'When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.' ~ Eleanor RooseveltClick To Tweet
It would be easy to think that you – one small person out of an entire planet of seven billion other people – didn’t matter much. In fact it would be convenient to think that… it let’s you off the hook, doesn’t it? I mean, how can your personal leadership contribution possibly have an impact over all that noise…
For some people, the racket is too much. They settle in for a non-eventful life, rich in routine and devoid of impact.
Others lean toward this quiet life, because it seems like less effort… but deep down they wonder what else they could achieve…
And a third group desperately want to achieve sometime massive, to make that personal leadership contribution, but they’re not sure where to start or in what domain their efforts should be spent.
What camp are you in?
And why does your personal leadership contribution matter?
You’re Unique Experience Makes You Qualified…
'Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfilment.' ~ Tony RobbinsClick To Tweet
You know what you know…
You are the only person in the world who knows the things that you know.
You learned these things from your formal education, from your parents, from your grandparents, from your lecturers, from your kids…
From the books you’ve read, the films you’ve watched, the podcasts you’ve listened to.
From the places you’ve visited and the skills you’ve built in your working life.
Nobody else in the whole world has this specific mix of knowledge that you’ve gleaned over the years.
And in the combination of this knowledge – this information salad – are insights that would be very challenging for anybody else to have…
That’s worth something.
You’ve seen what you’ve seen…
You’re the only person who has seen the things you’ve seen.
The only one who’s observed what you’ve observed.
Those formative defining memories you have – they’re yours. They’re not anyone else’s. Even the people who were there will have different memories.
You viewed those things with a distinctive lens that is uniquely yours. Nobody else would have seen it the same way – or felt the same way about it.
Some of it may have been harrowing. Some of it may have been tedious. Some of it may have been uplifting…
…For you.
'Success is not a function of the size of your title but the richness of your contribution.' ~ Robin S. SharmaClick To Tweet
You’ve been where you’ve been…
Sure, other people were there too. Your family and friends. But then they went somewhere else, and you went somewhere else.
The threads of your journey – while at times woven together with those of other people – also diverge, and twist and turn, and create a pattern that is familiar only to you.
Sometimes returning and sometimes moving further apart.
'Every person has a longing to be significant; to make a contribution; to be a part of something noble and purposeful.' ~ John C. MaxwellClick To Tweet
You’ve done what you’ve done…
The jobs you’ve had, the travel you’ve done, the trees you’ve climbed and the races you’ve won…
These achievements and accomplishments – and sometimes the mistakes and regrets – these are all special to you. Some of them you might have shared with others – but most of them will be for you alone.
You feel how you feel…
All of these things add together to create the person you are – and make you feel the way you feel about the world around you.
The things that make you happy, and the things that make you cry.
The things that make you proud, and the things that make you embarrassed or ashamed.
This signature combination of feelings and emotional responses is as distinctive as your fingerprint. Nobody else does it quite like you.
So What is Your Personal Leadership Contribution?
'I have a personal philosophy in life: If somebody else can do something that I'm doing, they should do it. And what I want to do is find things that would represent a unique contribution to the world - the contribution that only I, and my portfolio of talents, can make happen. Those are my priorities in life.' ~ Neil deGrasse TysonClick To Tweet
There are a bunch of things that come from your unique life experiences that you and only you are qualified to do.
Problems that only you can solve.
Knowledge that only you can impart.
Skills that only you can teach.
And the world needs you to do this. Otherwise it’s a huge waste.
What is your personal leadership contribution going to be?
My new book, More Than This: Your Heroic Quest to Find Inspiration, Intent, Impact and Insight in a Broken World, is exactly what you need to:
- Clarify and articulate your passion – to find your why
- Gain the courage and commitment to do something about it
- Learn and strengthen the skills you need to create massive impact
- Stay true, analyse your results and gain powerful insights
Available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.com now.
Dear Rebecca,
seen in connection to the vulnerability post – this is exactly why you should continue being who you are and not try to be anything else. It is only you who can be who you are – and you are a very important, irreplaceable component in the life of the people who depend on you, in your private and professional life.
If you stress yourself trying to be something else, not only will your current contribution be missed – you will also not even be the best version of the “something else” you’re trying to be.
All the best,
Henrik
Henrik, you’re so right!
I feel like it’s my purpose to go round lighting fires under people (figuratively of course!). This is easier to do in person than through words – but I’m going to keep trying!
Take care!