What’s good about you?

I’m reading a book at the moment that got me thinking (worth the money then)…

In ‘The Greatness Guide’, the author (Robin Sharma) offers the top half-dozen things he does that might help others develop in some way, and it made me think – I MUST be doing something like these myself, or else how do I get on in life at all?

As an exercise I recommend doing this yourself – look at what you do, and take some credit for once! There is no way you would be where you are in life today without developing some pretty effective coping strategies, so why not share them around.

For my part, I think mine would be as follows:

• Never stay still. Keep looking for the next project, job, or challenge. This keeps me edgy, and planning for an ‘uncertain’ future, forcing me to learn new things just in case they are useful down the track!
• Ask stupid questions. Be the person in the room that says, “Sorry, but your going to have to speak to me like I’m a 5 year old, because that doesn’t make sense…”. This makes the other person work harder to re-think their explanation, and it gives you another chance to re-listen.
• Ask for help. Ask the people around you for their solution to your problems. At first they look at you and think “Hell, you’re the manager, YOU work it out”, but when you explain that they can take on the projects that stem from this analysis, or that they may be acting in your job on your next holidays, it becomes in their interest to get involved. And the more views and proposals you get, the fuller and more effective the solution becomes (as long as you have surrounded yourself with great people). You never know it all.
• Read as many bit and pieces as you can – always carry a book in your bag, just in case you get left waiting somewhere and have 10 minutes to kill. Also keep a highlighter pen handy – don’t be afraid to scrawl across passages, make notes in the margin, or tear a page out to pin on your wall (as long as you own the book!).
• Dream. You have to be a fantasist, an idealist, a dreamer. Otherwise the people who huff and tisk away in the background will get to you, and you’ll pull back from commitment. If you believe it can, should, and will happen, then it has a tendency to work out for you.

Comment on this to share your own advice. It might help other’s cope with a situation they face tomorrow.