Power in Purpose: A 5-Step Tool for Women Who Get Sh*t Done
Some people love a four-part course with reflection prompts and meditations. Others want the highlights so they can get to work. This is for the second group.
Just grab a notebook or open a doc. If you want the full experience, the course is available here: sheshouldrun.org/powerinpurpose
1. What’s Holding You Back?
Most women don’t consider running for office because they don’t see themselves as politicians. Translation: The problem isn’t you, it’s how broken the system feels.
Still, naming your own internal barriers helps. List them.
Then next to each barrier, write one small action you could take to push back. These are your “upper limit problems” — stories you’ve picked up about how far you’re allowed to go. Time to rewrite them! For example: Barrier: “I don’t know enough about this to get involved.” Pushback Action: “Ask a woman you admire how she got started in leadership. She probably didn’t feel ready either. Nobody starts as an expert.”
2. What Matters to You?
Your values are your internal compass. If they aren’t clear, it’s easy to get lost.
Pick your top three values. Define what each one means to you. For example: “Community means looking out for each other, not just yourself.” Values like these are what we wish politicians led with. That means we need more people like you in charge.
3. Why Do You Care?
Everyone talks about what they do. Very few can clearly say why they do it. That’s what makes a leader. Think about the moments in your life that lit a fire under you. What pissed you off? What moved you? Write a few sentences that explain what drives you. Your “why” doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be true.
4. Who’s in Your Corner?
Change doesn’t happen solo. You already have people in your life who can support you. Make a list. Old coworkers, mentors, friends, neighbors, teachers. Now, underline one person you’ll reach out to this week. Reconnect now, before you have an ask.
5. What’s One Thing You’ll Do Next?
Set one goal. Make it specific and doable in the next two weeks. Example: Attend a city council meeting. Email someone you admire. Sign up for a training. Write it down. Tell a friend. Make it happen.
If this got your gears turning, the full course walks you through it all in more depth, with space to reflect and go deeper. Find it here: sheshouldrun.org/powerinpurpose
You don’t need to be more qualified or more of an insider to fight for our democracy. You just need to decide you’re already enough. Because you are.