[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La4rDmwmSyM[/embedyt]
“You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You are not meant for crawling, so don't.
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly.”
―Rumi
Everyone is born with the potential to be great. There are far too many people living below their potential – believing that greatness is not theirs. They tell themselves, “I am not good enough. I am not smart enough. Why would they think I am great?” Greatness is for everyone. Greatness is NOT a goal. It is a state of mind.
To be great…you need to discover your compelling “why” – your mission and vision…
Why do you do what you do? People are drawn to your “why” more than what you do. Many people can do what you do. It is your story that creates that personal connection with others.
To be great…you need to determine what you stand for – your core values…
What do you value? What is your personal code of honour? What are the deal breakers? These values are the ones that are your guiding light or moral compass in decision-making. You do not need to sacrifice your soul to please others. If you have struggles or conflict in interpersonal relationships, chances are you do not share the same values with the other person. Before you dismiss them, determine if this is true by asking questions to learn the other person’s values.
To be great…you need to examine your beliefs.
What thoughts do you believe to be true…about money, relationships, communication, men and women, success and failure, leading and following, etc. What you believe you will see. Our beliefs determine our actions and therefore our results.
To be great…you need to acknowledge and take responsibility for your gifts.
Not everyone is given the same gifts. We are all unique. You must take responsibility for your gifts. Learn about them. Refine them. Practice them. Adjust them. Own who you are because of them and what you do with those gifts. This “ownership” is what sets you apart from everyone else.
Hiding your gifts serves no one. I held back on sharing my gifts with others for a long time. I would share my gifts but not fully. As I had the belief, “now was not the time”, I would look like I was bragging, others may think I thought I was better than them, or I was being a show-off. What I learned is by holding back or hiding my gifts, I was not being the solution to the problem or puzzle where my gifts were needed, I was not inspiring others to use their gifts and live to their potential, and I was not letting people know I had the gifts, to begin with. Because of this, I missed out on opportunities.
The right time to share your gifts is NOW.
To be great…you need to focus on the power of the journey and not the destination.
There are many people who focus on the destination as their end goal of success. Once they get to the destination, they feel emotionally let down and say, “It this all there is.” Yet with all goals, you need to overcome your greatest challenges and sometimes travel the road less traveled. You defy the odds. It is the person you become along the journey that makes you great. You have faced adversity, obstacles, and challenges – and survived.
To be great…you need to learn to be decisive.
The Latin word for “decide” is “decidare” meaning “to cut off all possibilities.” Once you make a decision, you can create a plan and make your choice a reality. The more decisions you make, the more actions you take. The more actions you take, the more confidence you will have in yourself to take more action.
With every decision, there is an option…this or that…or many.