Hip! Hip! Hi-Po!!! ... now what?

Reading this article* in The Glass Hammer, I couldn't resist sharing it with you especially after my piece on this last year (http://empowered-women-excel.blogspot.ca/2013/03/are-you-hi-po-or.html).
I’ll highlight things that struck me, my comments are in purple font:

According to Harvard Business Review, companies identify 3-5% of their workforce as “High Potential.” If you have made that list, congratulations! You likely have outstanding technical expertise and an aptitude for strategic thinking. You probably have already delivered strong results, succeeded in various roles, and sought ways to improve processes and efficiency. Although making the list is an achievement in and of itself, it is only the first step. Now, as your journey as a “High Potential” begins, what steps should you take to position yourself for realizing that potential? EW: Indeed it’s one thing to “get on the list” Congrats!!! Now, how do you (plan to) stay on the list? It know how - it's actually as simple as ABC...

One resolution

Mid last year, I found out that January is Mentoring month so I decided to start off the year with a related resolution. In fact, I made this resolution a few years ago - and took action and it has continued to pay off...in more ways than one. 

I like what Karen Dee, the President and CEO of  Fifth Third Bank (Central Florida affiliate), said about Mentoring and encourage you to make that one of your resolutions:

"Find a mentor early in your career and,

as time goes on,

give back

by being a mentor to someone else."

I'll do my best to share mentoring tips this year - please feel free to send any other tips you know &/or have experienced to me. We can "mentor" each other on mentoring :)

Wishing you a really wonderful year ahead... invest in yourself and in others.

Don't forget to appreciate all those who have been your mentors - at one time or the other.

Reach out...

It's been almost 2½ years since I started this blog. One reason why I started it was because I strongly believe that we're here to help others.

I know that some people erroneously believe that they must be better than others in order to help them - that belief can't be further away from the truth.

I agree that there are times when being "better" educated and experienced, is definitely one way to help others.
On the flip side, being a willing listener and learner can and does help you become better and also helps those who are "better" go a notch higher. For instance, watching and learning from my mentors, helped me develop mentoring skills and then having the opportunity mentor others has greatly improved my mentoring skills.

Which is why these quotes from Pablo and Michelle Obama resonated with me.

When you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.

~ Michelle Obama

 

I hope these 2 quotes will also encourage you to keep reaching out...accept that hand and pull someone up or be pulled up.

 

Play to win

Do you find yourself stifled by the competitiveness around you which then puts you on the treadmill of wanting to outdo your "competitors"? Personally, I believe that the best type of competitiveness is when you are always trying to outdo yourself... let me explain.

To become better (than others)...

...become a better you.

I find that too many of us are competing against the wrong standard.  In fact more than once, I've caught myself comparing myself to others and unintentionally 'competing' against them. The truth is:
To become better, become a better YOU.

The best type of competitiveness is competition against one's self - not anyone else.
The best you can ever be is a better you.
The most successful people in life focus on self-improvement and self-development.
No matter how hard you try, aiming to be a better version of someone else ultimately makes you second-best of the person you're trying to be like - a copy not an original.

Take Judy Garland's advice:

Always be a first-rate version of yourself,

instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

 

I strongly recommend that you make this one of your resolutions in 2014 and for life. 

How busy are you?

One thing a lot of people, especially women - who are known for multi-tasking, are is BUSY!   In fact, it's almost fashionable to be busy which is why Socrates' words of wisdom come in handy: "Beware the barrenness of a busy life."   A few months ago, I read this rather interesting piece and just had to share it:   Please Stop Complaining About How Busy You Are - @HarvardBiz http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/09/please_stop_complaining_about.html And just in case you you're too busy to read this, let me share another set of words of wisdom: “No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” ~ Confucius I couldn't have put that better so I'll take a cue from that piece of advice to recommend this wonderful book I read a few years ago. Dealing with busy-ness is a challenge...we need to educate and equip ourselves with knowledge and tools to deal effectively with busy-ness and then take a step further to empower others...so we all excel together.

"I won't let you down..."

I heard a very profound conversation while watching Fielder's Choice last month. When a promising Ad executive said to his boss: "I won't let you down."
His boss responded: "Don't let yourself down."

Hearing that really resonated with me because too many times we go around doing our best not to let others down. Interestingly, the same day I watched this film, I saw this quote:

"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am." ~ Michelle Obama

I'm not saying you should not work hard and make others - parents, spouse, children, family and friends etc. - proud of your accomplishments. The point of working hard should be to make you happy and content with yourself. No matter how happy and proud those around you are about your accomplishments, if you are not happy, you have wasted your time (& life) living up to another person's dreams. Live your life!

The longest serving First Lady of the US, Eleanor Roosevelt, said:

Your ambition should be to get as much life out of living as you possibly can, as much enjoyment, as much interest, as much experience, as much understanding. Not simply be what is generally called a "success." 

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

 

Being emotional beings, we listen and care about what others think and say however, we need to have courage to dream, believe in our dreams and act to fulfill our dreams. The next time you want to say:

"I won't let you down" to someone

switch and say "I won't let ME down" to yourself.