(Updated version from December, 2018)

Do you know what top performers , CEOs and other successful people have in common? Read on and see what The MissAdventure Founder Paola Crevatini Rebsamen reccommends you can do to boost your productivity.. 

1. Never stop investing in yourself.

Read, go on a conference, network, try something new, constantly improve. If it will teach you something, if it will make you a better person, if you will meet people of interest - it is time and money well spent. Never waste an opportunity to do any of this as it might come back to you in ways you can not even imagine. 

2. Stop being your own obstacle and start being your best friend.

I know you don't want to hear this but the truth is that often we are in our own way. We have doubts ( I-am-not-good/pretty/smart- enough) and fears (What -if-I-fail?). Just for a second turn this around and ask yourself WHAT IF I SUCCEED? Can you visualize yourself being on top? You need to believe in yourself and your idea because if you don't chances are high nobody else will either.

When I started The MissAdventure I said to myself: "Let's see what happens". This for me worked as a charm. It releases the pressure from expectations and focuses your energy on the learning and performing part. Already now it has been the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life that can't compare to my entire career of +10years in the office. (Wooooah!)   

3. Control your finances

a) Successful people manage their finances meticulously. There is a saying "If you want to learn how to save, learn from the rich!" On the other hand they have a healthy relationship with money.  They don't see it as something negative or bad. Money itself isn't dirty, bad nor corrupt. What people do with it can be. It is said that money changes people. No. I would rather say it amplifies already what is within us. Further they look at their purchases as an investment. Will this purchase pay out in the near future, make you money or give you necessary skills or even connections? Going back to our 1st point - always invest in yourself. Improvement starts with I. Work on it. 

b) Get your personal finances under control. Are you living from month to month? Then this is especially for you. There is one simple rule to follow - You should never spend more than you earn and you should always pay yourself first. This means that every month you need to put aside a portion of money (minimum 10%) that you can not touch under no circumbstances. At first it will not seem much but over time this will grow and you will feel better and better and you will start thinking how to re-invest this money ( And by investment I don't mean purchasing a house on a loan. Nowadays this will not make you rich. I mean a side gig, a business model, an education). 

4. Surround yourself with like-minded people

In this case I also mean MissAdventure Family. Hint! Hint! :) Some research suggests that you are the average of 5 people you hang out most in your life. I don't know if this is true but it definetly has a point. If you want to be successful in an area, surround yourself with people who have done it, who are successful in that field and learn from them. There is no better way to learn and it is (mostly) free! 

5. Network, network, network!

I can not stress this point enough. Whatever area you want to be successful in you need to network, network and network! Go on meet ups, events, conferences, MissAdventure Festival! or any other event in your area that can connect you to like minded people. Once you are there don't just stand around. This is also part of the work so try to reseach before the conference whom you want to meet and try to organise a meeting with them during the conference. Then after the conference follow up and connect with them on social media so you can stay in touch. 

6. Read

Read, read and then read some more. This is the simplest way to upgrade yourself and some successful people like Warren Buffet read up to 60 books a year! I especially love biographies as it is like you have lived another life and gained so much experience. I also like speciality books as I love to learn but I realize this is not everybodys cup of tea. Is there an area you are interested in? if you want a book reccommedation just drop me a note. I am working on a list but it is not ready to be shared yet. 

7. Stop comparing yourself

This one is for your mental health and happiness. It is key that we understand that each of us is on its own journey and we all have our own path to success. This means that you can not compare yourself to another person because they have completely different understanding of success but also starting point, background, and they probably invested much time and effort to get there too. 

Instead set yourself a goal and start measuring yourself toward your own progress. You can do it after each expereince or once a year. Ask yourself what did I learn from this? Award yourself for it and celebrate it. If the expereince was not positive, acknowledge it and take out the learnings.

8. Define what success means to you

We often strive toward success but we forget that success is a very individual thing and the only person who can say if we are successful or not is ourselves. We strive toward the next promotion, we think that we need a great job, a house, a car, a partner, hundred thousands of followers, babies and a dog to be seen as successful. Forget what society has taught you about success and define it for yourself. 

Another thing is that success is different for everybody, because what somebody defines as success might not be enough for others. In this story only you define success. How much do you want to earn to call yourself successful? What is it that you need to consider yourself successful? If you have a clear vision you will reach this goal much easier and will not wander through life chassing success that you have not clearly defined.

 9. Step out of your Comfort zone

We often cuddle into the comfort of our routine. However it is cruical to break the cycle here and there no matter how small the change seems at first. Even taking a new path to work or trying a new restaurant or dish can be inspiring. A friend ask you to join them for sailing/opera/ethiopian food? Try it! Later you might figure out it is nothing for you or you might even enjoy it or learn something new. 

10. Don't Keep Score

It seems everyone wants "Quid pro Quo" nowadays or at least expect something in return if they help someone. If you can assist somebody just do it because you want to not because you expect something in return. I believe that if you do something good (even if that person doesn't appreciate it later) it will come back to you in numerous ways. One reason I think I have built such a nice community is that I genuinely want to help and do help as much as I can to everyone and in return I get so much help from people in various ways. I never keep score either, but of course I am then dissappointed if people don't appreciate it. From my experience though this doesn't happen too often. 

11. Find Mentors. Find Mentees. 

One thing I have noticed is that most successful people have created their own little microcosmos, a set of people they rely on for important decisions. Those people are in a formal or informal way their mentors. Those are the people with expertise in various fields you can call in the middle of the night and ask for an opinion or favor. Where do you have expertise and where do you lack it? What can you offer and what do you need? If you have no idea about accounting or law it would take you tremendeous amount of time and energy to learn it, but if you have somebody of trust to call it can be a life saver. 

12. Hustle. Rest. Repeat. 

Like a professional athlete we should have periods of intensive work in combination with intensive rest. You can not perform your best if you are constantly working and being stressed. You need a quality break within the day, within the week and within the year when you can disconnect yourself and reboot. You need to define the cycle and the type of activity for yourself. It should be something you enjoy. I take 1 day off in the week when I do absolutely no work (I give my best) or I take at least once a year 2 week holiday. I am not completely offline but I don't work. Usually I travel so it is hard to keep working anyway ( no internet/signal/ always on the go etc).

Just some final words

At The MissAdventure we believe that your success is our success and we want to inspire every woman to follow their dreams in the digital arena or beyond. This belief is founded in all 3 pillars of our +200 000 Community of fab women worldwide.

You can become an official member of The MissAdventure Community with many perks like discounts and acess to private giveaways but also get access to a private forum where you instantly become part of a network of women supporting eachother in everyway possible. We answer any question you might have, you get a MissAdventure Guide and we give visibility to our members.

You can join our Signature Travel Events (aka Workshops but sounds more fancy!) where you get to meet likeminded MissAdventures from all over the world, boost your creativity while having fun and creating new friendships of a lifetime! We also host workshops, create content together and post the best photos on our channels.

Our latest innovation is The MissAdventure Festival that will unite all female creators, bloggers, influencers and entrepreneurs during  2 day Festival filled with fun, networking and workshops from the very best. There has not been a better opportunity for connecting with other successful women, boosting your creativity and learning somehting new!

Become part of an movement where women support eachother, create the life they love and make this world a better place.  Let the Adventure Begin!

 I hope I will see you around!

Paola

The MissAdventure Founder