Moment of Truth
As far back as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with ‘why people do the things they do’, and what makes some more effective in life than others.
Are they simply born more talented, stronger, or smarter? Or perhaps it was sheer grit and fierce determination that drove them forward?
Life experience has taught me it’s probably a combination of both.
I have witnessed naturally talented people self-destruct in life, while others less fortunate have emerged from obscurity to change the world.
Why? Perhaps it had more to do with the way they saw themselves and the world?
During my career, I’ve completed countless ‘type’ indicators and psychometric assessments to provide insight and help develop me as a person and leader.
The thing about those indicators is they rarely change. To be honest, I often felt I was being labelled and hemmed into a defined framework…and that’s not me.
I’ve always been a ‘calculated’ risk taker who tended to trust my gut instincts. Most things worked out okay, while others were cataclysmic disasters.
No regrets, but I did want to be better. I wanted to unleash the potential I always knew I had. And so began my journey of self-discovery.
I’m sure you’ve heard many times before. It’s a journey, not a destination, right?
My life struggles have largely been with myself. Self-doubt led me to question, was I good enough, smart enough, interesting enough, or disciplined enough?
It wasn’t until I got out of my head and in touch with my heart, to understand ‘why I do the things I do’, that life started to change.
I began to explore the connection between the physical heart and brain. How they interact and communicate with each other and frame how we see the world.
It was a light bulb moment, but this is not the time or place for anatomy lesson.
All the wounds, voids, and joyous times in my life, experienced in my heart, are stored in my brain’s filing cabinet (the limbic system).
Since childhood, I had built protection mechanisms around these painful or traumatic experiences and any future triggers would see me respond with self-promoting or self-protecting behaviour which was terribly ineffective.
Once I understood ‘why’ I behaved this way, I was able to re-frame my mindset and change my behaviour with self-awareness, healing, and support from others.
It took time but that kick-started my personal growth and ultimate effectiveness in life.
Here are some key learnings that have influenced my ongoing transformation in life, work, relationships, and as a parent:
What you believe determines how you behave.
Take risks and stretch yourself. Seek to do better.
Everyone has the capacity to change.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Our true potential is unknown…so go for it!
It’s not what happens to you but how you respond.
We all have the capacity to learn and grow, with effort.
No matter the gift, hard work is the game changer.
Don’t be defined by anyone or anything.
Be careful who and what you listen to.
If you can’t be constructive, say nothing at all.
Find setbacks and challenges motivating.
It’s not perfection, but progression.
Trust your gut and make a decision.
And finally, I would like to say this renewed mindset has allowed me to thrive during some of the most challenging times of my life with optimism and hope.
Launching Cultivate during a global pandemic was seen by many as ludicrous but I believe it is the perfect time to invest and create for the world that lies ahead.
It’s my latest moment of truth.
If you're a CEO looking for a transformative CFO who leads with both head and heart or a senior executive seeking to discover your 'unique potential and purpose', then we need to talk.
Visit our website. https://lnkd.in/gncf52Q
Two sources of learning I’ve found invaluable and recommend are the Heartstyles Indicator (www.heartstyles.com) and the book ‘Mindset’ (Dr Carol S. Dweck).