It is said, “Your habits always define your success.” Sometimes, just one key habit you develop from others could be your competitors in business, your colleagues or classmates in office or college, unknowingly inside your deepest subconscious start to draw the big picture of your success.
If you ask any successful entrepreneur or a leader of a certain field about their key to success, they usually go round and round very common little things that perhaps you do them too. But generally, successful people do those trivial things with a twist.
But here, we will not discuss those trivial things or routines they follow. Here we will tell you about only one, the most unique, out-of-the-box thing or ritual they perform every day or during their rise to success.
So, buckle up to know about the most unique, one-of-a-kind thing that made the 15 extremely successful and powerful women leaders, as we see them today, and praise their contributions that changed the world as we perceive it.
We have selected the top leaders from their respective fields to give you an idea, no matter which field you are currently in. Sometimes, just one minuscule change in your daily routine can launch you at the same podium they share today.
Indra Nooyi: Former CEO of PepsiCo.
PepsiCo. is a $160 Billion multinational company, and who doesn’t like a sip of the legendary Pepsi? Pepsi is available in almost every country and territory globally, and managing such a vast company requires unique skills and patience. With very few women entrepreneurs who had ever made it this far, Indra Nooyi is a true icon of her field.
Indra Nooyi, the Indian-American Entrepreneur, tackled all the challenges of Pepsico. As the company’s CEO for 12 years, and increased sales by 80%.
So, what unique habit made her so successful in her field?
She and her sister used to play a game while they were young. The game was to give a speech at their dinner table, as they are either the President or Prime Minister. According to Nooyi, this little habit helped build her the necessary mindset and confidence that she became one of the most successful women CEOs in the world.
Mary Barra: First Female CEO of General Motors
Marry Barra took charge and tackled all the problems of General Motors at the most troubled time in its history. She took charge in the Congressional hearing and safely controlled the customers and victims of General Motors’ faulty car safety systems.
Marry Barra is not a familiar face on television or social media and leads a quiet life. But in one of her very few interviews, she said, ‘Finding your passion early in life is the key to her success.” She was only 10 when she fell in love with cars. Then nurturing her passion became her habit, and she learned all she could, and later her passion brought her success.
But in this ever-changing world, when we all consider age as just a number, looking deep inside own ourselves to find out our true passion could lead us to a better world for us.
Abby Johnson: CEO and President of Fidelity Investments
In the world of large investments, Abby Johnson is one of the brightest stars. She is one of the richest women in the world and currently holds the position of CEO and Prescient of Fidelity Investment, an asset management agency in the USA.
From very rare interviews of Abby Johnson, we can quote, “Get Rid of the Minimums.” She believes and practices getting rid of those things or even relationships that have currently outlived their purpose regularly, as sometimes those things stand in front of you as the biggest barriers of your life.
Melinda French Gates: Scientist and Former General Manager of Microsoft
Melinda French Gates, generally known as Melinda Gates, is the wife of Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft, one of the world’s largest and most popular technology companies. She is also on the news because of her “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” one of the world’s largest Philanthropic and Charitable organizations. But little do we know that Melinda Gates is also a Computer Scientist. She was the brain behind the developing world’s most popular word processor Microsoft Word, and Publisher. Melinda is one of the very few Billionaire Scientists.
In one of her rare interviews, she said, instead of trying things like everyone else and becoming successful, try to be the best version of yourself. She believes it was her key to success. This little habit of not always proving yourself to others and trying to be better than your former self can exponentially help you grow as a person.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Founder and CEO of Biocon
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is one of the richest scientists in the world and the founder of Biocon, an Indian Biopharmaceutical company. With a net worth of $3.8 Billion is one of the very few self-made female billionaires in the world. She is also involved in large-scale social work in India.
According to her, understanding or sensing the true purpose of anything you do or try to do. She built a habit of sensing the true purpose of taking action. It takes time to become good at this, but you will feel more confident once you are there than ever.
Fabiola Gianotti: The First Female Director of CERN
CERN, the biggest, most expensive, and most important scientific tool the world has ever created in the history of mankind put Fabiola Gianotti in charge since 2016, and last year she got a renewal for another term. She was the leader of the Super-Collider Team that found the Higgs Boson and marked the end of a 50 years-long wait in 2012, and her other contribution to humanity is unparalleled. She is also a role model for thousands of young scientists worldwide.
On her secret habit of success, she mentions playing the piano. No matter when or how long she can, she plays symphonies composed by Schubert every day. It helps her soothe herself and helps her express her feelings much more towards others. As, in her own words, “In life, it is essential to be serious and honest in whatever you do; modest, because modesty prompts us to give the best of ourselves and never be satisfied with what we have achieved.”
Try to take up something that suits you as a habit, or if you already have one to do it more often to express your feelings to others in a better and convenient way to be a better person.
Kamala Devi Harris: The First Female Vice-President of the United States of America
Kamala Harris is a kind person who became ‘the First’ in various segments in the United States and the world. In her several interviews, she had spoken about her various habits and sides and incidents that made her who she is today.
President Harris said, “Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they’ve never seen it before,” She made this into her habit since her childhood and fought to uphold her agenda.
We believe it will be helpful for everyone who wants to become successful and live a meaningful life; it’s never too late to make this quote into a habit.
Angela Merkel: Former Chancellor of Germany
Running a country like Germany, an Economic and Industrial powerhouse of Europe and the world has come with various known and uncountable unforeseeable problems. But Angela Merkel did it with a firm grip and got re-elected years after years, and she also has a Ph.D. in Quantum Chemistry.
One of her core beliefs that she became habituated to and followed is “Learn how to lead from behind.”. We all see world leaders who lead their countries or read stories of kings and generals who lead their armies from the front. But Angela Markel is different. She leads from behind. This way, she never exposes her weaknesses to anybody and brings out more leaders in the process. It also allows her to step down and easily give her position to someone else.
If you are trying to be a leader and maybe already mastered the art of ‘Leading from the front. Try to take a backseat sometimes.
Tsai Ing-wen: President of Republic of China (Taiwan)
A country under the constant threat of a communist regime, threatening to occupy your old island nation, and to assert their dominance, they send their warships, fighter jets, and bombers every other day, and the people voted you as their President for two terms, you have to be someone with the nerves of steel. Tsai Ing-wen shows her capabilities to work under the constant threat of losing her nation’s independence.
She always maintained her best to stay resilient in her personal life, educational career, and later political career. She believes it is her key to success, and being an introvert, sometimes her silence on different matters also reflects her position in them.
You can also take up this habit, but there is always a chance of staying rigid on a matter even if you are on the wrong side.
Beyoncé:
If you listen to English music, you must know Beyoncé. She is not just a singer or large-scale social worker; she also has a bank balance of at least $650 million. You can always find her face on the news, social media, and in magazines. But not only did her hard work, talent, or luck bring her to the world stage, she perfected every habit important to her and turned them into rituals. From breakfast to shopping and performing to helping others, she always follows some habits turned into rituals.
But one of her most interesting habits, which she believes and shares as her key to success is, that Beyoncé engages herself in an extensive pre-show ritual that comprises a stretch, a prayer, and at least an hour of alone time while she listens to her favorite playlist.
The point is, you have to find and make your own habit that makes you feel calm right before taking your biggest discussions or biggest performance.
J.K. Rowling: The Creator of Harry Potter Universe
Fighting a war to survive as a single mother and becoming the first female author ever to become a Billionaire, JK Rowling’s life story is truly inspirational. But what kept her morale and fighting spirits high when she was surrounded by financial troubles, loneliness, and constant rejections? What was her secret?
She has been on numerous television interviews and magazines, and in our research, she composed and reached a single unique habit of her.
‘Never Stop Believing, there is a Better World.’, during her turmoil period, she kept her morale high and kept the fight on because she believed that she had what it takes to turn the tide of her life into a greater, bigger, and more successful way. She said she handled rejections after rejections by growing a thick skin and telling herself it is impossible not to fail at something in life. So, if you are constantly failing and even you have started to believe you are a failure, just keep trying till the success arrives at your doorstep.
Oprah Winfrey:
Oprah Winfrey doesn’t require any introduction. She’s in her own way, a different universe herself. It is basically full of struggles and hardships, from an actor to becoming a role model and real-life hero. But she also picked up some 40 great habits down the road to ensure she always stays on her course of success. But here, we only nitpicked one.
Her practice of daily gratitude. Every night before bedtime, she notes down five things, of those she was grateful for, on that day. She believes it increases her affinity towards the people in dire need of help.
You can also take some time off daily to express your gratitude towards others. It will not only improve your image but also soothe your mind.
Mary Kom: Boxing
Mary Kom, the Indian Boxer who brought Indian Female Boxing into the world map single-handedly. But she had to fight not against her opponents in the ring. She also fought her family, who continuously discouraged her even though she was making headlines, extreme poverty and hunger, lack of training and practice scopes, and whatnot. So how did she win all those championships and medals? What was the only special habit that made her the only one in several aspects?
It was her diligence and discipline. Many other successful people will tell you exactly this, but Mary Kom took it to another level. Even if she wasn’t getting enough for her high-energy diet, she kept on an 8-hour exercise routine, 4 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon, and she still follows it. It not only preserves her fitness but also keeps her mind sharp.
But maybe you are not a professional boxer, and fitness does not apply to your field. But, you should practice the basics of your field every day with true diligence and discipline, like a routine or ritual, or habit. Maybe it will take time, but you will be better than none in your field.
Serena Williams: Tennis
Serena Williams has become the synonym for women’s tennis, and to date, she has conquered 23 Grand Slam titles and 4 Olympic Gold medals. But her war is still on; she’s also become a voice actress, entrepreneur, and social activist.
Tennis requires utmost fitness and dedication, with proper discipline and practice. But these are the common traits among all the tennis stars and stars from other sports. So, what is the unusual trait of Serena that made her so successful and helped her keep moving forward at the age of 40, while others had taken retirements?
She said she understood when and how to turn off the brain. As a very busy personality and a mother, her brain sometimes runs wild, but she has found several ways, like watching cartoons, praying to God, and small things that take her mind off the situation and later help her come back with a better solution. She made it a habit; perhaps it may help you too.
No solution can come out of your brain if your environment or situation way too clogs it. Get out of it and think outside the box; if you can’t just turn off your brain and put it on, reboot. If you can make this a habit, you will always find better solutions for all the problems in your hand.
Christine Sinclair: Football
The woman with the most international goals in football is Christine Sinclair, and she also won back-to-back Olympic medals for her country, a rare feat indeed. She has scored 188 international goals, which is much greater than the men’s top scorers Cristiano Ronaldo (115) and Lionel Messi (80). Christine is a true flag bearer of Women’s Football.
But even at the age of 37, she’s attacking her opponents like she just started 20 years ago. Like all sports stars, she also trains hard and eats healthy, but is that one different habit she has developed to keep her agile in life?
“Lead by example and become one.” Christine leads her team by her own example; at the beginning of her career, she followed other leading women footballers, but now her habit of ‘leading the team by her example’ can be said to be a unique characteristic of her gameplay and life. As a leader, she’s not only focused on her own growth but on the entire team.
You can take up this habit too; you can learn more about your field leaders and try to follow it and make it uniquely yours. It doesn’t matter what role you play; this way, you will become successful and bring out the best in the people you lead or depend on you.
