According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, African Americans make up less than five percent of the lawyers in the country. That slim statistic didn’t keep one African-American woman, Jamie Wright, from blazing a trail right toward the front of the line and becoming successful. She found what works to help her reach the top—she put it into action, and hasn’t looked back since. Her success, especially in a field dominated by men, has inspired others to not let the statistics and naysayers hold them back.

“You cannot rest on your laurels and wait for the statistics to get better before you blaze your own trail into your career of choice,” explains Wright, a renowned millennial lawyer and political pundit. “You have to be the one to help change those statistics. You have more strength than you may realize. You can do a lot more than what you, or even the messages you may be receiving from society, may have led you to believe.”

Here are five super tips from Jamie Wright on how to succeed in 2017:

1. Network. Many people think it’s a weakness to get help from people. That’s just not true. It takes a strong person to seek out the right kind of support. Get to know successful people in your chosen field, so you can get support and advice from them. If you are lucky enough to find a mentor, take good notes. Take the support and advice now, knowing that someday you will be in the position to provide it to someone else. While you surround yourself with good connections, never cease to be independent. Independence and being strong enough to move forward even if you are taking the next step alone is crucial in being successful.
2. Think positive.Oftentimes, we get in our own way, because our minds are consumed with all of the negative thinking. Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want, and immediately replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Use the laws of attraction to bring to you what it is that you want in your life.
3. Banish excuses.Too often, people are caught up in their own excuses for why they can’t do things. This year, get honest with yourself as to whether something really is a hurdle or it’s just an excuse. Banish the excuses and keep moving forward. Make individuality a priority, so you leave the excuses behind, define who you are, and stand out.
4. The Golden Rule.In all areas of life, including in your career pursuits, you should be treating people the way you want to be treated. The way you treat people will always come back to you. Put good things out, so that good comes right back to you. It feels good to treat people with kindness and will open many doors. Having integrity in all you do is important and will help you get ahead.
5. Forget expectations.It doesn’t matter if something has always been done a particular way, that’s not a legitimate reason as to why you can’t change it. In other words:  Blaze your own trail, don’t feel you need to stick to the ones that others before you have set forth. Use your instincts to help navigate your way.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the negative and just add to the stories and thoughts that hold people back,” added Wright. “Make this the year where you set concrete goals, take steps every day to work toward achieving them, and drown out the noise that can hold you back. If you want it, you can succeed, but you have to stay the course and persevere. It will be that much sweeter once you do!”

Wright has used her own advice on how to reach success by making her way to being a partner in the Los Angeles-based Millennial Government Affairs group. She is also considered a millennial expert, specializing in such areas as crisis communication, conflict resolution, and government affairs. Not only does she also help political hopefuls by helping them to keep their strategies and campaigns legally compliant, but she’s also won a most influential under 40 award. In addition to a law degree, Wright holds a master’s degree in history and enjoys weighing in on millennial issues. She frequently speaks on millennial-related topics as an expert in the field.

For more information about Jamie Wright, visit her website: www.jamiewrightesq.com.