This post was first published on the General Management UPDATE! for Fundesem Business School, area in which I participate as a guest blogger every 2 weeks. Thanks to Enrico Ahrens and Oana Damian for this wonderful opportunity.
Let’s think for a moment…How do you overcome difficulties? how do you surpass your own expectation? what motivates you? what makes you go beyond the line? or what is the reason that pushes you going the extra mile?
Yeah, it may sound foolish to ask this…You could reply my family, money, work, prestige, success or any material thing, and that’s OK, even it’d make sense! But, thinking carefully and paying attention to small details, we could be inspired by things like:
Fear is your strength
Let’s say I’m your boss and I told you that we’re about to close the company, because of the starting of the dramatically decline of textile on Spain. Everything you had fought for, all your dreams, your future and more important your family and their future. As days go by, things are getting worse, until the day we’ve to close the company and you and me have to start a new life from the bottom line, at that moment fear is running through your body. Is this the end? Are you kidding me? it’s only the beginning. I’m going to be clear in this; It’s OK being scared, so am I most of the times, we all scare for some different reasons, stop worrying about yourself, show people what is inside of you, don’t be afraid of being yourself and being fearful. Because if you do so, and deeply believe in you, in who you are and what you do, you will become what you know you already are, so go and have some fear, it what really awakes our brave self.
Be Proactive!
Being proactive it’s one of the key elements. We always must – and this is a great must – try to see solutions instead of problems, make things happen and not wait them to happen. It’s essential to us assuming and believing that everything occurs is under our area of influence, so we’ll always be able to choose. I like to thing that we’re the only ones responsible for our acts, hence we and only we, tailor our decisions either they’re right or wrong. we need and should want to make mistakes – and of course, recognize them and ask for forgiveness when we feel to – because experience has taught me it’s an unforgettable way to learn and improve, are you OK with me? I am open to admit failure, as I believe it is also a great path to learn. What say you? Give a go and plan for failure, I sometimes plan for falling, hence I am ready to stand up and carry on. we don’t want to afford what people can think about us, it’s something that I am not concerned about at all. That is to say, know who you are, what you can do, what you want to do and who you want o be. I know that you change things – I am doing it now – though, which is even greater for me it is, I have realized I want help people changing things – perhaps you – improving their life, being proactive or trying to find a meaningful goal.
Attitude is the Key
It’s the only thing that will make you fall part from the mediocrity, and yes it’s learnable! but it’s a long road to walk, hope you’re ready. Sir Richard Branson used to say “Hire from attitude and train for skills”, want to know what is going to make you indispensable? I bet you know…heck, it’s the Attitude, towards life, work, family, friends, problems…life is not the way it’s, but the way we want to see it.
You’re Free!
I realize now of how happy I’m, happy because I feel completely free to build my story. I don’t let anybody decide or choose for me, not to mention the circumstances or facts. I’ve always managed my life in my way, I’m not going to judge the way it has been, – I’m not here for that – I only can judge the way I’ve made it possible. Your mileage could vary, but I’m sure you get the point!
Question Everything!
Change hasn’t been made by asking permission, but for asking forgiveness. It’s OK being irreverent, being curious and think outside the box, and of course it’s better acting in that way, you’ll find yourself in troubles most of the times, but someone said once that life it’s a beautiful struggle – I really love this quote! – OK, I can hear you saying that there’s no point of acting in that way without thinking in the consequences, yeah, OK, fine! However, think about a job for a life, a safe environment, TV advertisement, newspaper industry, call dealers or automated behaviors taught in school days…we live in a society where we’ve been planned to act in a very common way, the question is…does it mean that we’re doing it Right? or someone installed the wrong program?
What really interests you
It’s learning about life, developing yourself as in the professional as in the personal side, know more about everything, get new approaches, travel around the world, meet other cultures/people, your family and best friends or solve economic issues. It works too, if it makes you happy, of course. Are you in the list? get your reasons.
Your Soul
It’s vital feeding your soul…Knowing that my family and best friends believe in me. freedom, joy, do what I want to do when I want to, change, finding a partner equal to me and be loved works greatly well for me? what about you?
What about your Goals?
Set up a short/mid/long-term goal and set up deadlines to carry out them. It will make you go further that you can think. Makes sense?
Be a Catalyst for Change!
I believe in change as a part of human nature and as a part of everyone’s life. I consider change as a challenge, a challenge that keeps us aware, ready, flexible and expectant. I think change is the engine that makes us improve, expand our knowledge and gain valuable experience, as well as it’s be able to show us things from a different perspective. I’d dare to say that I embrace change in the sense of the meaning. Why? It’s simple. You cannot resist changing, because change wanders among us every day, so it’s impossible to fight the forces of change. What’s more, today, it’s even more difficult not to accept that change is becoming part of our day-to-day, hence trying to stop change is exhausting.
I BELIEVE embracing change is something that has to do with thinking different, being irreverent, acting different, being yourself, do whatever it takes, challenge the status quo or stands out from the crowd. I do like to think that’s fun shaking your life from time to time to see what happens. Then, change is how ready you’re to adapt and deal with these new waves.
Vision for the Future
Note how I set apart vision from goals, I think it’s completely different. What’s your dream? How do you want being remembered when you die? What would you like people say about you when you won’t being with us? difficult to assume, but essential to understand. Set up an attainable and realistic dream, it has to be aligned with your values and principles and should respect your morals and ethics. Mine “Follow my dreams wherever they may go, and do whatever it takes to reach and make them possible”
How do you think you’ll reach your vision for the future? that’s to say, How are you going to meet this dream? Do you know it? Nice! Now put it in words that make sense. Not as easy as you thought, huh? I’ll give you mine here too:
“It is reaching the highest standards of my values and principles, through determination, commitment, imagination, freedom, choice and empowerment. Whilst, I am irreverent, thoughtful and optimistic about life and change.”
Know your Mission
Are you tracking me? As I said earlier in this post your mileage may vary or even the keywords can be different, here I’m just telling you what it works for me – and it does it extremely well – when you find what it moves you, that is the first step, now apply, integrate in your life and make a comprehensible usage of them.
You?
How does it work for you? How does it sound?