A critical starting point for anybody looking to be successful in their life or career is to have a focus or purpose that helps organize one’s efforts. The clearer you are about where you are going the more likely you will be to get there. That is why I am starting this series of posts about having a positive impact and being successful personally and professionally with suggestions about how to create that clear direction.
Do You Have a Cause?
Are there any causes that are important to you? Your answer might be that having a positive impact is your cause. Fantastic. If that is not all, let’s widen the conversation. The expansive dictionary definition of a cause that we will be using is,
“a principle, aim, ideal, belief, conviction, or movement that, because of a deep commitment, one is prepared to defend or advocate.”
Please relax and think of the cause or causes in which you believe. They do not need to be causes in which you are currently involved. You are encouraged to take an expansive view of possible answers that might reach back to when you were quite young and as you reflect on that activity you might find yourself thinking, ‘I have not thought of that organization or activity in years but yes, a positive impact occurred and I could see trying to make that success happen now.’ Different ways to identify organizations, individuals, ideals or movements if they do not come immediately to mind is to think of:
-Places during your life where you have donated your time or money.
-Places where you have been a member at any time in your life.
-Organizations that have helped individuals you know when they were sick, struck by a catastrophe, and/or having a difficult time of any nature.
-Organizations that have provided a valuable service to you or someone you love.
-Organizations that have received press recently for positive actions they have taken that you respect and find beneficial to our world and the values you represent.
You are encouraged to have this conversation with a significant other, and/or with relatives, friends, neighbors or colleagues who you know and trust. Getting them into the conversation might generate ideas that you did not have front of mind.
Again, be expansive as you brainstorm in your own mind or with others. This is being asked of you because it might provide focus to the personalized impact commitment to action we will be working on in these positive impact posts. Please jot down areas where you already do or might have a deep commitment.
What do you Really Want to be Doing?
Let’s look at potential areas of positive impact and career satisfaction a 2nd way.
In the book, “Reboot Your Life” by Allen, Bearg, Foley & Smith, which is an excellent book that provides creative ideas about how to gain focus, the following question is asked:
“What elements would you really love to have in the next phase of your life that will satisfy your desire to have a positive impact?” Please jot them down.
Another way to think of what you really want to be doing is to write down times when you were on your game, when everything flowed, when you were energized and positive. Describe how you were acting and what it felt like to be in those peak moments.
Question: What does your answers to these questions tell you about where it might make sense to focus your career and positive impact energies moving forward? Jot down those thoughts. We will be revisiting them in future posts.
The Amazon #1 International Bestseller, “Have a Positive Impact During Uncertain Times” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732793808 – and this website provide links to hundreds of additional resources designed to help individuals and groups identify jobs of interest and ways to be successful and have a positive impact in all you do personally and professionally.