4 Powerful Tips for Yakima Business Women on Success, Hard Work & Legacy
Let's talk about the definition of hard work in today's culture, and some important tips for success that I've learned on my journey as a businesswoman. We'll also discuss what family legacy means and how important the Yakima Valley is to me.
Defining Hard Work
What does it mean to "work hard" in today's culture?
Hard Work: Then and Now
Working hard in today's culture post-COVID
Does "work life balance" exist?
4 Powerful Tips for Real Success
1. Learn to say no.
2. More hours doesn't mean more productivity.
3. Hard work and compensation aren't always equal.
4. Your time is valuable.
What Does Your Legacy Look Like?
Defining Hard Work | What does it mean in today’s culture?
"Hard work" is such an interesting term. I think hard work used to be this concept of long days and multiple hours; anything outside of a traditional 40 hours work week. But that's changed with this newer generation and post-COVID.
I have two perspectives on hard work:
My own as I've grown older and transitioned into being an empty-nester.
Watching my two daughters as they enter the post-COVID world.
Hard Work: Then and Now
In my generation, hard work definitely meant long days, long weeks, and lots of sacrifice. I really leaned into this definition for many years, feeling like my personal value was wrapped up in the idea that I was a hard worker. I'd put in long days and get a lot accomplished, but I don't really want look at it that way anymore.
“My definition of hard work has changed as I’ve gotten older. Now, I focus on higher quality work in a shorter amount of time.”
I really like the idea of a compressed schedule because it allows me to be more focused on what I'm going to accomplish. I think this newer generation is also more oriented towards doing high quality work; COVID really made society reevaluate that.
Working hard in today's culture post-COVID
I recently watched my two daughters graduate and leave home. I would define them both as hard workers; they're putting in the hours, going the extra mile, and paying attention to detail. It's so important to them to do a good job.
But I also see that my girls like to play. They want to have time for themselves, for friends, and for rest. I love that they continue to navigate and figure out the kind of life they want to live.
I think COVID was a tipping point for so many people, especially in my daughters's generation. It allowed each of us to reevaluate our definitions of hard work. Some people who worked from home learned that they're able to accomplish so much more without needing a 40 hour week - I'm certainly much more efficient when I'm working from home.
We're seeing a significant shift as a society, especially when it comes to work and how we view it. Do we need to fill up an entire traditional 9-5 day anymore, or can we get things done efficiently and move on?
Does Work Life Balance Exist?
I think the idea of a work life balance is a myth. It's such an exhausting cliché. How can a person possibly balance their life and their work when they both demand so much of your time? Honestly, the sooner we can get over this concept, that there's some kind of mystical balance between the two, the sooner we can be happy.
I like the idea of "sprint, rest." I sprint at work; I'll go really hard, get what I need done...and then I'll rest.
It took me a long time to get to this point, over 30 years! I had to realize that it wasn't benefiting me, my kids, my clients, or even my community if I was just "go-go-go" all the time.
My solution was to create a short period of time where I'm working very intently, and then I'll focus on resting. I'm not a big partier, but I do like to be outdoors. If my working hard allows me do those things, I'm all about it, 100%.
Taking this approach has made me so much more effective for everyone involved. So, I think we should get over this idea of "balance" as fast as possible; just focus on your work, and focus on your rest.
4 Powerful Tips for Real Success
Throughout my time as a businesswoman in Yakima, I've learned some important concepts about success. These are some powerful lessons that have lead to real success in my career.
Learn to Say No
One thing that happens when you step into the community of Yakima as a businesswoman is that people will notice you. They'll see you have a passion for something, and they'll want to pull you in a hundred different directions, or ask you to participate in their own event or passion.
Unfortunately, I've said yes to way too many things:
Boards I had no interest in
Helping people out unnecessarily
Volunteering way too much
A lot of times I was saying yes to something I felt obligated to do, and not something I was truly passionate about. This didn't serve me or my family, and it really stressed me out! At one point, I was on four boards, had my two daughters in high school, and was running three businesses?
What the hell was I thinking?!
So me and my two pals (who were having similar issues) made a pact: no more boards or volunteering for two years. We fulfilled the existing obligations we had, and then we learned to say no.
When I started saying no more often, I began to value my time. I'm actually quite protective of my time now, and it has been incredibly rewarding!
When I do give time to an organization that I care deeply about, I'm giving it a much higher level of help and focus. Saying yes to everyone diminishes the quality of assistance you give.
2. More hours doesn't mean more productivity.
I believe today's generation is focused more on delivering quality work in a shorter amount of time. We have all kinds of technology systems and social media that have revolutionized the way we work!
I feel like I'm more of the generation where I found the value of myself in working. Instead of 40 hours, I would work 50-60 hours; days, weeks, weekends, long nights, and early mornings.
“I felt valuable because I was putting in a lot of hours, but that didn’t serve me well. ”
The sacrifices we make are often cuckoo crazy. I just didn't have the insight to look at any other role models outside of my parents. Whenever they weren't working hard on their business, they were working on our family's property. Our playtime was scheduled out a few times a year.
But at the end of the day, I think all that really matters is whether I did good work. Did I manage to deliver it? And maybe I can do that in 20 hours instead of 60, and that's fine.
3. Hard work and compensation aren't always equal.
We always hear the phrase, "Your work is not your worth." We often equate working hard with making lots of money, or even with self-worth. But, if we take the time to define what our end goal is, and to clarify the values and skills we bring to the table, we gain understanding.
I've worked for 24 years in business, and an agent who is brand new can make the same amount of money. There's no differentiation in how we get paid; our commission dollar is the same. However, most people would agree that someone with 24 years of experience has a higher level of service, thus more value than someone who's newly licensed.
It can be perplexing when that hard work and compensation don't equally translate into the value of the work you did, or how you're paid. It's a conundrum, especially in the world of sales or in corporate environments. Some people are making the same amount of money, but only a handful are really killing it and excelling. It's easy to get distracted and to start asking, "Why am I putting in all this effort and only making the same amount of money as so-and-so?"
For a long time, I defined my own worth by my work ethic. I would wear it like a cape or a badge of honor because I was always determined to outwork anyone. Unfortunately, this approach is a bit scorched-earth. I would work 10-12 hour days and say I was going to do whatever it took to be successful. But the older I get, the less important all of that is. It's really become more about what I want out of my one great journey and living.
So try to accept that your work and pay may not always be proportionate.
4. Your time is valuable.
I listened to an amazing episode of Sheri Riley on the Marie Forleo podcast, and they brought up an amazing concept called "100% work, 10% fulfillment."
At our jobs, we put in 100% effort;
we work hard and put in those long days. But in the end, we’re left with only 10% personal fulfillment.
So what are we doing all of this for?
This idea really hit a nerve with me. It reminded me that my time is valuable. Why would I do all of this work for another person? I want more fulfillment than to clock in and clock out only to pad someone else's pockets.
I think your goal should be to shift from 100% of this work, to more than 10% of fulfillment. Wouldn't it be amazing if it your fulfillment was 50%? What about 60% or more fulfillment? That would just be amazing!
Attaining your version of success and personal fulfillment is journey that only begins when you value your own time. The older I get, the more I've come to realize that. Now, I'm focusing more on what I want to get out of this one great journey called life. How am I going to leave a legacy that's more positive and supportive of others, so that we can move away from these old norms of what hard work looks like?
What does success really look like for each of us individually?
What Does Your Legacy Look Like?
My legacy is most definitely in my girls and in my community. I have the privilege of being Roger and Eva Lukehart's daughter; my family has already done so much for this community, and they believe so strongly in giving back to Yakima. I feel a huge responsibility to that.
Watching my dad was so profound; when he passed, a huge number of people that approached me, wrote to me, called me, or said something like, "You don't know who I am, but your dad did 'this' for me."
“It absolutely blew my mind. I had no idea of his effects outside of me and my family. To see other people share their story - that his legacy was so impactful - I could only dream of having people say those sorts of things to my daughters when I pass.”
So the question of legacy for me is my two bright, beautiful daughters, and the families that they're going to raise. I can't wait to see what their lives are going to be like!
Of course, I'm all about Yakima and carrying on the legacy of the Palm Springs of Washington. I want to get the message out there and share what a beautiful, incredible place Yakima is. I want to change the narrative with my Living in Yakima series, and I want people to love living here. Yakima is a such a beautiful place, and the people are incredible!
Those are my two big missions. I would be very curious to know what hard work means for you and what it looks like for you in your journeys as an entrepreneurs and a badass businesswomen, so be sure to leave some comments below and subscribe
I'm excited to continue having more hard conversations and exploring what it's like to be a young woman in business!
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