Mark S. Brown – Page 56

Growth Starts from Within

Many people are waiting for the right circumstances to make a change in their life. Maybe they believe they don’t have time, or they need more experience, or they need some type of knowledge. Whatever they are waiting on, they should realize it is not going to happen to them. They need to drive the change from within.

Do they really need more time, or do they just need to change how their time is spent? Do they need more knowledge to start, or can they learn what they need as they practice?

Dr. Robert Anthony said, “Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait. The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply don’t count.”

This week’s reflection exercise is to determine what you are waiting for. Schedule some time to think about what you want to accomplish that you have not yet started. Discover your roadblocks, and define your actions to eliminate them. You must eliminate your waiting from within.

You Are Not Here to Judge

Truths applied to yourself result in growth. Truths applied to others result in judgement. If we want to help other people grow, we must find a way for them to discover their own truths. If we give them our truths, then we will only be judging them.

It is difficult to place ourselves in the shoes of another person, and view the world from their vantage point. It is not the natural way we think of the world. Yet everyone has a different unique view of the world. Everyone has their own inner voice that speaks for them.

If you are interested in helping someone else, here are three things that can help you avoid judging.

1. Help them discover their own truths. Engage in conversation that is thought provoking for them. Ask about their thoughts. Continue to delve deeper allowing them to really contemplate what they are telling you.

2. Stop giving advice. Instead of giving advice, ask about options. If you help them discover numerous options or alternative paths, they will have a chance to decide the correct course in their world.

3. Don’t be attached to an outcome. Most of the time we have a solution for people. We want them to reach a specific conclusion. We want to guide them to see things our way. You need to throw away that thought and allow people to develop their own solutions. Be supportive whatever the outcome.

Is there someone close to you that you have tried to direct, and it has resulted in a poor outcome? How can you adjust your relationship to be more supportive, and less judgmental?

Stretching Out of Your Comfort Zone

It was the psychologist Abraham Maslow that said, “If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.” Yet, forty-two percent of college graduates in the United States have never read another book after completing school.

I have reflected on the key changes in my life, and how I have stepped out of my comfort zone. I never made decisions to stretch myself and grow. I made decisions based on opportunity, and being aware of the opportunity at the right time.

I don’t think it is by coincidence that the experiences that gave me the most growth and personal reward are the experiences that were outside my comfort zone. This fact has made me start to examine how I can leave my comfort zone. For my own growth, not for a company, or someone else. I want it for myself, to stretch to my potential.

What about you? What experiences have shaped your life? How many of them required you to be out of your comfort zone? What actions should you be taking today to stretch yourself?

Beware of Your Strengths

Vic Braden has said, “Learn to think like a winner. Think positive and visualize your strengths.” Most of us will be more successful if we focus on our strengths and delegate to others in areas we are weaker. But we should be cognizant of both our strengths and weaknesses.

We can over use our strengths to the point that we begin to lose our flexibility. As leaders we need to maintain a level of versatility which allows us to better assess our current situation.

How do you play to your strengths but still not lose your edge?

1. Know yourself. Constant reflection, personal development, and learning will help you be fully aware of your capabilities in different situations. It will help you learn how to change the intensity in which you use your strengths.

2. Accept yourself. Being humble will allow you to stay in your weak zone on those occasions when it is required. Accept your limitations, and learn from others.

3. Serve others. Use your strengths to help other people. If you are only helping yourself, then you will probably be viewed as a domineering, selfish, control freak.

So the best advice is be aware of your strengths, not beware of your strengths!