From Dream to Done (Pt 3)

The Mindset Structures Required to Expand Into Your MORE

In Parts 1 and 2, we explored the external structures that help purpose scale and the personal structures that help you sustain calling without losing yourself. 

BUT there is one more layer that determines how far your purpose can actually go and that is YOUR MINDSET because no matter how strong your systems are, you will never build beyond the version of yourself you believe is possible.

This is where the Igbo girl in me can’t help but go GBAM!

In my work with Career Women seeking to birth purpose beyond their 9-5, I have seen that most career women don’t stall because they lack vision or competence, they stall because their thinking has NOT yet expanded to carry what they are being called into….

…and this sadly manifests as procrastination and a bunch of other excuses. 

So today, let’s deal with this. Here are three mindset structures every purpose-driven career woman must build if she’s going to expand into her MORE.

1. YOU MUST SEPARATE YOUR IDENTITY AND CALLING FROM YOUR CAPACITY

One of the most limiting beliefs Career women carry is confusing current capacity with true identity.

Your calling does not change because your life is full. What changes and must be built is your capacity – directly or indirectly. 

In your career, you already know this. When scope expands, you don’t quit. You hire, delegate, automate, restructure and rethink how work gets done. This same mindset must apply to purpose.

You don’t shrink the assignment to fit your life. You expand capacity to carry it – intelligently, strategically and over time.

2. YOU MUST NORMALISE GROWTH DISCOMFORT AND FACE IT STRATEGICALLY 

Discomfort is not a sign you’re failing. It’s often a sign you’re growing.

It’s important to note though that growth discomfort does not always mean doing more yourself. It could also mean thinking differently about how the work gets done.

In your career, when pressure increases, you don’t panic. You step back, assess the problem, bring in expertise, redesign the approach and then move forward strategically right?

That same leadership mindset must apply to your purpose work! Instead of abandoning your purpose work when things feel heavy, ask:

• What is this phase asking me to learn?
• What support or structure is missing?
• What would a wiser version of me do next?

3. RELEASE THE NEED FOR PERFECTION BEFORE VISIBILITY

Our careers have conditioned us to ensure all is perfect before presenting to the world, and this level of excellence has served you well. 

However, when it comes to your purpose work, perfection can be a hindrance. Many career women delay starting because they want their work to be “ready.”, but readiness is not the requirement…obedience is as there are lives tied to you. 

By the way, what feels imperfect to you is often more than enough for the people you’re meant to serve. Your experience, clarity and maturity mean that even your “first draft” is already valuable.

What are you still refining that could already be serving someone today?

In Closing…

Your purpose requires you to think at the level of who you already are becoming.

You’ve built systems in your career and navigated complexity. Apply that same mindset to your assignment. 

That is how dreams move from idea… to done.

Until next week, keep saying YES to your MORE.

Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue, fondly known as Iphie, is a seasoned professional with a rare mix of experience in brand management, sales, media and over 20 years’ experience building global brands across Africa. Iphie is the Managing Director Africa at Global Citizen – an international advocacy organization focused on ending extreme poverty now. She is the author of two books – The Uncommon Woman and Made for More, and is Founding President of the Uncommon Woman Movement.