Identify Your Core Strength

At the root of it all, what is your most indispensable quality?

If this question gives you pause…don’t worry, it’s supposed to.

The most rewarding questions you can ask yourself are the ones with elusive answers. If you're willing to chase them, you are already on your way to becoming a more effective leader.

Put in the work and figure out what your most indispensable quality is.

Why?

If you know what your core strength is – the thing (or things) that come easily and naturally to you, that you can do better than most anyone else – you can develop that strength and be disciplined in using  it to achieve your goals.

Too often, we put attention on our weaknesses, trying to get just a little bit better. Instead, activate your strengths, and results will follow.

When I am working with a client, one of my early objectives is to help them capture this white rabbit. Having a guide to help you navigate down the winding path of self-awareness is pivotal.

Most people have no clue what their “it factor” is.

Simply by knowing yours, you are at a major advantage.

Ask for help. What is clear to others may not necessarily be clear to you.

If hiring a coach is not a viable option for you, get creative. Look around at your resources. Identify the people in your life that you respect, and can trust to give you open an honest feedback. Think of candid friends, colleagues and mentors.

Reach out to them. Ask for their help in identifying your core strength. Most people are happy to share what they admire about you.

Tip #27: Live Your Legacy

“What does legacy mean to you? So often we think about our legacy as something that happens after we’re gone, or the way people will remember us. I prefer to think about legacy as something we live today. We build our legacy on the foundation of who we are, the values we hold dear, and the actions and impact we make in the world around us. I can change my legacy by changing my behaviors.

Legacy is a living, breathing reminder of what matters most. Identify what matters most to you.”

As promised by 128 Tips to Make You a More Effective Leader, sixty seconds a day is all it takes to make changes that matter... and one clocked in at only 31 seconds!

By my calculations, that gives us another 29 seconds to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done!

Who we are has a greater influence on our legacy than who we were.

Let’s think of our legacy as our shadow: it takes its lead from what we are doing. right. now.

We change; it changes.

As long as we are standing tall and proud, our legacy will follow suit.

We must trust in that. If we don’t, we will constantly be looking over our shoulder trying to see our imprint on the world…instead of actually making one.

What’s more impressive? More intriguing?

The shadow projected by the person marching confidently toward their destiny, eyes focused on their mission?

OR

The shadow projected by the person looking in their wake, eyes focused on catching a fleeting glimpse of how they appear to others?

The wisdom of Walt Whitman still echoes after all these years:

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and the shadows will fall behind you.”

How are you living your legacy today? And what must you change to make you even prouder of who you are?

Work for Your Network and it Will Work for You

Networking has the negative connotation of being a means to an end of getting someone to do something for you.

When it is used like that it loses all of its value.  Networking is not meant to be transactional, it is meant to be relational.

When you are meeting new people your authentic y matters. A “what’s in it for me” mentality sticks out like a sore thumb and will get you nowhere. Why? Nobody cares what’s in it for you. The only motive that will not backfire is to go in with

the goal of building relationships that are meaningful, sustainable, and mutually beneficial. The impact that networking

can have on your personal and professional life is tremendous… it won't come to fruition overnight. Like all relationships, these too will take time.

Three of the most effective ways to foster a strong, healthy, and influential network is to:

1. Align yourself with people who you respect and admire
2. Use your talents to help others achieve their goals
3. Use your connections to help make meaningful introductions within your network

The most important thing to do when you are building your community is to be yourself. Having the confidence to be genuine is your biggest asset.