“Self-improvement is a foundation of leadership. If leadership is to have meaning over time, to be sustainable, it requires continuous attention and effort.” – Benjamin Franklin.
Ben Franklin was a model of self-improvement. From humble beginnings to extraordinary influencer at the royal courts of King George 3rd of England, and Louis 16th of France, and eventually the co-signer of the Declaration of Independence, he has left his mark on our culture and society.
He advised that each day it’s important to set time aside for self-reflection, and he kept a journal on how well he was doing. He often missed the mark, but over time these traits became habits, and the habits defined the man. He was a great believer that failure was not a shameful episode but was simply the lessons we learn along the way. He believed as I do, that we are all failing our way to success.
Today, many people look on self-improvement as a ‘nice to have’ instead of a ‘need to have’. When we refuse to take the journey of self-reflection we are compromising our ability to change.
By understanding who we are, where we want to go, and the things that are holding us back, we begin to establish better habits of thought and behavior that lead us in the direction of our desires as we seek to have a greater impact on the world in which we live.
Ask yourself: How much time am I committing to self-reflection? Am I asking the right questions and setting clear expectations that move my life in the direction I want to go?
Put it another way.
- What are you willing to change to redefine your life on your own terms?
- How willing are you to change what’s not working for you?
- How willing are you to take the time to get to know your true self?
Over the years I’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve my understanding of who I am, by becoming more self-aware, developing my communication skills, making better decisions, and above all, learning how my obstacles kept me playing small.
I worked with experts and coaches who helped me move out of the past, and develop a future filled with hope. In time, I wrote thousands of words to share the knowledge I had gained over a lifetime of making changes, and developed a coaching practice working with people from all levels of society.
When I created the Transformational Strategies for Success program I took a lifetime of experiences, and twelve years of content shared with clients and in presentations to help people take a shortcut to change. To redefine thinking and behaviors that have occupied minds and lives for many years, and perhaps a lifetime by reflecting on what’s working, what’s not, and where do you want to go.
It’s not a journey everyone wants to take. Too many are caught up in the silence of shame that Brene Brown speaks so eloquently about. We worry that if we really explore fully the extent of who we are we will be found to be lacking, or the things we believe about ourselves and would not reveal to anyone, are true. To change means we must embrace vulnerability.
But the miracle of doing this self-reflective work is where the truth lies. You may find out that you are much more than you think you are. More than the sum of the past, or the things people have said about you, or what you believe to be true about you. That you are far more capable than you think you are. That you can achieve greatness if you’re willing to do the work to reveal the truth about who you are… to yourself.
When you are willing to examine your thinking and behavior, and are willing to be honest and truthful with yourself, you will find that hidden beneath the negativity, or lack of self-belief, is a remarkable person who has so much to offer the world.
I believed for a very long time that I was worthless. My father told me that I would never amount to anything, as he believed about himself. I believed that if I revealed the truth of who I am, I would be judged harshly and ignored. I would not be loved. I was fearful that the stories I told myself were true. How wrong can you be? Very wrong!
Change is our only constant in life. Days, weeks, months, hours, seasons, birth, life, death. It’s all a continuum and taking time to notice how it unfolds and what needs to change is key to making your life a satisfying and fulfilling place to be.
Are you ready to make a commitment to your life? To your happiness? To the people and things that matter to you?
Are you ready to take your life and career to the next level without compromise?
Benjamin Franklin never gave up inventing, negotiating, seeking answers, and building strong alliances to help him achieve the things that mattered to him. Right up until his dying day he was still having conversations to encourage change in the country he helped create and loved.
I invite you to self-reflect on what matters to you. Where you are holding back. Where you feel stuck. Explore your vision for the future. Define your values and align yourself with the authentic you.
Discover how much more you can be as you breakthrough your limitations and obstacles to accomplish your deepest wishes.
This is not hyperbole! I’ve seen the impact self-reflection has on individuals who need to do a reset on their career, who want to redefine relationships, or restart a business. Who simply want to know what they are truly capable of and start living up to their potential.
Are you ready to take the risks that you can change for the better? That you can achieve the things you say you want? That you can have greater impact in the world in which you live?
Then don’t waste another minute thinking about it. Be willing to change what’s not working for you and refuse to compromise yourself. I promise, it’s worth it.