Knowing WHO you are drives well-informed career choices that are aligned with that WHO. So, be true to yourself.
This blog post contains my personal LinkedIn entries for June 13 through June 19, 2022.
Be true to yourself, or else!
Be true to yourself! Or else!
One aspect of growth is gaining self-knowledge.
Knowing WHO you are drives well-informed career choices that are aligned with that WHO.
Know your WHO; be true to that person!
Transforming growth occurs because I stay true to who I am while being sensitive to who I am becoming! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Move outside your comfort zone to grow. But, you will not be successful being someone you’re not or never will be.
I learned the true-to-yourself precept from personal experiences early in my career.
The Precept: Proverbs 14.8 says we exhibit wisdom when we discern our way, thus, know where we’re going.
Do you give yourself time to learn who you are now? How about who you are becoming?
Telling your story
How did you get where you are? What’s your story?
Not your elevator pitch! Instead, the details of how you have grown personally and professionally.
What worked. What failed. How you responded.
Fact is, life transitions are hard. But, refusing to change is even harder! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Be deliberate about your growth. Plus, be intentional about knowing how that growth happened and what it means now.
The Precept: Proverbs 2.4 asks us to clearly understand what’s of ultimate value to us. Then, pursue whatever that is!
How has where you’ve been impacted where you are right now?
Personal Note: I shared parts of my story on Kevin Ward’s Wisdom Seekers Live Podcast. Here’s the link: https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:6941891344558669824/
Wisdom thrives in that place where there’s sense-making and reason. Conversely, wisdom isn’t found in those dead zones of knowing nothing, knowing everything, or doing everything! proverbsforprofessionals.net
I didn’t see that coming!
Well why not?!
Was it a rare situation, impossible to predict?
Or, more likely, was this a predictable scenario that you ignored until it was a crisis?
Leaders can avoid rushed, crisis-fueled decisions by exercising foresight.
Foresight is much rarer than hindsight! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Sometimes it rains! Use foresight to anticipate likely outcomes, then begin the critical thinking and judgment process before the rain comes!
The Precept: Proverbs 22.3 links critical thinking, foresight, and preemptive action together, thus forming a beneficial chain for leaders.
How do you implement foresight as part of your leadership practice?
Everything is Priority 1!
Have you worked for that person? I have!
How utterly frustrating! No focus. No progress. Only constant reacting to the latest crisis.
Today’s Observation: Doing anything and everything defines a life, thus leadership, that’s lived without clear priorities.
The Precept: According to Proverbs 17.24 the foolishly overconfident lack focus because their attention is all over the map.
What’s your algorithm for setting priorities?
Life purpose as a motivator!
What gets you up every day? Is it a sense of obligation, or is it a clearly-defined life purpose?
Living without purpose leads to inactivity. Thus, no motivation – no action.
I’ve seen zero motivation. The individual had retired in place. They’re paid, but there’s no productivity.
When we have a clear understanding of our life purpose, we are motivated to live with purpose, on purpose! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Doing nothing defines a life lived without clear purpose.
The Precept: Proverbs 21.22 teaches that purposeful actions stem from a wise heart that overcomes long odds to produce great accomplishments.
What enables you to side-step the trap of zero motivation?
Know your light!
Where do you shine?
What’s your unique value proposition?
That’s your light. That’s where you shine on others!
So, KNOW your light. It brings confidence.
Then DO, by shining that light. It brings joy.
Doing nothing is a symptom of a life lived without a defining purpose. proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: Your light is the deliberate living out of your life’s purpose. It’s the unique value you offer. That light burns brighter as you build self awareness and grow self-worth!
The Precept: Proverbs 13.9 teaches us that the light coming from a person of integrity is a source of joy.
What unique value do you offer that’s a light to those around you?
Boundaries are guardrails!
Think of boundaries as guardrails that allow us to focus on a goal.
Boundaries enforce our priorities.
And, boundaries are deliberate.
In fact, boundaries sound like “I will” and “I will not.”
Ultimately, goal accomplishment carries us toward our life purpose.
When we are too busy with our personal life and our career, we have become too busy for reflection and growth! proverbsforprofessionals.net
Today’s Observation: We need both boundaries and priorities if we are to focus on our life purpose.
The Precept: Proverbs 4.25-27 provides a timeless pattern for success:
1). Focus on the goal
2). Have a plan for reaching the goal
3). Don’t get distracted from the plan
What practices enable you to maintain focus during the heat of daily activity?
