how you inspire others along the way.”

Jess Ekstrom: Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur

“Be a lighthouse speaker, not a spotlight speaker.”

Jennifer McCollum: CEO of Catalyst, Inc. and Gender Equity Advocate

“Clarity is about intention.”

Kathryn Gordon: Author, Keynote Speaker, and Podcast Host

“You’re never too old to create your life and be the best you.”

Watch the GamechangHER Event Replay

Each of these incredible women shared valuable lessons and strategies to help you unleash your potential and thrive in every aspect of your life. Whether you’re striving for success in your career, relationships, or personal growth, the GamechangHER Women’s Event provides actionable insights to guide you on your journey.

If you missed the event or want to relive the inspiration, I encourage you to watch the replay. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by—empower yourself to be bold, take risks, and create the life you want!

Together, let’s redefine what it means to be a gamechanger.

[Watch the Replay]

Remember, the world needs women who are unafraid to step into their power and make a difference. Will you answer the call?

With gratitude and determination,

Molly Fletcher

 

Bring the GamechangHER Experience to Your Company

Creating the next generation of female leaders starts with investing in their ability to thrive at work and at home. If women aren’t empowered to navigate life’s demands, everyone suffers. Communities, families, colleagues, clients and the bottom line. If you’re a leader who is ready to pour into the women at your company check out our GamechangHER training experience via my company Game Changer Performance Group. This training experience equips women to elevate their skills and teaches them how to integrate work and life without sacrificing health and performance.

 

More From These Speakers:Episode 192- Bet On Yourself with Emmy Award-winning Journalist Tamron HallEpisode 189- How to Set Healthy Boundaries with Instagram’s Favorite Therapist Nedra Glover TawwabEpisode 174- Diana Nyad on Never Giving Up on Your DreamsEpisode 169- Tunde Oyeneyin on How to Embrace UncertaintyEpisode 142- Kara Goldin on How to Overcome Self-DoubtEpisode 125- Carla Harris on Why You Need a Sponsor Not a Mentor

 

Molly Fletcher inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A  keynote speaker  and  author,  Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Molly is the founder of Game Changer Performance Group.   Sign up to receive her newsletter, subscribe to the  Game Changers with Molly Fletcher  podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset. 

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10 Takeaways From My Top Podcast Episodes Of 2023

What an extraordinary year 2023 turned out to be for the “Game Changers with Molly Fletcher” podcast! I was privileged to host so many exceptional guests and learned so much through these conversations. I’ve been reflecting on what I want to bring with me into 2024, and I decided to share my favorite takeaways from the top 10 episodes of 2023. Distilling these episodes down to one insight was hard to do, so I encourage you to listen to the full episodes if you have the opportunity.

The Top 10 Podcast Episodes of 2023Episode 179 – Mike McDaniel on Leading with AuthenticityGuest: Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins Head CoachMy Favorite Takeaway: Don’t pattern yourself after anyone else. Let your authenticity be your superpower. Episode 161 – Troy Aikman on The Self-Discipline to Achieve Your GoalsGuest: Troy Aikman, Hall of Fame quarterback and Emmy-nominated broadcasterMy Favorite Takeaway: Mental toughness is forged through discipline. Do the work even when you don’t feel like it. Episode 166 – Dr. Mark Hyman on How to Optimize Your HealthGuest: Dr. Mark Hyman, Functional Medicine Advocate and AuthorMy Favorite Takeaway: Automate your health by structuring your environment so the defaults are the right choicesEpisode 173 – Gary Keller on Leading with PurposeGuest: Gary Keller, Founder and Chairman of Keller Williams RealtyMy Favorite Takeaway: Leadership starts with leading yourself. Episode 170 – Steve Nash on Get Better Every DayGuest: Steve Nash, Hall of Fame point guard and EntrepreneurMy Favorite Takeaway: Stack days on top of each other. The key to success is embracing the process with passion and detail.Episode 163 – Bozoma Saint John on Living Your Life to the FullestGuest: Bozoma Saint John, Hall of Fame Marketer (Netflix/Uber/Apple Music)My Favorite Takeaway: A joyful life is one where you choose to be joyful, even when it’s hard. Episode 165 – Kelvin Sampson on How to Build a Winning CultureGuest: Kelvin Sampson, University of Houston Men’s Basketball CoachMy Favorite Takeaway: Don’t confuse coaching with criticism. Episode 182 – Dr. Michael Gervais on How to Stop Worrying about What People Think of YouGuest: Dr. Michael Gervais, High-Performance PsychologistMy Favorite Takeaway: The fear of other’s opinions is the single greatest constrictor of human potential. Episode 167 – Eve Rodsky on The Hidden Costs of Doing It AllGuest: Eve Rodsky, bestselling author of Fair PlayMy Favorite Takeaway: Treat your home like your most important organization.Episode 169 – Tunde Oyeneyin on How to Embrace UncertaintyGuest: Tunde Oyeneyin, Peloton Instructor and Nike AthleteMy Favorite Takeaway: Confidence is choosing to amplify the positive voice. 

 

If you’re loving the podcast, please take a minute to subscribe, rate, and review to help us continue to expand our reach and amplify these incredible voices.

Molly Fletcher inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A  keynote speaker  and  author,  Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Molly is the founder of Game Changer Performance Group.   Sign up to receive her newsletter, subscribe to the  Game Changers with Molly Fletcher  podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset. 

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The Mindset Shift For The Working Mom

Picture this, I’m in the prime of my career as a sports agent, just back from maternity leave after our first daughter was born, and within a few months of returning to the office, I find out I am pregnant. Twelve weeks pregnant….with twins. Aha, that’s why I couldn’t nurse our firstborn anymore. I was pregnant with twins!

I remember thinking to myself, “Blessing yes, but wow!” When I dropped the twins’ sonogram on my boss’s desk, he couldn’t hide it, he wasn’t happy. I remember thinking, how am I ever going to make this all work? I loved my work, but as any mom would attest to, I loved my children (even my unborn) more. And how will this all work financially? I knew the costs of one child for child care, now three? ,

I know that I’m not the only mother who has had to navigate the challenges of trying to make becoming a “working mom” … work. Feeling the squeeze of childcare costs against your compensation and love for your children and wondering, “Does this make sense?”

It breaks my heart when I see women leaving the workforce because they feel like they have no other option. The world needs women at the table bringing their energy and ideas to help shape the future we all share!

Having navigated motherhood (my three miracles are now in college) and built a career I’m so grateful for (and that has benefited our girls and my family greatly) I feel ready to share a mindset shift that helped me (and my family) along the way.

The Working Mom Challenge: A Foul Play

In the whirlwind of career highs and the demands of parenting, I faced the questions many women do – do I pause my career trajectory to be with my children? Can I earn enough for this to even make sense? What would re-entry into the workforce look like? And when they are all in school most of the day, then what? But the big question is, where should I spend my time, energy, and resources to ensure, now and in the future, I show up as the best person I can be?

It’s a challenge that’s often seen as the mom’s burden… But let me tell you, it doesn’t have to be that way – and, it shouldn’t be that way.

Reimagining the Game Plan: It’s a Team Effort

Amidst the chaos of a newborn and twins on the way, my husband and I had a lightbulb moment.

Instead of viewing childcare costs solely as an equation against my inflows, what if we reframed it as a shared endeavor?

We are considering not only our combined income and this new outflow of child care cost, but also our core values, and our combined and personal goals.

It’s a simple revelation that many couples miss – the cost of childcare is a joint responsibility and a complex equation!

The Working Mom Shift: Childcare as a Team Effort

Let’s shift the game. Instead of seeing childcare as a finite inflow and outflow equation, let’s see it as a combined, long-term opportunity to pursue what is possible and the impact we can have on our family while doing so….the impact on our families, our children, our partners, our community and more.

Let me be clear, your world is your world; your demands, desires, and dreams are yours.

My own mom went part-time when I was born and then re-entered full-time when I was in elementary school. This isn’t intended to imply there is a right or a wrong way for moms to stay or go from their careers, but what it is is a request to shift your lens ever so slightly to ensure you don’t overweigh your responsibility in the pursuit of your personal and professional dreams.

More on Motherhood:Reclaiming the Right to Success and FulfillmentEpisode 167- Eve Rodsky on The Hidden Costs of Doing It AllMoms: Give Yourself These 7 Permission Slips for Mother’s DayEpisode 148- Allyson Felix on Overcoming Fear and Achieving GreatnessEpisode 149- Lisa Bilyeu on How to Build Self-Confidence

Molly Fletcher inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A  keynote speaker  and  author,  Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Molly is the founder of Game Changer Performance Group.   Sign up to receive her newsletter, subscribe to the  Game Changers with Molly Fletcher  podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset. 

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Discipline vs. The Talent Trap

In the world of sports, we often come across athletes who are hailed as prodigies, gifted with extraordinary talent from a young age. They are showered with praise and admiration, being referred to as “The Natural” or “The Next Big Thing.” While encouragement and recognition are powerful motivators, solely relying on talent can lead to missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. The “why?” is simple. People overestimate talent and underestimate discipline. 

The Trap of Talent

Do not get me wrong. Talent is undoubtedly a wonderful gift and I believe in encouraging everyone from children to our colleagues.  From strangers to neighbors.  It’s powerful, but also limiting. The listener hears and starts to believe “it’s enough.” At a young age, we are fed words of encouragement. We become so full we think our talent will be enough. But really, it is only a matter of time till you get stuffed by someone who works harder for it. Yes, natural ability can kick-start the journey of what could be, but only if it’s threaded with consistent discipline. 

Troy Aikman: The Definition of Discipline

Troy Aikman, a Hall of Fame quarterback who enjoyed a remarkable career in the NFL, is an exemplary model of discipline over talent. Throughout his twelve-year NFL tenure, he achieved great success, winning three Super Bowl rings and earning six Pro Bowl appearances. After retiring from football, Aikman transitioned to become an Emmy-nominated broadcaster with over two decades of experience in front of the camera.

Aikman is the definition of discipline. The definition of never relying on solely talent.  He told me when he joined me on, my podcast – “Game Changers With Molly Fletcher”- that he set goals, completed them, and then set more. He embraced the hard work – and still does.

Aikman’s disciplined approach to life was instilled in him during his upbringing on a working farm in Oklahoma. He grew up with high expectations and a long list of chores. He witnessed the relentless hard work of his father and learned the value of discipline and persistence. For Aikman, setting goals and diligently working towards them became second nature. He embraced the notion of hard work and continued to do so even after reaching the pinnacle of his football career.

To get things done, you work for it. Doing what you want most, not what you want right now. 

The Power of Discipline

While Aikman’s natural talent as a quarterback was evident, it was his unwavering discipline that truly set him apart. He understood that talent alone could only take him so far. By combining his innate abilities with consistent and focused effort, he was able to achieve greatness and continually set new milestones in his life.

Unlocking Your Full Potential

Aikman’s story serves as a powerful lesson for all of us. Instead of relying solely on our talents, we should strive to complement them with discipline. Discipline enables us to push beyond our comfort zones, to set ambitious goals, and to persevere even in the face of challenges. It’s the key to unlocking our full potential and reaching heights we may have thought were beyond our grasp.

Refusing to Settle

It’s natural to enjoy receiving praise for our talents, and it can be a boost to our confidence. However, it’s crucial not to let that praise become a barrier to further growth. By staying hungry and embracing discipline, we refuse to settle for mediocrity. We choose to be good and strive to be great.

Your Challenge

The allure of talent can be captivating, but without discipline, it may lead to unrealized dreams and wasted potential. I have seen it firsthand, the devastating disappointment that stems when people rely on talent. It was the root of their problem, and guess what? They get weeded out by the people with less talent, and more discipline. The story of Troy Aikman reminds us that discipline is the catalyst that propels us to new heights. So, the next time you’re complimented for your talent, ask yourself how much further you could go with some discipline. Season our talents with discipline and witness the remarkable taste of success that follows.

 

More on Discipline:Episode 161- Troy Aikman on The Self-Discipline to Achieve Your GoalsEpisode 135- Tara Lipinski on The Discipline to Be GreatEpisode 174- Diana Nyad on Never Giving Up on Your DreamsDon’t Swing at the First Pitch

Molly Fletcher inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A  keynote speaker  and  author,  Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Molly is the founder of Game Changer Performance Group.   Sign up to receive her newsletter, subscribe to the  Game Changers with Molly Fletcher  podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset. 

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How to Change Your Mindset Around Change

Change is constant.  Today change comes at us as consistently as the cab lines in Vegas and is as unpredictable as your cards at the blackjack table.  Most people view change like they have just been dealt the two of spades.  As if change is in charge and tells us how to deal. 

To be the dealer, you must choose to make change happen for you rather than to you.

Change is Perpetual

From a sports agent to keynote speaker, I have learned firsthand the power of shifting, or should I say changing, our mindset around change.

Change was an epidemic for the athletes and coaches I represented and on some of the biggest stages in sports. From call ups, to being sent down to minors.  Being hired, to getting fired. Being traded to be released. Getting healthy or getting injured. Winning tournaments and missing cuts.  Change is perpetual.  If change was a wheel, then my clients were the hamsters. 

Learn to Embrace Change

My clients needed to embrace the change  – and fast.  The clock is always ticking in sports.  There is a stack of people above, below, and beside them that want their job, so either change or pack your bags. On top of that, management knows there is a younger, faster, stronger version of him or her in a locker room somewhere ready to go.  So if you want to survive, change isn’t a choice in sports.  Embracing it is as fundamental as a helmet in football. 

Imagine one day you are sitting in an office at Coca-Cola US headquarters in Atlanta and the next day you must report to your new office at Pepsico in New York.  Everything about it is different, everything!  It is not to say these athletes did not struggle with change, but they put on their poker faces.  They knew if they did not want to do it, someone else would.  They had to change their mindset, fast.

But we are not all in the big leagues or parked at a poker table. Nevertheless, change does not listen to our edit suggestions. Neverending, perpetual, wanted or not, the best thing you can do for yourself is to embrace it. Denying does not minimize change, but stepping into change can maximize it.

My Personal Experience

Fast forward almost two decades from the front court to backstage, I too, experienced change. As a motivational speaker, ironic enough, one thing that remained constant is the theme of change.  

I’ve learned this firsthand.  

The Mindset Shift

Before every speech, I have a pre-call with the team that is bringing me to the keynote. These calls allow me to get inside the head and the heart of the people in the room.  Understand the behavior change we are driving toward. I have done nearly 1,000 of these pre-calls and surprise!  The one common thread through hundreds of athletes and coaches and thousands of companies is that the mindset around change needs to shift.

Change creates chances. We can be the puppet to our fate. Or we can choose to embrace the change and control the strings. 

In every pre-call, I ask what the top 10% are doing differently than everyone else, without exception I hear, “they are embracing change.”  Be it leaders, salespeople, operators, athletes, or coaches  – they ensure change happens for them, not to them.  In fact, they ask for it, they welcome it, you know why?  Because they get better from it.  

Because here is the deal – 

Change is uncomfortable if we tell ourselves it is.  Change is an opportunity if we tell ourselves it is.

The Power of Possibilities

Change is not a diet. It has no goal line. Change does not wait for confidence, or the green light. It lays the foundation for it. Change is about seeing the unknown as opportunities. Change may be never-ending, but so are the possibilities.  

So next time the company announces an acquisition, new systems, processes or sales targets embrace it for what it is, healthy liv’in.  

More on Change:Get Curious Inside of ChangeEpisode 133- Katy Milkman on How to Create Change in Your LifeEpisode 127- General Stan McChrystal on How to Lead Through Change and UncertaintyHow to Develop Resilience Inside of Change

Molly Fletcher inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A  keynote speaker  and  author, Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Molly is the founder of Game Changer Performance Group.  Sign up to receive her newsletter, subscribe to the  Game Changers with Molly Fletcher  podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset. 

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Want More Female Leaders? It Starts on the Field.

March is Women’s History Month and yesterday was International Women’s Day, but we are here to lift women up EVERY day. This time of year many companies and people are considering ways to support women and develop the next generation of female leaders.

What’s one way to do that? By supporting girls’ sports.

A study by Ernst & Young found that 94% of female C-suite executives played sports and over 50% of them played sports in college. That’s a pretty significant correlation.

As a collegiate athlete, I saw for myself the role that sports played in my development as a leader, and as a mom to 3 daughters who played sports I saw them learn:

1. How to Be a Great Teammate

Teamwork is foundational to sports and foundational to being a good employee. In order to be a great leader, yes, you have to know how to lead a team, but first, you have to learn to be a good teammate.

2. How to Lead with Confidence

As an agent, I’ve worked with many athletes and every single one of them felt fear, but you wouldn’t know it when you saw them in action. Do you know why? Because they know that in order to be great you have to take risks. They would put on their game face and run, jump, or swing into that fear in the pit of their stomachs. And when you repeatedly step into fear, you develop self-confidence.

3. How to Overcome Setbacks and Develop Resilience

In sports, when you fail it’s not game over. You have to learn to get back up and keep playing. Athletes learn from each defeat and take those lessons to prepare for the next game. They watch film, do drills, and in time they learn that failure is just feedback. The best leaders know that when there is adversity you don’t give up, you show up. That’s resilience.

4. The Power of Discipline

Practice makes perfect and while talent might get you there, discipline will keep you there. Developing the drive to get better every day is what will help take girls to the top levels of leadership.

My Challenge to Parents to Create Future Female Leaders

Sports create a platform for women to learn, grow, and develop the traits of great leadership. As parents with busy schedules and lots of demands, getting our kids to practices and games is exhausting. It is. I get it. I have three daughters. They all played sports.

But here’s the deal, the impact that it’s making has very little to do with how well they hit a golf ball or a tennis ball, or shoot a basketball. It’s everything else. So recognize the power that sports can play in the lives of young women in the world today and the way it will help them show up in the world tomorrow.

More on empowering women and girls to be leaders:A Letter To My Daughters— And Every Teenage GirlMy Letter To Every Girl Who Plays Sports—and her Parents12 Pieces of Advice from Game Changing Women on My Podcast7 Kickass Women to Follow on Instagram

 

Molly Fletcher inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A keynote speaker  and  author, Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Sign up to receive her newsletter, subscribe to the  Game Changers with Molly Fletcher  podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset.

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Skip Other Goal Setting Tips and Do This One

Because of our brain wiring, the facts and figures that we remember the most are attached to stories. That’s the reason that detailed visualization is at the top of my most effective goal setting tips. If you’re not creating a story for yourself as the star performer, you need to be. It’s a fantastic habit that will drive you to amazing achievement.

Visualization makes your goals come to life. As you visualize, can you taste the champagne after that big deal is inked? How about the smell of the brand new car you’ve had your eye on? Or the touch of the trophy given to the top achiever?

This isn’t a one-off exercise. To be most effective as a goal setting tip, visualization takes consistent practice.

Of all goal setting tips, why is this so effective?

Your mind uses stories as a way to sift and organize tons of information, and it is always looking for shortcuts to help make sense. A satisfying story helps your brain block out extraneous information and distractions, poising you to do what is needed to make the story will come true. The more simple and vivid the imagery, the more effective your visualization will be in helping you (or your team or company) achieve your goal.

For your brain, this practice will replicate what visual storytelling does for marketers and businesses trying to attract customers: Because so many of us are “increasingly distracted by an array of digital stimuli, visual storytelling represents a compelling way … to cut through the clutter.” The brain seeks a simple, clear, guiding message that makes sense and challenges our talents and problem solving abilities. Why not visualize your best story?

Your Game Changer Takeaway

As you are goal setting, harness your brainpower by giving your mind a vivid story that stars you. As you rehearse your success with every sense that you have, watch how you shed distractions. This goal setting tip will prime you to execute specific achievements in real life.

The Molly Fletcher Company inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A  keynote speaker  and  author,  Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. She is the founder of Game Changer Performance Group, which offers training and coaching programs to help leaders unleash their potential, including: Negotiation: Maximize Your Influence, which teaches business people a framework for successful negotiating; Energy: Optimize Your Focus, which teaches people how to manage their energy to achieve focus and freedom; and High Impact: Elevate Your Power Skills, which is in development now and will supercharge your organization’s performance.  Sign up to receive our newsletter, subscribe to the  Game Changers with Molly Fletcher  podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset, which has been viewed more than 1 million times.

The post Skip Other Goal Setting Tips and Do This One appeared first on Molly Fletcher.

How To Use Fear To Be More Confident

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Do you ever wish you could be more confident? A few weeks ago I had Lisa Bilyeu on my podcast to talk about confidence. She is the author of a book called Radical Confidence, which she defines as, “being scared and doing it anyway.” We talked about how so many of us feel stuck in a place where life is good, but it’s not amazing. She described this as “purgatory of the mundane.” We think we need more confidence to get unstuck, to make a change. What we need to be doing is asking ourselves, what is our end goal? What do we wish we actually had the confidence to do? 

Be Confident, Be In Control

So to gain more confidence, start by asking yourself, what do you want the confidence for?

People focus so much on the confidence part instead of focusing on what they actually want it to do for them. What do you need the confidence for? Maybe you want to tell your boss you’re burnt out? Do you want to ask for a promotion? Are you considering a career change? I want more confidence to do what? The answer to that question might just give you the courage to step into that fear. Resulting in more confidence to do what you want most! 

Fear Can Make You Confident

I’ve worked with many athletes. Every single one of them felt fear. They’ve all had that pit in their stomach. Tara Lipinski told me on my podcast that she was scared to death when she stepped out onto the ice during the Olympics. When guys and girls are standing over a putt to win their first golf tournament, they’re scared. When they’re standing on the line getting ready to drain a game-winning free throw, they’re afraid. The pitcher, standing on the mound of vans seven of a World Series, there is a pit in their stomach, guaranteed. But they do it anyway.

Over time the result of stepping into fear is that we build our confidence muscle, and we strengthen it. 

My Challenge to You

So, ask yourself, is what you want more important than stepping into that fear?  What’s at risk if you do it, and what’s at risk if you don’t? Sometimes we have to realize that what we want most is more important than letting fear defeat us, which can create confidence. 

More on Confidence:How to Lead Confidently by Turning Thoughts into Action5 Tools to Re-Build Your ConfidenceEpisode 120- Katty Kay on How To Build Your Confidence

The Molly Fletcher Company inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A keynote speaker and author, Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Her company offers training and coaching programs to help leaders unleash their potential, including: Game Changer Negotiation Training, which teaches business people a framework for successful negotiating; The Energized Leader training, which teaches people how to manage their energy to achieve focus and freedom; and a monthly coaching program, Game Changer Leadership Huddles, to help members recharge their purpose and mindset. Sign up to receive our newsletter, subscribe to the Game Changers with Molly Fletcher podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset.

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Why I Hate the Term ‘Empty Nester’

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At this time of year, there are so many transitions— the end of summer, the beginning of school, and for many people settling into new jobs or new roles still due to COVID’s aftermath. My family just had a huge transition: my husband and I dropped off our youngest twin girls at college. We just became “empty nesters,” and the more I reflect on the term empty nester, the more I’ve decided there is nothing “empty” about it!

The Emotions of “Drop-Off-Day”

We’ve been preparing for the empty nest for some time, and on drop-off-day, I experienced all of the emotions—tears; melancholy; joy that they’ve made it; excitement for their adventures ahead… and everything else in between!

In the weeks leading up to drop-off-day, a friend shared a really special thought with me: the feelings we experience at drop-off-day are not some big new feeling. They are feelings that have been happening all along! From the first day of kindergarten, the first solo drive, the first date, all of these firsts have just been the start of a new chapter.

I remember being so upset the first time I dropped off my eldest at daycare, but then I adjusted and came to see all the great benefits of having her in school. I remember the fear of my daughters learning to drive, but I also remember the joy that came with their new independence!

At each step, you know what? The world didn’t end. We made it work and my daughters thrived. Nothing fell apart, we pivoted and grew together as parents and as a family.

Becoming an Empty Nester is Not an Ending, but a New Beginning

So yes, becoming an empty nester is perhaps the end to what we’ve known so far as parents. However, I choose to view it as the beginning of so many things for all of us.

My daughters will have the chance to experience the joys of leaving home and experiencing new things at college. My husband and I will have more time to travel and to explore what lies in our next chapter. And, I will have more time to focus on growing my business and investing in my own passions.

Instead of stressing about the “what ifs” and worrying about having an empty home. I am CHOOSING to tell myself a different story. I am CHOOSING to tell myself that this isn’t the end, but a new and exciting opportunity for my whole family to grow.

When we can shift our mindset and tell ourselves the right story, our perspective shifts from having an empty nest, to a new, different nest. To me, a new nest is a new chapter, and I can’t wait for what’s to come!

My Challenge to You

So should you find yourself coming upon a big transition, such as becoming an “empty nester,” I challenge you to change your mindset and the way you anticipate the change.

One thing I did to help guide me in my mindset shift from an empty nest to a new nest, was to write myself a letter. I wrote myself a note to remind me that I could do it and that they were prepared, that they were strong, and that it was not the end at all. It’s the beginning.

It’s the beginning of an awesome new chapter with my husband, it’s the beginning of a new chapter with our girls, and the truth is, it’s the beginning of more exciting and amazing transitions.

Mindset matters, mindset shifts are powerful.

My girls at Auburn Bid Day. Go ADPi!More on Mindset:Feeling Stuck? Try this Simple Mindset ShiftEpisode 140- Brad Stevens on How to Lead with a Growth MindsetEpisode 136- Jay Glazer on How to Develop an Unbreakable Mindset

The Molly Fletcher Company inspires leaders, teams and organizations to up their game. A keynote speaker and author, Molly draws on her decades of experiences working as a sports agent. Her company offers training and coaching programs to help leaders unleash their potential, including: Game Changer Negotiation Training, which teaches business people a framework for successful negotiating; The Energized Leader training, which teaches people how to manage their energy to achieve focus and freedom; and a monthly coaching program, Game Changer Leadership Huddles, to help members recharge their purpose and mindset. Sign up to receive our newsletter, subscribe to the Game Changers with Molly Fletcher podcast, and watch her TED Talk on The Secrets to a Champion Mindset.

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Four Journaling Practices to Change Your Life

Ready to change your life? Could it be as easy as implementing 4 simple journaling practices? Journaling as a Resilience Building Tool Resilience shrinks the gap between talent and success. I saw it over and over again as a sports agent: top performers recover faster from adversity and find the hidden gifts in failure. But … Continued

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