Business, marriage, and pageantry: What do all of these things have in common?

A support system, also known as a village or a community, is the thing that we all need most but sometimes are reluctant to lean on for support. I have found that a support system is essential to getting ahead in life in any area and achieving the goals and targets you are aiming for.

Dedication is also important for you to succeed in these areas.

Let’s get down to basics:

What is a support system?

A support system is defined as: Support system (noun): a network of people who provide an individual with practical or emotional support.

What is dedication?

Dedication: The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose.

(Definitions taken from Google.ca - Oxford Learning)

Here are my key tips on how to create a support system and stay dedicated in the following categories:

Marriage

I believe that marriages are sacred, and in order for them to flourish, it’s important for couples to spend time together—even though it isn’t always easy in today’s fast-paced world. I think it’s important for both the husband and wife to put effort into creating their marriage—it sounds simple, but can often be hard to do.

Some things you can do to make that happen and stay dedicated:

• Plan weekly date nights.
• Make sure to text each other good morning and goodnight if you don’t see each other, and when you do see each other, make sure to greet one another warmly.
• Carve out time to go on a vacation or a weekend getaway to reconnect.
• Hire a babysitter or ask friends and family to watch the kids so you can go out.
• Communicate with each other, even when it’s tough.
• Watch movies and documentaries together that you find inspiring.
• Spend time with other couples and friends who encourage a healthy marriage and are a positive influence.
• Remove negative influences from your life that could be affecting your marriage.
• Find ways to have fun together.

Business

The world of business—whether you’re working in it, running your own business, or managing a company for someone else—takes dedication to be successful. Some of my best tips for business are:

• Always follow the company’s mission and encourage others to do the same.
• Find a mentor, someone you can look up to, who can be a voice of reason and lend support when you need it.
• Ensure that you are working with integrity and that your teammates are too—do what you say you’re going to do.
• Work as a team and support each other.
• Always continue to learn and help others grow their skills.
• Jump in and lend a helping hand when needed.
• Work hard and focus on getting results.
• Have a large purpose or game that you’re playing, something you’re all aiming to achieve together.
• Keep the drama out of it.
• Be a leader who inspires and expects great results from the team.
• Set clear expectations when communicating with your team members so they know what’s expected of them.
• Take time to bond with your team and get to know the real them.
• Set massive targets so you’re always pushing to achieve something extraordinary.
• Never give up on your goal and be dedicated to the cause.

Pageantry

For someone who has never done a pageant before, I learned so much from this experience that it’s hard to put it into words, but pageantry changed my life. I had many misconceptions—from it being just a “beauty contest” to thinking it had no meaning. But I met some incredible friends and changed as a person, both inside and out. One of the biggest things I learned through pageantry is that dedication keeps you going, and a support system is something you’ll have for life.

Some of my best tips for pageantry are:

• Know your why and your cause: What are you passionate about, and how do you want to make a difference? Knowing this will keep you clear on what you want to achieve during your reign.
• Stay in your own lane: It’s so easy to compare yourself to the other contestants, but it’s important to focus on what makes you unique.
• Go into pageant week with a positive mindset: Be present in where you are and what you’re doing. This mindset allows you to connect with the girls and have a great time getting to know them. It lets you make genuine connections with the team.
• Stay consistent: This is important during your reign and going into pageant week, and it’s a life lesson that translates to all areas—showing up, even when you don’t feel like it, is how you will get through.
• Get your family involved: Having your family with you during pageant week, cheering you on, makes a huge difference. Their energy can give you that extra motivation when you may not have that extra 10% to give.
• Grace yourself in gratitude: When you’re grateful, you allow yourself to deepen your dedication and create room for others to enter your life.
• Be yourself, always.

Life keeps us all on our toes, but when you have a support system in place and know who you can lean on, it’s easier to get through both the ups and downs. Knowing your personal reason for doing something and why you’re so dedicated makes it easier to commit!

How do you create your support system, and what keeps you dedicated to your causes? Follow me on Instagram @meaganelieff—I would love to hear from you!