Charlotte Manuel – Empowered While Waiting

My journey of becoming an empowered woman looks slightly different from the typical ideology of “Women’s Empowerment”. I became empowered through embracing the ideas and building habits of success while on “standby.” You may have heard the saying “hurry up and wait”! This was exactly my process of becoming empowered. I can recall my very first women’s empowerment event where I introduced myself, my passion, and my purpose as a businesswoman to an audience. I’ve been a businesswoman for a few decades, but this was different. Being a businesswoman and proud of my purpose and how business and I could impact myself, my community, and the world lit a fire inside me! My impact was different because starting with the emotional level is where clients and I were to have the greatest breakthrough leading to transformation. I was and I think we should consider ourselves as our first client.

As a woman of faith, I can say it has been sorely tested. I’ve had times of abundance and appreciation as well as lack, disappointment, and feeling invaluable as well as feeling my offerings were taken for granted.

“Why does it seem like there is more emphasis and even more words to describe the negative impacts compared to the positive?”

Because there is more emphasis on the less favorable, I’ve learned a few things.  If I continued to perceive the waiting period and for things to turn around as a time of agony and remain discouraged, I would not try again. In the meantime, I learned to research, learn, and share what I had at that time, as well as revise, and improvise as needed. I also learned while waiting that I had a strong foundation and as long as I didn’t give up, I wouldn’t be in a position of totally rebuilding, but enhancing. Each time I discovered an enhancement in a service, product, or skill, it was that lighted flame that was ignited while I was waiting. 

Throughout the “stand by” period, I realized the importance of finding the correct audience before taking action. Releasing content prematurely to the wrong audience left me feeling undervalued. However, engaging with a new group in a unique setting completely transformed the outcome.  The results included acquiring new clients, generating income, forming partnerships, gaining knowledge, obtaining resources, experiencing growth, and broadening audience and outreach. Waiting allows us the opportunity to reflect, reassess, and adjust our perceptions and viewpoints. Our perception is often influenced by our surroundings, making it somewhat biased. Our emotions towards waiting are shaped by past experiences or present situations. The perspective we adopt initially regarding our waiting period can accentuate the negative aspects, which, if not managed carefully, might impact our future achievements or setbacks.

No matter the shared experiences or paths we follow, there exists a mental and emotional connection that plays a crucial role in the development and growth of an entrepreneur.  

I’ve developed a more refined screening process to identify potential candidates for my program. What I discovered was that not everyone aligned with my vision, despite my willingness to help and the tools at my disposal. It became clear that I needed to remain committed to each client, even during times when they struggled to engage with the process. I adopted a strategy of “waiting,” “reviewing,” and asking questions, meeting them where they were to help them progress without feeling disheartened. This approach of patience, assessment, and taking action at an appropriate level was equally beneficial for my own growth.

I have found that my most creative and productive moments occur when I am waiting, preparing, and enhancing my knowledge and understanding. By exploring my desire for comprehension regarding my strengths and motivations, I now grasp the significance of being empowered as well as the waiting period. Acknowledging the importance of patience results in increased empowerment. Realizing that progress doesn’t always happen instantly helps you develop patience, enabling me to be more attentive and encouraging in coaching sessions.

By embracing the waiting periods in your professional and personal life, you can transform them into opportunities for growth and insight, which will ultimately boost your effectiveness. An empowering effect of waiting is that creativity tends to thrive when we allow ideas to simmer. Giving ourselves time can create the mental room necessary for fresh and innovative ideas and solutions to surface, instead of rushing for instant outcomes.