As I wrote about in my 2nd book, “Is This Seat Taken? It’s Never Too Late to Find the Right Seat”, there is no question that each of us always have the power of choice. Many may think they do not – that things are ‘out of their control’, and yes, that may be true for many things: the economy, the political environment, the weather, social security, and even healthcare. However, how we respond, is 100% up to us.
As many of us know. the first step to ‘upping your game’ is to honestly assess where you are today AND where you want to be tomorrow! Thus, as we end 2014, now is the time to take a hard look in the mirror and determine if 2014 was all and more than you wanted it to be…..or if there is still room for growth and improvement.
“Leadership” and its development within individuals has become a multi-billion dollar industry. However, what I have observed over the course of my career, and most recently through my work as a leadership development consultant and coach, is that the recipe for becoming an effective leader is seldom – if ever – found outside of oneself. What is the secret??
Recently I read an incredible article in Forbes entitled 35 Questions that will Change your Life. And yes, those questions will indeed make you stop, think, and course-correct in some cases. I am a huge believer that the questions we ask ourselves and others throughout our lives inform our decisions, our priorities, and ultimately our outcomes.
Those of you who follow my posts know that the first half of this year has been humbling relative to those who have been riffed, downsized, or have simply made the decision that where they were is not where they want to be. Folks are waking up to their new reality: could this be the ‘control, alt, delete’ moment in my career?
Recently after giving a keynote on my book “Is This Seat Taken?” and the power of the random encounter, a friend told me about a fabulous book which covers a related concept. This book emphasizes that having an effective ‘touchpoint’ is about really connecting, being present – eyeball to eyeball – with another. He summed his perspective of effectively engaging into the ‘4 A’s’.
One year ago on 11/1/11, my first book, “Is This Seat Taken?”, was published and released. This past year has been full of tremendous learning experiences. Take it from any author – writing, publishing, and then marketing their work is not for the faint of heart. So, what are a few of the most important lessons I have learned?
As many of you know, my first book, “Is This Seat Taken?” was released this week on 11/1/11. This story book is a collection of highly personal vignettes from my life as a global traveler over the years. My intention in remembering and sharing these stories is simply to highlight the wisdom of the many virtually invisible people who cross our paths each and every day. The only prerequisite to benefit from these individuals is for us to be awake in the present moment to hear and see what is right in front of us. These insights helped me on my own individual road to alignment.
But writing a book is not for the faint of heart.