Be A Driving Force in the 21st Century

The opportunity to make a difference and bring your experience and skills to others is greater than it’s ever been. There is an explosion of information available for anyone at any level from a business professional to the CEO of a company.

Making your way through the maze of channels that provide knowledge for personal and professional growth, to be a dynamic leader and for learning different communication styles can be empowering.

In order to be a driving force in the 21^st Century, you can benefit by understanding the major factors that shape the current and future workplace and how you, as an influencer, can maintain balance in the shifting patterns, the pace of technological change, and economic globalization.

By being keenly aware of the key structural forces under way in the economy today, factors associated with the trends and if these trends will last or deviate from their present course, you will be able to stay solid and strong through the evolution of the business environment.

As a decision maker for your company or organization, the rapid pace of change brings challenges you may face on a daily basis. The choices you make will define the direction you take yourself as the driving force behind success. It is not easy to be a leader, it requires great responsibility and the ability to have clarity in whatever vision you have created.

Core thinking is pivotal in how you make decisions, keeping your goals in alignment with your vision and staying ahead of the trends. There are key questions to ask yourself as you raise the bar on your leadership skills and stay rooted in fulfilling the needs of your customers and/or clients.

1. What risks am I willing to take? Small, calculated risks are better than “testing the depth of the river with both feet.” By starting small with change, direction or implementation; you minimize loss if things don’t seem to be going the way you planned.

High achievers think differently than the average person; there is a fundamental reason taking risks can be hard.

When you decide to take a risk, a rule of thumb will be to determine if you feel 90-100% good about this risk. If your percentage is under 90, you have two choices.

You can find the reason why you are not in the 90-100% bracket, then work to resolve the doubt or uncertainty before moving forward with your decision. Or, you can wait on taking action and explore other directions in which you will feel 90-100% confident about.

“Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go.”

2. Am I following my own dreams or someone else’s? Whatever your position, you are where you are because you did things you have done based on how you were thinking to get there. What often happens is somewhere along the way you either stayed true to your own vision and desires or you have gotten caught up in the rat race chasing something that is not in alignment with who you are.

If you discover or know that you are trying to walk in someone else’s shoes that don’t fit, now is a great time to explore how you can shift your focus and thinking for your success.

If you believe you are following your dreams, then keep on the path you are walking down and strive to become better today than you were yesterday.

“What is the first step to following your dreams?

3. Do I have the “feeling like a fake” syndrome? This is known as the imposter syndrome. It is feeling like one, when you really are not; and a fear the world is going to find out! For people trying to make a difference in the world or believe strongly in what they are selling, this can be like a thorn in their side.

The truth is, people from all walks of life can feel this way, even movie stars:

“I still think people will find out that I’m really not very talented. I’m really not very good. It’s all been a big sham.”

You may think you need to be perfect, but feeling free to fail can strengthen your confidence as you learn your weaknesses. For high achievers, failure is simply an incentive to keep pushing forward to reach their goals.

“I have written eleven books, but each time I think, uh oh, they’re going to find me out.”

Here are 3 ways you can overcome imposter syndrome:

1. Know that you deserve success. The feeling of being a fraud comes from the inability to internalize success. The opportunities you have experienced came into your life because of something you did, celebrate this!

Sometimes we are influenced at a young age to believe that success is bad, money is evil and that we have to work hard to be successful. This is farthest from the truth! This belief can settle into our subconscious and create havoc in our drive to become a high achiever.

You deserve success just as much as the next person. Honor your authentic self who is the driving force behind your achievements and embrace the success you deserve.

2. Don’t compare yourself to others. The minute you look at the success of someone else and a twinge of jealousy seeps in, you have started yourself onto the path of not feeling good about yourself.

Jealousy is one of the worst emotions we can feel, it can be very destructive. You will want to change jealousy to “I admire that person.” Then consider what you feel you don’t have that they do and knowing what you want.

Look at the person as an ally, someone with whom you can walk side by side with. Whatever is causing the jealousy, strengthen it within yourself. Soon, you will become a better leader, will have a more substantial impact on others and realize you are not a fraud.

3. Don’t be afraid of your “voice.” This time in the history of man we have more opportunities and ways to have a place for our “voice.” To show the world who we are, what we represent and how we can make a difference.If you are a motivational speaker, leading hundreds or thousands of people, an entrepreneur making your way in the world or an actress/actor, it has never been a better time to express yourself. To be the best you can be and speak from your own truths.

Becoming vulnerable allows you to step fully into your own skin. Through this opening of the self, you will find that part of you who wants to be heard and understood.

You are only an imposter when you are not being authentic!

Never underestimate what you contribute to the world; a simple gesture, advice, mentorship or leadership can change just one person. From that person it will ripple out and reach others you may never know, but it makes a difference. Be a driving force in the 21^st Century.

“The humble man makes room for progress, the proud man believes he is already there.”