What if your mindset believed uncomfortable was the new comfortable? Would you make different choices and take different actions in your career, finances, and relationships?

Being in uncharted territory is a simple and often unsettling signal that you are on the right track. This is when opportunities emerge in your life and you move to another level. The playing field shifts and it’s powerful, scary and expansive. Welcome these moments!

Uncharted territory in your life is not good or bad, it just is. Yes, it may rattle your foundation and you may be tempted to pullback, say you can’t do it, or bail completely. But these are exactly the conditions that set you up for massive growth, joy, and new experiences in your life.

This idea relates to my clients in many different ways: the small business owner working to expand his/her business and brand, the manager working through a transition in his/her career, the single dad looking to generate passive income to support his family, the first time parents sending their child to school, or all of us working through a new relationship whether it be personal or with a business partner.

Personally, when I look back on some of the “uncomfortable” moments in my life which have turned into “wins,” I was completely in new territory and didn’t know what would happen: leaving my finance job and changing careers (would I find a career I love = yes), moving to California (would I make friends and build a new community = yes), writing my first book (would I write an inspiring book = yes ) or doing my first Half-Ironman (would I be able to swim 1.2 miles then bike 56 and run 13.1 = yes). It’s never easy but it’s always possible when you give yourself a chance and step forward.

The bottom line is if you’re growing and doing something new, you will be in uncharted waters. That’s just how it works. Staying in your comfort zone is always an option but that gets a bit boring after a while.

About Alissa
Alissa is a Professional Business/Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of Living in Your Top 1% (now available as an audio book on Amazon and Audible). She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has appeared on national radio stations such as CBS and Clear Channel Radio and has worked with the Milken Institute, LA Business Journal, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Neutrogena, and NBC Universal. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and Facebook Page. Please join Alissa for 4-week online class on Living in Your Top 1%.

Alissa Finerman is the author of Living in Your Top 1%, a book that encourages and helps readers create a personal roadmap to excel in life. Alissa is a life coach and speaker, who traded in a Wall Street career to pursue her passion: helping others bring out their greatness and making “Living in Your Top 1%” a way of life. She has appeared on national radio stations including CBS, Citadel Broadcasting, Clear Channel Radio, and Heartbeat Radio. She is also a regular blogger for PositivelyPositive.com and Virgin.com. Alissa holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her coach certification from New York University. She is also a former professional tennis player, and was ranked #1 in the USTA National Women’s 40 Doubles in 2008, 2009, and 2011.

Define creativity. What does it mean to you? And how has it inspired your career?

For me, creativity is about innovation, thinking differently, creating space, being expansive, and going beyond what’s possible to see things in a new and different light. The amazing part is that creativity will shine its light for each of us in different and beautiful ways. I don’t consider myself an overly creative person but I’m much more creative than I used to be.

Thankfully, the need for creativity influenced me to leave a successful Wall Street career and look beyond my current career path to explore a non-corporate lifestyle. As a result, I left my finance job and moved from NYC to Santa Monica, CA and became a Business/Life Coach, author and speaker. It has inspired me to go after my dreams, take chances (i.e., writing my first book, Living in Your Top 1%) and see what’s possible outside the finance world. Creativity is about tapping into your natural strengths, opening new doors, and letting yourself shine.

How do you navigate the creative process?

Each project is always different but I do practice consistent rituals. For example, when I was writing my book, which is a creative process, I wrote every morning for 4 hours regardless of how I felt. Sometimes the result was only one sentence that I liked and other times I wrote several chapters. For me, I need to create an open space in my mind to let my thoughts flow…to do this, I may go for a run in the early am, go on a hike, take a yoga class, or read. I need to quiet my mind and clear away all the distractions (phone, email, Facebook, etc) and just focus on what I’m doing. You never know what the result is going to be. That part is exciting to me.

When I’m writing an article, I’ll create my draft and then let it sit for a day before I come back and read it again. I like having some time for my ideas to settle, think through something, and gain clarity.

I also train myself to think in terms of the ideal outcome rather than let any obstacles come into my thinking. I like to focus on the “what if” rather than the “why it’s not possible.” This mindset is powerful for me.

Describe the biggest creative obstacle you’ve faced in the past. How did you hurdle it?

Writing my first book and figuring out how to do everything from A to Z. I talked to as many people in various parts of the industry to learn as much as I could about the writing, publishing, and marketing process, best approaches and then ultimately, I had to make the decisions. There are lots of good people out there who are happy to talk to you. Sometimes you have to check your ego and ask for help.

Who is your favorite creative figure? How have they inspired your creativity?

There are so many creative geniuses, it’s hard to pick just one. I admire and gain inspiration from many people including Steve Jobs (for his amazing innovation), Alvin Ailey (amazing dance company), Roger Federer (creative genius on the tennis court), Steven Spielberg (creating some of the best films and sharing the power of story), and Ellen (talented comedian) to share a few.

If you could choose one quote as your life mantra, what would it be?

Two words that I say everyday in my mantra are love and abundance. One of my favorite quotes is,

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau

I often hear the question What would love do or What would kindness do? I love these questions because they help to guide us forward with compassion and truth. Let me add one more powerful question to the mix…

What Would YOUR Top 1% Do?

Perhaps this is not a question you are used to asking but why not? It’s all about conditioning our mind to reach our potential. Some people prefer to ask, why did this happen or why did that happen which puts you in a constant state of analyzing rather than moving forward.

Please note, your Top 1% represents potential and opportunity rather than how much money you have, your level of education, your title, or how many homes you own. It’s about being fulfilled, growing, and practicing rituals to share your best self with the world. Each of us can define what our personal Top 1% looks like.

Let’s take a look at three different areas in your life and ask…
What would YOUR Top 1% do?

1. Career: You are in an unfulfilling job
Top 1% Question: What does it cost you on a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual level to not be engaged or fulfilled in your job?

Top 1%ers see the big picture and have the courage to take steps to change a reality that is not working. It may take time to change a situation but to live in your top 1% you need to take small steps forward and live your truth (ie, call a headhunter, fine-tune your resume, or have informational interviews to learn about a company).

2. Health: You keep talking about getting in shape but do not follow-through
Top 1% Question: Does being inconsistent with your thoughts and actions align with your goals and lead to the results you want?

Top 1%ers practice a high level of consistency and focus on core priorities. In this scenario, it’s essential to understand why working out is important and how it improves your life. If you don’t value health or care about working out, then it may not be the right goal or priority for your right now.

3. Relationships: You have a friend who drains your energy
Top 1% Question: What does your ideal Top 1% team look like and does this friend add to or detract from your team?

People who want to live in their top 1% understand the importance of having people in their life (aka a Top 1% team) who enhance their life rather than drain their energy. You only have so much time and energy so don’t be afraid to honor yourself. As Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

TOP 1% BOTTOM LINE: At every step, you have the option to go for good or great. You can condition your mind to quickly align choices, goals, and actions by asking better questions. Asking the right questions will help you gain clarity and, ultimately, make better decisions. If you can make better decisions, you can position yourself for success by sharing YOUR Top 1% with the world.

Life is a series of choices. It’s a process, not magic.

About Alissa
Alissa Finerman, is a Business/Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of the book, “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” which is available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. She has an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more please visit, AlissaFinerman.com and Facebook.com/AlissaFinermantop1.com. She is doing a live workshop in Santa Monica, April 21st. To learn more and sign-up, please visit her website.

This week’s guest is Allison Belger — psychologist, author, mom, fitness coach, and co-owner of four CrossFit affiliate gyms. I’m excited to share that her first book, The Power of Community, is now available. She highlights why it’s important to build communities in our lives in order to thrive and how a strong community can motivate people to push beyond perceived limits. A former division-one collegiate soccer player and five-time marathoner, she understands community and has embraced it to help herself and others to excel and lead fulfilling lives. She graduated from Dartmouth College, earned her Master’s Degree from Northwestern University, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California.

I’ve known Allison for more than 30 years and it’s a treat to include her in the Living in Your Top 1% interview series…

“When you have a group of people surrounding you, the landscape is limitless and the possibilities endless.” – Allison Belger

Alissa: What’s the most important strength you possess that allows you to excel in your role?
Allison Belger: I have a great ability to focus on a task at hand and crank out the work that needs to be done, regardless of whatever else is going on in my life. I am an extremely efficient worker – comes with being Type A and preferring to get things off of my plate – instead of having them linger on some unwritten to-do list. I think I possess a good combination of high expectations of others and an ability to motivate them to do their best, while also knowing when to let a softer side come through and allow the needs and desires of others to be heard and met when possible.

AF: What does success mean to you?
AB: Success means doing something to which you have chosen to apply yourself in a way that makes you feel good about the outcome. You decide what you take on, and you do it well.

AF: What motivates you on a daily basis to keep going?
AB: My family provides the ultimate motivation to “keep going” in the grand sense of the phrase, but my commitment to myself is what drives me within pursuits I have sought out based on interest and genetic inclination. Pleasing others is not much of a motivation for me, but of course if the end result of my commitment to myself is that I’ve done something others appreciate, then that’s great!

AF: What role do goals play in your life?
AB: I have to admit, I’ve never been much of a list-maker or specific goal-setter. It may be why I struggle with balance in my life (see balance question below). I have always allowed my goals to evolve organically, and thus the effort put toward those goals flows unformed at times, as well. This works for me, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Some people need, and respond well to, more structure.

AF: Why is community so important?
AB: We are social animals. We are driven to make connections with other people. We usually perform better in groups. Social support allows us to dig deep and access parts of ourselves that would otherwise remain dormant. In the comfort of friends and supporters, we are freer to take risks, allow ourselves to be vulnerable, and push beyond the limits of our comfort zone, all of which lead to greater outcomes.

AF: How can we create community in our lives?
AB: Become a volunteer at an organization whose mission jives with your ideals and values. Many non-profits are centered around creating community for populations in need, so there’s the added bonus that while you are becoming part of a community, you are also creating one for others less fortunate.

Go on an outdoor adventure lead by a trusted adventure outfitter. When stripped of the external trappings of everyday life, we learn much about ourselves and experience the critical nature of interpersonal support.

Join some kind of group exercise program. CrossFit is a great one. It is a functional fitness program whose culture is all about community. You’ll experience for yourself why people can do so much more than they ever thought possible, given group support and affiliation.

AF: You now own four CrossFit gyms and have created a powerful community. What are your challenges as a mom, wife, and business owner to keep some form of balance in your life?
AB: Like so many people who wear multiple hats and have many obligations and passions, I often struggle to keep balance in my life. My success at doing so is variable, to be honest! I’m a pretty obsessive person by nature, which means that I have a hard time letting go of projects and leaving behind my work life when I’m in the role of mom. Working out is one form of release and balance for me, but even that has become complicated, since my workouts have become so intertwined with my work life. I recently started doing some mini-meditation exercises throughout the day, and this seems to be helping with that balance quite a bit.

Ultimately, the most effective way to find balance is to look at my kids and remind myself what they need and how little they care about many of the things by which I can become consumed. If you don’t have kids and cannot make use of this perspective, perhaps think of the child in you needing something from the busy, working adult in you.

AF: What are some of your most meaningful accomplishments?
AB: Becoming a wife and mother, becoming a psychologist, and having my first book published. I am also incredibly proud of having helped to create our TJ’s Gym community of over one-thousand members whose lives are getting better, one workout at a time, one interpersonal connection at a time.

AF: What do the top performers do differently to excel?
AB: Top performers care enough to make sacrifices that will allow them to excel. They set realistic but far-reaching goals and know what it takes to achieve them. They surround themselves with people who share their commitment to excellence, and they make meaningful connections with those people as part of their process. They are not afraid to take a few steps backward, working on the foundations despite their public reputation as an expert or top performer. This ability to be vulnerable and to check one’s ego at the door is a huge part of what leads to greatness.

** To learn more about Allison, please visit her website and to learn about her new book, The Power of Community, please click here.

About Alissa
The “Living in Your Top 1%” interview series is presented by Alissa Finerman, a Business/Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of the book, “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” which is available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. She has an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more please visit, AlissaFinerman.com and Facebook.com/AlissaFinermantop1.com.

And set a GOAL! By now I hope you know I’m a big fan of setting goals. The YOU INC. blueprint from Ritual One of my book, Living in Your Top 1%, is what I use with my clients to help them set goals in each area of their life. This tool is highly effective to assess where you are and where u want to go.

Living in Your Top 1% is a process, not magic.

WHY GOALS?
Goals are the best way I know to turn yourself into a dream maker from a day dreamer (see 5 Strategies for Success to achieve your Goals).

When you take a vacation you think about two things for starters:

1. Where you want to go? (warm vs. cold, beach vs. skiing, domestic vs. international etc) +
2. When you want to go?

The same two questions apply in your goal-setting process:
1. Where do you want to go? (write a book vs. change jobs)
AND
2. By when? (this year or in five years)

If you have no idea where you want to go for your vacation, you probably won’t go anywhere. The fact is most people take more time to plan their one week vacation then they do to plan their goals for the year. This sounds ridiculous but it’s true.

This post is going to push you one step further with your goals. Read on only if you want to move into your Top 1%…

BREAKTHROUGH GOALS
Another powerful tactic I love is to set a breakthrough goal. This is a goal that would catapult you to the next level in your career, finances, brand, confidence, or knowledge etc. Breakthrough goals take you into your Top 1% and present a world of possibilities. They make your eyes light up and put a huge smile on your face. They provide a spark of energy and excitement.

Let’s take a moment and dream about what would be thrilling to achieve this year…

Will this be the year you become a bestselling author, complete your masters degree, start your own profitable business, move from NYC to LA (yes, go for it!), be on Good Morning America, say goodbye to a toxic relationship, work with ten Fortune 500 companies, be the keynote speaker for a conference inspiring women around the world, be on the cover of Forbes for developing a product that changes lives, or finally be debt free?

Breakthrough goals are empowering!
They are game changers!
They are a little crazy!
They are possible!
They are available to all!
And most importantly, they HAPPEN!

TOP 1% BOTTOM LINE: It doesn’t cost you anything more to set a BREAKTHROUGH GOAL. We were meant to dream and think about what’s possible for you to Live in Your Top 1%. The real question is what does it cost you NOT to set a Breakthrough goal? Can you afford THAT?

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About Alissa
Alissa is a life coach, speaker, and author of “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” available on Amazon.com. She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more, please visit www.AlissaFinerman.com or www.facebook.com/alissafinermantop1.

There were lots of great takeaways and I wanted to share a few of them for people who could not attend. You can achieve top 1% moments from any starting place and any age. Don’t sell yourself short!

Here are six takeaways that will help you raise your game. All of these principles are discussed in my book, Living in Your Top 1%, if you want to learn more.

1. Situations are neutral until you define them as good or bad.

2. Focus on the gap when you set goals. This is the space between what you say you are going to do and getting it done. Achieving your goal involves two core parts: Declaring what you are going to do (aka setting a goal) and moving through the process (aka taking the essential small steps).

3. Step into the CEO role of YOU INC. and define what TOP 1% means to you.

4. Pursue a goal that is important to YOU rather than one that is important to your friends, family, or partner.

5. Set aside the “shoulds” and what society thinks you should do. Now is the time to develop your ideal life, not someone else’s.

6. Honor the three Cs: Choice + Commitment + Consistency = Your Results.

Watch the video version (5 takeaways)…

One of my goals is to do this workshop around the country and share the principles from my book, Living in Your Top 1%. To host a Living in Your Top 1% workshop for you and a group of friends or your organization, please contact top1@alissafinerman.com.

Wishing you all continued success on your journey.
Alissa

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About Alissa
Alissa is a Business/Life Coach, speaker, and author of the book, Living in Your Top 1%. She coaches clients individually and gives corporate workshops. You can learn more and connect with Alissa on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.

Goals are a starting point and they help you step up to the plate and get in the game. The only way to stay in the game is by taking continuous small steps to make progress.

Here’s a simple process to get started AND keep moving forward (key word is simple):

1. Write down all your goals, just do a download.
In an ideal world what would you accomplish this year?
- Pursue goals that genuinely excite you rather than someone else
- Ask yourself why the goal is important
- Vague Goals = Vague Results. So be specific!

2. Prioritize the goals that need to get done first
Some goals you pursue to meet basic survival needs and others can be for pure enjoyment.
- Focus on goals that are both important and a priority to you (important is not enough, you need to narrow them down)

3. Identify your top tier goal and focus
The challenge is to identify the most important goal which becomes your Top Tier Goal. These are the goals that help you live in your top 1%! You can also refer to Ritual Four in my book which focuses solely on goal setting.
- The reason we get overwhelmed is because we focus on too many things at once. Choose one goal for starters. You can bring more goals into the mix once you are rolling.

4. Breakdown your top tier goal into small steps
Small steps help to build confidence by generating a series of “wins.”
- Write down all the small steps you can take to make progress on this goal.
For example, I have a client who wants to start his own advertising company. This is a big goal that can be overwhelming. But once you break it down and look at each of the areas of the company (financing, marketing, operations, sales etc), you can start taking small steps in each area.
- Take action on your small steps.

Small Steps = Big Results!

TOP 1% BOTTOM LINE: Setting a goal is a major part of creating something but it’s only the beginning. Growth occurs in the gap between saying what you want to accomplish and making it happen.

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About Alissa
Alissa is a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals”. She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more and to take the Living in Your Top 1% quiz, please visit Alissa’s website or her Facebook page.

The beginning of each year is when we have the most energy, hope, and determination to create a successful year. Although the choices can be overwhelming, it’s the perfect time to be thinking, crafting, and clarifying what you want to put into action in the New Year.

Some people set New Year’s Resolutions, others set goals, and some do nothing different. The bottom line is you have to do something. Resolutions and goals are a starting point but they only require words. The real progress stems from the ACTIONS you take on a consistent basis.

Yesterday, I shared 4 Strategies For Success and today I’m going to share another 3 STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS. They build on the foundation of 3 questions:

1. What’s important to you?
2. Why is it important?
3. What are you committed to making a priority in your life?

The 3 STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS below focus on the process of Living in Your Top 1% and the leadership you will need to get there:

1. LEVERAGE YOUR WINS FOR 2011:
Whether you are the CEO of a big company or just out of college, you have WINS. A win is an accomplishment that you feel proud about — it can be big or small. Two of my wins include writing my first book, Living in Your Top 1%, and working with three not-for-profits this past year. Other wins could include, leaving a toxic relationship, putting yourself through college, and successfully changing jobs in a difficult economy. The process of acknowledging your wins helps to build confidence, believe in yourself, and think expansively about what’s possible.

The exercise takes less than ten minutes and is one of the most powerful things you can do. At first, you may think you don’t have any wins but once you start writing, the wins will flow. I promise!

2. DEFINE WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO YOU IN 2012:
Success is a commonly used word but one that people don’t take the time to define. It will be difficult to know what you want to achieve in 2012 if you are not clear on your definition of success. Is it about building loving relationships, making a certain amount of money, buying a house, volunteering, or spending quality time with your children?

Your definition will be dynamic (meaning it changes over time) and specific to your values and what’s important to you. Take a few minutes and clarify what a successful 2012 looks like and then set goals to make that happen.

3. COMMIT TO BEING THE CEO OF YOU INC:
Regardless of whether you actually run a company or not, you have to accept the role of CEO of yourself. YOU are your most important asset which means you need to fuel yourself and show up with your best self for your friends, your family, your co-workers, and your life.

Being the CEO of YOU INC. means you make yourself a priority, take responsibility for your actions, and make choices that align with your goals. It’s time to take a leadership role in YOUR life. No one can do this part for you. You need to get in the game and step up to the plate.

Top 1% Bottom Line: Living in Your Top 1% is a continuous journey rather than a race with a start and finish. You celebrate wins along the way and always seek out ways to improve, expand your thinking, and take on new challenges. The exciting part is that your Top 1% level is dynamic and constantly evolving. The quest starts by asking, “Am I living up to my greatest potential?” Now show yourself what you can do! Feel free to share your best strategies for success in the comments section.

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About Alissa
Alissa is a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” available on Amazon.com. She is doing a live workshop in Santa Monica Sat Jan 21st to help people prepare for an amazing 2012! She works with individuals and organizations to help them think bigger, redefine what’s possible, and get results. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more about coaching with Alissa and to take the Living in Your Top 1% quiz, please visit www.AlissaFinerman.com or www.facebook.com/alissafinermantop1.

This week’s guest is Violet Zaki, regarded as a master fitness instructor. She started her journey in Australia as an overweight teenager. She decided to take charge of her life when she was 15 and set out on her fitness adventure. Violet is an adidas Global Fitness Ambassador in Martial Arts and travels around the world introducing her programs and inspiring people all over the world.

I first met Violet in NYC while taking one of her classes at Equinox. She has amazing energy and inspires hundreds of people every week in her packed classes. She believes we all have one mind, one body, and ultimately one life to live. It’s how we choose to use these tools that makes the difference in our journey through life. We are responsible for the choices we make and how we influence others. Take charge of your life…dare to live an extraordinary ONE.

Alissa Finerman: What’s the most important strength you possess that allows you to be successful in your role?
Violet Zaki: Clarity, perspective, and being persistent in the face of challenges.

I have very specific goals so I have a clear idea of what success looks like
and how my goals fit into the big picture. This helps me evaluate my progress and course correct as part of the journey. Another part of the process is to be persistent and have the guts to face failure and to learn from any mistakes. Ultimately, these strengths help me instill the right beliefs and patterns of behavior to make changes.

AF: What does success mean for you?
VZ: For me, success is a product of my self-expression and creativity and is a reflection of my drive, motivation, and discipline. I always look for opportunities to step into my greater self and to find joy and inspiration.

AF: What role does mindset play in reaching one’s potential?
VZ: Mindset is key and there are several areas to consider which include:

* Self Awareness: reflects my core strengths, talents and abilities
* Focused determination: enhances my stubbornness by not taking “no” for an answer
* Curiosity: makes me take more risks
* Intuition: tells me to listen to my gut instincts when I’m not in an emotional state
* Accountability: makes me show up every single time to keep my commitment
* Integrity: keeps me honest, dependable, and responsible
* Emotional/Mental fuel: gives me the mental/emotional strength I need when I want to give up
* Willingness: opens my heart and mind to do whatever it takes to learn
* Assertiveness: reminds me never to act like a man in a skirt to achieve success
* Ability to pivot: keeps me on my toes so I know when to give up, stop what I’m doing and head in another direction.

AF: What motivates you on a daily basis to keep going?
VZ: Failure

AF: What role do goals play in your life? Tell us a few words about your goal setting process.
VZ: Goals give me a sense of productivity. Being an avid user of lists and someone who likes to stay highly organized, I create a vision board. I start by creating a list of what my big picture will look like and how I will be once I have achieved this goal and then I continue to chunk it down with my “to do” list and target dates. I review this monthly with a “status report” to evaluate my progress.

For example: GOAL: Become a Body language expert
“To do” List:
• Explore Classes
• Sign up for classes by Oct 2011
• Buy books on the topic
• Attend classes

AF: What challenges have you overcome on your path?
VZ: The biggest obstacle really was two-headed, one external and the other internal. In 1993, determined to challenge myself, prove my independence and evolve out of cultural/familial limitations, I set out on my own and moved to the U.S. (New York) as a first generation Egyptian Australian female at the age of 25, tethered only by an impromptu commitment to volunteer at a non-profit children’s summer camp run by the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC). Unsure what to expect, I hoped to establish a foundation in human services, backed only by my undergrad degree and a couple years experience in the field of disabilities in Melbourne, Australia. My ultimate aspiration, though, was to build a top-flight career in the fitness industry.

A seemingly insurmountable external hurdle surfaced in my effort to secure a green card, requiring eight years of simultaneous work at two jobs—career development counselor at my sponsor AHRC and volunteer fitness instructor at the YMCA—including a four-year setback when my day-job manager failed to file the appropriate paperwork before deadline. I certainly questioned my resolve during this period, especially for a brief time when I had little money to eat more than bagels at each meal after paying rent. But I stayed focused, set ascending goals, and made the most of the process, including obtaining my black belt at the YMCA (after being physically attacked in a NYC subway). This gave me a sense of safety and belonging while being a single Aussie female whose family was thousands of miles away.

Yet, like many people I have worked with on a daily basis for the past seven years as a full-time fitness instructor, particularly women, the toughest challenge was probably the internal one of building self confidence and self esteem – really believing I had what it took to excel at my passion and rise to take advantage of each greater opportunity that came my way. Even today, after many gratifying years rallying others to self empowerment, along with unimaginable achievements as a fitness personality, I still have to give myself a pep talk every now and then.

AF: What are some of your most meaningful accomplishments?
VZ: I am most proud of going from being a self-perceived underdog (I was underdeveloped as a child, viewing myself as the “runt of the litter,” and then somewhat overweight as a teenager) to becoming a support system for those who face similar personal struggles.

The ability to dig deep and become a successful, self-made professional female, especially when remembering the personal reinvention necessary at times along the way, is very much part of this gratification. I relate back to this and the feeling gets reinforced every time a student of mine shares the emotional, mental, and physical strengthening they are undergoing as a result of my teachings, authentic engagement with them, and efforts to create a positive environment allowing them to grow while still challenging them to get out of their comfort zone.

AF: What do the top performers do differently to excel?
VZ: People who excel: set goals, constantly re-evaluate, correct and change course, maintain flexibility, are kind to themselves, and have a mentor.

To learn more about Violet, please visit:
www.ZakiFitness.com

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About Alissa
The “Living in Your Top 1%” interview series is presented by Alissa Finerman, a Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author of the book, “Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals” which is available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. She has an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. To learn more please visit, AlissaFinerman.com and Facebook.com/AlissaFinermantop1.com.

Everyday we have experiences that can make an impact to our one and only precious life. Yesterday, the truly brilliant, game-changer, and visionary founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, passed away. Everyone on Facebook immediately posted his inspiring quotes and amazing 2005 Stanford commencement speech. His words and actions are truly incredible and make a great case to always believe in yourself and live an authentic life. He transformed industries and changed the way we think about what’s possible forever.

How many people will actually take action and make changes to their life as a result of being inspired?

Reading a quote and clicking “like” on Facebook will only take you so far. Don’t get me wrong, I love good quotes and I post them all the time. Change and growth comes from putting an idea into action, taking a small step forward and doing something different, something new, something outside your comfort zone. Yes, it’s challenging because we have to bring greater awareness to our thought patterns and habits and take action.

Let me ask a simple question: what changes are you willing to make to “follow your heart and intuition?”

Steve Jobs lived in his top 1% and made many amazing contributions to the world (and don’t forget even the greats have setbacks — Steve was fired from Apple many years back before he regained the helm). It’s the perfect time to reflect on what it means to live your best life and what your top 1% looks like. Doing things the same over and over will only take you so far. Living in your top 1% is a choice and a way of life. Everyday you can make choices that allow you to share your best self with the world.

Now is the time to redefine what can be in your life and focus on what’s possible rather than why something can’t be done.

Simple yet powerful.

The choice is yours.

I choose to live authentically and to reach for my personal top 1%. What do you choose?

“It always seems impossible until is it done.” – Nelson Mandela