Stop Playing Small And Raise Your Game

 Stop Playing Small And Raise Your Game with Shameca Tankerson

It's not an accident that you're reading this right now. There's something inside of you wanting to step out into the field and play bigger than you ever thought possible. That's a good starting point to make you stand out in the business world. If you're ready to get ahead in the game, keep reading! In this week's episode, Shameca Tankerson talks about how you can stop playing small and start playing bigger.

Part One of ‘How Not To Play Small’

The number one reason you're playing small is because of the environment that you're in. You're surrounded by other people who aren't quite doing what you're doing. You don't want to make more money than your partner. You don't want to make more money than your family. And even if you're not consciously saying it subconsciously, it could be a thought that's holding you back.

You don't want other people to feel inadequate in your presence. You typically diminish your power for the comfort of others who will make you smaller. If you're around people who are limiting themselves, you'll usually restrict yourself. Even if you begin to grow, they'll pull you back like crabs in a barrel.

“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers.” — Shameca Tankerson (02:09-02:17)

We're designed to be in community with people. No one wants to be out alone. What happens when you decide to play a bigger game is you see yourself being pulled outside of the community and outside of a specific group. To the point where you would have to find a new one. Another thing that stops you from playing is your shame or guilt.

You don't have to feel guilty about playing big and earning lots of money in return. Again, you hold back to appease other people and another’s ego. You're a work in progress, and there are many learnings along the way for you to keep growing. You're growing in the revenue you're creating in your business. Most notably when you invest in a different level of experience for yourself. You own your power. You have to own your power.

Part Two of ‘How Not To Play Small’

If you're a high achiever, you're used to winning. You're used to going big. You're the kind of person who gets big results with minimal effort. You're the type of person who wrote their papers in high school and college the night before and still got an A. Your level six is everybody else's level 10. So, to the outside world, they're clapping it up. You're doing fantastic, but you know deep inside, you're not accomplishing anywhere near what you're capable of.

Here's the thing. With high achievers, people tend to tell you to give other people a turn. They ask you to give somebody else a chance because you're always winning. You always know the right answer. You always get chosen for things. What happens is you begin to diminish your power because you don't like the feeling of people telling us to tone it down, slow it down, and give other people a chance.

But when you're playing small, you're giving your power away. You're giving it away freely. You're allowing it to leak. You're allowing people to drink from it. Like it's a fire hose without restriction because we fear our own power. It's none of your business how other people see you. It's none of your business how someone else experiences your power as long as you're not stepping over people.

“Every time you play small, you are giving your power away.” —  Shameca Tankerson (08:09-08:12)

Someone once said that our deepest fear is not that we're inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Playing small does not serve the world. Nothing is enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. As you let your light shine, you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

You must overcome the fear of getting judged and being told to sit down because you're taking over all kinds of things. You have to disrupt that fear by taking more bold action. Action cures fear. It's either go big or go home. Remember, if you want to go bigger, you must identify what areas you want to stop playing small in and what's the biggest action you can take.

The action that you take to break the back of fear and to step into playing a bigger game must be in alignment and trust with the result that you want. Visionaries are often ridiculed, shamed, and misunderstood. It's the reason why you secretly doubt yourself, and you're afraid that people might tell you to tone it down and be quiet. 

You need to learn how to trust yourself again. Have that trust in yourself and take risks. Trust yourself to rise. The best foundation for playing a bigger game and not playing small is confidence in yourself, certainty in your work, and genuine belief in your ability to get stuff done. Trust that your ideas are worthwhile. Trust that when you feel that it's time to raise your prices, it's time. 

When you have those moments of doubt, tap into a support system, and surround yourself with people who are also actively working and aspiring to be and do better. That's going to propel your business to the next level. That's going to drive your game to the next level while bolstering your confidence. 

Ultimately, it's going to manage those fears and those doubts because playing a bigger game takes practice. It's a process, and it takes a supportive community. Lastly, wherever you are in the world and whatever industry you're in: Always remember that bold action, confidence, certainty, belief, trust, and support has something to do with the level of success you're aiming for.

How to Get Involved

Shameca Tankerson is an award-winning business coach, national speaker, and bestselling author. She is a badass at helping women own their worth, claim their confidence and become high performing power players who get paid – without the guilt. 

She's called to challenge you to your greatness, stretch you, test your limits, and set fire to your fears. Her clients are high achievers, dreamers, visionaries, who hold something so powerful, so wickedly incredible within… they are on the cusp of greatness - yet the scars of their past have them second-guessing themselves. 

Together we call on your courage, bust through fear, and awaken your inner powerhouse so you can stop apologizing, shrinking, hinting, whispering, asking for permission, giving in and pretending to be satisfied with the status quo. It’s your time. Listen, Love, when you stop playing small and show up fully, your business and income will naturally grow too. Discover how clients see your Level of Authority and any blocks sabotaging your sales. http://shamecatankerson.com/