Our focus this month is what we do well. It’s all about waking ourselves up to our natural talents, unearthing the skills we’ve developed over the years that give us energy, and standing back from our life and identifying what really peaks our interests so we can tap into our natural passions. This chapter excites me because it has allowed me to make some very important career decisions over the last few years.
I started the Positive Change Network (PCN) five years ago. I was a struggling entrepreneur and was contacted to do some contract work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. While my work at PCN was feeding my soul, it wasn’t yet filling up my pocketbook. So, I committed to work at the foundation for a short period of time. After a few months in a part-time contract role, I was approached to take a full-time role. After much contemplation and discussion, I put my work at PCN on hold to join the important work of the foundation for one year.
Fast forward three years later and I was still at the foundation. I had been privileged to work with amazing people, I’d had the opportunity to play numerous roles so my learning was at a constant clip, and the content touched my heart on a deep personal level. Yet, over time I felt I was losing myself and was contemplating the right time to return to my work at PCN.
As I was thinking about leaving my day job after three rewarding years, the foundation was experiencing massive transitions. And as part of all this movement, I was offered the job of a lifetime. My manager and I both knew it was only a matter of time before I transitioned, which made me a perfect candidate for the job in question for a multitude of reasons. But, I was feeling more and more incongruent as my tenure continued and it was finally apparent my work was done. I was at a crossroad. It was time to check my ego at the door, and listen to my own voice.
I turned the job down - twice. It became apparent I was moving further and further away from what I do well and my passions. My strengths – like muscles – were starting to atrophy and my talents were becoming a shadow in my former self. I wasn’t happy, my engagement was suffering, and there was a calling waiting to be fulfilled.
My boss finally asked me why I turned this important job down I said, “Clarity is a bitch! Once you know why you’re here and what you’re supposed to do, moving too far off path becomes unacceptable. It’s time to return to my life’s work.”
As I think about this experience, it reminds me why I love this chapter so much. When I reached the crossroad, I took the path of empowerment and fulfillment. I am so excited to offer this gift to others.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Finding Your SuperPowers
We all have separate and distinct talents and gifts we bring to this world. On the simplest level, we have our talents that allow us to accomplish what we do with the most enjoyment and ease. These are represented by our feelings, attitudes and behaviors that come naturally and transport us to a place where we do our best work in the most authentic way. This was the most discussed topic in our meeting last night – how can we identify what we do naturally well so we can offer these gifts to the world through our work. These are our superpowers, if you will.
We can debate if these talents are god-given or take a more scientific route and learn about the synapses connections in the brain. I say, they are what they are. These are our unique offerings to the world and make us special. In fact, there’s not one other person in this world who has the combination and veracity of talents that you hold at this very moment. Your personal excellence is a monument to your ability to do these things time and time again, and with the utmost perfection. Repetition, an abundance of positive results, and requests for more of what you do well are all good signs of a talent. However, it’s the feeling of being energized in tandem that makes our talents really stand out. Our role right now is to surface these special and one-of-a-kind talents.
These aren’t skills we’ve learned – such as computer proficiency or shooting three-point basketball hoops. No, instead it’s the stuff that’s allowed you to accumulate the skills you’ve gathered over the years. For example, I’m good with the computer because…I’m deeply analytical…or, because it is an extension of my ability to think in an organized fashion. Or, shooting hoops is easy, because I can hear the swoosh of the net before the ball even leaves my hands…or I am disciplined and practice regularly.
These are the things that have defined you for as long as you can remember. They set you apart. They aren’t taught in a classroom, extracted from a book or learned from our parents (okay, maybe this is only half true), but instead, these morsels of goodness are inherent to who you are.
What are the things you do naturally well? Do you make sense of chaos? Always look on the bright side? Able to convey complex information so a four year old can understand it? Organize things? Generate ideas? Help people connect? Are you a truth-teller with diplomacy? Do people gravitate to you to help them solve problems? Are you able to drive ahead in the face of adversity? Keep people on task? Create harmony? Give voice to the underrepresented? Do you see the good in everyone, or help spot the gaps?
It is the beauty of self-discovery that allows us to claim our talents from the inside out. We all showed up last night after some self-reflection, but also have access to some tools that can provide insight into our natural talents. (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, VIA Strengths Assessment & the Strengths Finder) From my perspective, assessments provide just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the beauty of who you are and what you do naturally. But, they don't open the doors to the expansiveness of what you bring to this world that is unique and unreplicated by others. So, we’ll continue this conversation on longer with our peer-to-peer coach and hold off on the next chapter for now. After all, we have to know what our super powers are, before we put on the cape.
We can debate if these talents are god-given or take a more scientific route and learn about the synapses connections in the brain. I say, they are what they are. These are our unique offerings to the world and make us special. In fact, there’s not one other person in this world who has the combination and veracity of talents that you hold at this very moment. Your personal excellence is a monument to your ability to do these things time and time again, and with the utmost perfection. Repetition, an abundance of positive results, and requests for more of what you do well are all good signs of a talent. However, it’s the feeling of being energized in tandem that makes our talents really stand out. Our role right now is to surface these special and one-of-a-kind talents.
These aren’t skills we’ve learned – such as computer proficiency or shooting three-point basketball hoops. No, instead it’s the stuff that’s allowed you to accumulate the skills you’ve gathered over the years. For example, I’m good with the computer because…I’m deeply analytical…or, because it is an extension of my ability to think in an organized fashion. Or, shooting hoops is easy, because I can hear the swoosh of the net before the ball even leaves my hands…or I am disciplined and practice regularly.
These are the things that have defined you for as long as you can remember. They set you apart. They aren’t taught in a classroom, extracted from a book or learned from our parents (okay, maybe this is only half true), but instead, these morsels of goodness are inherent to who you are.
What are the things you do naturally well? Do you make sense of chaos? Always look on the bright side? Able to convey complex information so a four year old can understand it? Organize things? Generate ideas? Help people connect? Are you a truth-teller with diplomacy? Do people gravitate to you to help them solve problems? Are you able to drive ahead in the face of adversity? Keep people on task? Create harmony? Give voice to the underrepresented? Do you see the good in everyone, or help spot the gaps?
It is the beauty of self-discovery that allows us to claim our talents from the inside out. We all showed up last night after some self-reflection, but also have access to some tools that can provide insight into our natural talents. (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, VIA Strengths Assessment & the Strengths Finder) From my perspective, assessments provide just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the beauty of who you are and what you do naturally. But, they don't open the doors to the expansiveness of what you bring to this world that is unique and unreplicated by others. So, we’ll continue this conversation on longer with our peer-to-peer coach and hold off on the next chapter for now. After all, we have to know what our super powers are, before we put on the cape.
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