Whether you're struggling to reach the next rung on the career ladder or feeling like you're running out of enthusiasm for a personal project, it can be difficult to summon up some motivation. Often the best motivation can come from listening to inspirational people and there's nobody more badass than this selection of super strong women. If you're in need of a little 'pick me up' then get ready to take some notes from these inspirational ladies.
Maria Ho - Poker Queen
If you happen to be working in a male-dominated field, then sometimes it can be tempting to throw your girlish qualities aside in order to fit in. In the world of competitive poker playing, being a woman is not without its challenges, but the true Queens of Poker use their femininity to their advantage.
Maria Ho is right at the top of the rankings in the Women's Poker Hall of Fame, having raked in an impressive $3million in live winnings. However, whilst many of us would be content to rest on our laurels, Maria's competitive spirit drives her forwards to ever greater achievements. She has several tactics that she uses to achieve success, one of which is to regularly step outside of her comfort zone. One example where she really took a plunge into the unknown was in becoming a commentator for the Heartland Poker Tour at the beginning of the last decade. Although Ho wasn't familiar with this sort of work, it kickstarted her television career and helped her become the woman she is today. Nowadays she has really made a name for herself and has a successful broadcasting career alongside her professional poker playing. Sometimes it's good to take a leap of faith; you might be surprised how much more often you swim than sink.
Serena Williams
We all know that playing sports is beneficial to our wellbeing, but perhaps nobody knows that more than Serena Williams. Growing up in an underprivileged neighbourhood and choosing a white-dominated sport, Serena was already at a disadvantage as a child. However, she firmly believes that everyone is born with a natural process inside them and if they find it, they will succeed. So Serena was determined to find that process and she did. Determination is undoubtedly the key to Serena's success; she trains tirelessly, eats immaculately and, with every swing of the racket, you can feel the weight of determination behind it. Of course, even the most determined people occasionally need reminding of their motivation. For Serena, it was as much self-satisfaction as it was love for her family, that kept her motivated in hard times. During tournaments where her sister Venus has been knocked out before her, the drive to succeed for her sister kept her going. Perhaps when you're next struggling to complete a project or gain a promotion, you can imagine the pride that a sibling or parent would feel if you achieved it - that could be enough to get you there.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was a true force of nature and, admittedly, she's a tough act to follow! Whilst most of us can't hope to be half the woman Angelou was, we can certainly take inspiration from her life. During her time she achieved 50 honourary degrees and published seven autobiographies, the first of which 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' brought international acclaim and told of the childhood that she had not so much lived, but endured. What remains the most poignant throughout Angelou's work is her relentless positivity. Her early life was incredibly traumatic and the way she not only survived but thrived is certainly inspirational.
To learn to fight through the hard times is certainly a motivational lesson to be learned from Angelou. If we're finding it tough working to a deadline, then reading a few pages of her first autobiography should help us to remember that we've probably got it pretty good. To end then, a quote from the lady herself, that should help to motivate us all through hard times, 'My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.'
