Written by: Andrea Sampson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
My journey to thought leadership really began when I started my business in 2016; I made the choice to take on a business partner because I didn't believe in myself as an entrepreneur or speaker. I had limiting beliefs that were holding me back from stepping up and owning my message. I had a deep desire to help others identify and share their impactful stories, but I didn't have the confidence to do it myself. So, I chose a partner who wanted to take center stage and be the one that everyone looked to.
My limiting beliefs were challenged by the positive feedback and encouragement I was consistently receiving from my clients. They recognized the value of my message and were eager to hear more from me. I was being asked to speak at events and share my insights with a wider audience. It was then that I realized that my limiting beliefs were not a reflection of my capabilities, but rather the result of societal conditioning as a woman and my own internalized doubts that resulted from this. I began to understand that with the right mindset and tools, I could overcome these barriers and step fully into my thought leadership potential.
Limiting beliefs are one of the biggest obstacles we face when it comes to stepping into our full potential as thought leaders. They can hold us back from sharing our message with the world, limit our creativity, and prevent us from taking action on our ideas. These beliefs stem from a variety of factors, including past experiences and societal expectations that shape our worldview. For instance, my own limiting beliefs were shaped by conditioning about myself as a woman that made me doubt the importance of my ideas, and by my own newly discovered neurodivergence that made me question my ability to understand social cues from my audience and to read or even believe their interest in what I was saying.
This is the trap of limiting beliefs. We hold beliefs that we are not good enough, smart enough, or experienced enough to be thought leaders. We may be afraid of rejection or failure and feel that we are not ready to step into the spotlight. And when we don't share our ideas, not only do we miss out on the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world, but we also rob others of the chance to benefit from our unique perspectives and insights.
It's important that we hear and trust the feedback we receive from others and build the confidence that we have a valuable message to share, so we can break free from our limiting beliefs and step confidently into our role as thought leaders. This requires vulnerability and the willingness to put ourselves out there, but the rewards are immense. When we share our message with the world, we can create meaningful change and make a positive impact on the lives of others.
By trusting in the value of our unique message and taking the courageous step to share it with the world, we unlock a power within ourselves that we never knew existed. We gain newfound confidence in our abilities, grow as individuals, and ultimately make a difference in the lives of those around us.
When I connected with the support and feedback from others, I made the choice to step out and begin to use my voice to deliver my message, and my whole world changed. And, as the spotlight began to shine brighter on me, my business partner told me he felt like a supporting character in our story. Yet for the first time, I was truly hearing myself, hearing my impact, and seeing people understand our message in a way they hadn’t before. I recognized that in my story, in my voice, in my message, others were receiving more than I was saying; they were learning and growing because I was the one delivering the message. This realization ultimately empowered me to step out of the shadows and embrace my full potential as a thought leader.
I made the difficult decision to end the partnership, and it was from this place that I began to hone and refine my message. I began to speak more, be featured on podcasts, give keynote addresses, and even wrote my book, The Everyday Thought Leader, which will be out later this year.
My story illustrates the importance of both listening and also doing the inner work to overcome our limiting beliefs and step into our thought leadership potential. It takes time, effort, and dedication to do this work, but the results are worth it. When we can let go of our limiting beliefs and step into our full potential, we become powerful thought leaders who can make a meaningful impact on the world.
That's why I created the "Get On a TEDx Stage" masterclass series that I am currently offering.
Through this series, we can learn how to identify and release our limiting beliefs, transform our mindset, and step confidently into our role as thought leaders. We can learn how to use our unique voice and perspective to share our message and make a meaningful impact on the world.
Limiting beliefs can have a significant impact on our ability to be thought leaders. By doing the inner work to overcome these beliefs, we can transform our mindset and step into our full potential as powerful thought leaders.
Sign up for the "Get On a TEDx Stage" masterclass series today and start your journey towards sharing your powerful thought leadership!
Andrea Sampson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Andrea helps her clients craft stories from facts and deliver talks that are compelling and engaging. As the CEO and Founder of Talk Boutique, Andrea leads a team of coaches and provides her expertise as an Executive Communication Coach to senior leaders and professional speakers worldwide. Her experience as a TED trained Speakers Coach, with a special skill in understanding technical and science-based disciplines, Andrea helps her clients make their work accessible while maintaining its credibility and uniqueness. As part of the team to bring Singularity University to Canada, Andrea has worked with and trained Singularity University faculty worldwide. Andrea also holds a TEDx license (TEDxCorktown).
