3 Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20’s: Beth Burns

Full name?: Beth Burns

Position / Job title?: Founder& President the (er) factor

Why did you seek out this particular job / start your company? In launching the (er) factor, my goal was to answer a probing question. As an unmarried women over 40 without children, I’m often asked “Are you happy?” The answer is a resounding YES! Why is my happiness questioned? Because we live in a society in which all the noise that we hear leads us to believe that other people will be the answer to our personal satisfaction. Others can assist in our personal development, but being happi(er) begins and ends on the inside.

(er) is in her….find your (er) inside is a simple phrase, but was conceived from an aspiration for “every woman” to achieve the (er) she desires, and for every woman to realize that what she desires is inside waiting to be nurtured.

How has life changed (hopefully for the better 😉 since you landed this job / launched this company? The mission of the (er) factor is to bring a message of personal development, self-fulfillment and inner peace to women. Our products aim to inspire women to be happi(er), healthi(er), empow(er)ed, strong(er) and wis(er). The mission of inspiring other women, is overwhelming awesome.

And now: WHAT 3 THINGS DID YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN IN YOUR 20’S?

• Get to know the “you” that you are! Broaden your horizons. Get involved in different activities. Strive to put yourself in varying situations and surroundings.   We are a collection our experiences, so attempt to experience as much as possible.  Perhaps you volunteer, take classes, or go to a museum or some other exhibit that you appreciate, alone!   Become comfortable with yourself and comfortable interacting with unfamiliar people.  Practice introducing yourself and making small talk.  People that don’t know you have no preconceived notion about you.  Therefore, you have a clean slate with each encounter.   When presented with an opportunity, go for it and experience all that life has to offer. You will have the benefit of 1) building confidence, which is empowering, and 2) perhaps finding your passion. One never knows where the inspiration for one’s passion will come from.

• Don’t compare yourself with others – Use others to inspire greatness, but don’t directly compare yourself with others. You have no idea what others have sacrificed, given-up, traded-off, paid-for, misrepresented etc. to get where they are. We all have our own individual challenges in life and we are all walking our own unique path. Remain focused and diligent on your own personal goals. Do not believe all that you read or see on-line. Smoke, mirrors, illusions and falsehoods are everywhere.

• Save money – Pay yourself first and start early. Having a little financial cushion goes a long way in terms of providing flexibility, in both your personal and professional life, in addition to having peace of mind. In my 25+ year career I have been unemployed twice, both unscheduled. Having some level of financial stability gives you choice and often the ability to say “no”. “No” can be a very powerful word!