When we think ‘blue-chip’, we think of blue-chip investments, those that have a reputation to perform in good times and bad.  I want to talk about another type of investment.  Your investment in yourself.

In a recent Forbes article, Geri Stengel summarizes five ways to create more powerful women.  They include:  

1. Building large and diversified networks;
2. Finding the courage to step into the limelight; and,
3. Accessing support, capital and inspiration you most need.

Capacity-building is a term that’s been thrown around for many years.  But what does it really mean, and what does it mean to you?  Wiki says:  Understanding the obstacles that inhibit people… from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing the abilities that will allow them to achieve measurable and sustainable results.  

Let me tell you what capacity-building means to me:  The stronger we are, the stronger we are.  That’s our PowHERhouse motto.  As physical beings, building strength and capacity starts with the physical.  Healthy, strong, energetic and positive women are where it’s at for us.  It all starts here.

Our focus is helping women to build a sustainable practice that will support their lives dedicated to achieving and sustaining greatness.  Business groups build business.  PowHERhouse reaches beyond to build strength and capacity behind the business or organization – the woman – allowing it to flourish as she does.

The fitness industry has the right idea however it has gotten so far out of control that we’ve forgotten our real reason to be healthy and strong in the first place.  It’s not about having the ‘perfect body’ or ‘losing weight’.  It’s about being strong, having confidence and courage and believing in yourself.

My top 3 reasons why it is important to redefine and re-prioritize capacity-building right now:

• The world needs positive female leaders – check;
• The world is craving positive feminine energy – check; and,
• The local and global challenges we’re facing need solutions from a strong social fabric built by strong women – check.

Here’s my top 3 tips you can start immediately to become stronger:

1. Find Your Peeps:  Having positive, like-minded people in your life is huge at whatever level you need them.  That may be a coach, mentor, accountability buddy or perhaps just an online community that you know you have access to if and when you need it.
2. Make Your Plan:  If you want to succeed, you need a plan.  On a weekly basis, I chart-out (thank you Google calendar!) my training times, cardio sessions, which protein-based meals I’m going to prepare for the week and what food staples I want around for ease and variety in my diet.  We’re all busy so let’s just take that excuse right out of the conversation.  Busy people make it work because they are organized.
3. Commit To A Daily Practice:  Here’s the tough one until it becomes a habit.  It’s what you do everyday that makes you the person you become.  If you want to be a concert pianist, you practice every day.  If you want to be a top-athlete, you practice every day.  If you want to be a world-renowned public speaker, you practice every day.  If you want to be a strong, powerful woman, you practice every day.

A few quotes and thoughts on capacity-building:

“When we talk about capacity development we talk about 2 things: 1. Moving from development with to development by the community 2. Moving from what I need to what are my strengths that I can build on.”  ~ Raul Alberto Caceres, International Development.

“Capacity – building reflects my work in self development – continually increasing my capacity to learn, to grow and work more efficiently, in body, mind and spirit. This then translates to my capacity to obtain more from my personal and professional endeavours. Doubly difficult when life’s moments continually test the endurance, however staying focused on the results helps tremendously.”  ~ Cheryl MacKinnon of Great Getaways With Cheryl, Female Entrepreneur, Mother and Travel Expert.

“Capacity building to me shows me how important it is to provide a structure of support for women. Strength, to me, comes from support, encouragement and the discussion of new ideas and without having a community of support it is easy to become stagnant. A community of women encouraging others can also help you extend your goals beyond what you originally thought possible and allow for strong personal growth and development.” ~ Reagan Burwash, West Coast Manager, Dermalogica | Founder of Pink Tank Group.

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