Seize The Moments Of Truth
Over the last few years, I’ve had
several close friends who have faced “Moments Of Truth” – job interviews,
exams, personal challenges, tough decisions. We engaged in
tremendous discussions on how to Seize The Moments Of Truth. Several
of them asked me to blog about our learning's on how we maximize the powerful
combination of Courage, Preparation, Purpose, Confidence Aura,
and Faith.
- Courage
– The great Eleanor Roosevelt once said “You gain
strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really
stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ’I
lived through this….I can take the next thing that comes along’.” To
burst through expectations and achieve success in critical situations, we
must first acknowledge our concerns, our fears. I have often
mentioned the “little voice” that serves to distract us and steal our
confidence. Our fears must be flipped directly into positive
action. Al Bru, former CEO of Frito-Lay coined the
phrase“Adelante Con Valor” which means “Move Forward With
Courage.” It is this type of Courageous Mindset that will serve
to fuel your success. Imagine yourself in a positive
situation. Think about how great you feel after the successful
interview, acing the exam, and making a great decision. This
visualization of success is very powerful.
- Preparation-
Along with this Courageous mindset must come a definitive effort to
enable an Improved Skill Set, your capabilities, your knowledge. It
is not enough to merely wish your way to a positive outcome. If you
have a big presentation, know your content and practice your
delivery. If you have an exam, study the material and don’t
cram. If you have a big job interview, learn about the company,
prepare your answers to tough questions, and craft meaningful
questions. This preparation might even involve asking for support
from others. The brave Cesar Chavez said ”You are
never strong enough that you don’t need help”. Prepare yourself for
the moments to come. Knowing that you have done all that can to be
“ready” will give you tremendous strength.
- Purpose – Juan Lopez from Amistad & Associates, a great friend and mentor, once asked me
“Angel, why is it YOUR time?” Frankly, I had a very
tough time with the answer. I did not quite understand what he meant
by it. It was a sobering moment as I realized that I had no
immediate response. I had not spent the time needed to define my
purpose, the compass that I would need to achieve my potential.
It was not until I crafted my Life Message, “Impact The Life Of Thousands
For The Better”, that I began to embrace my destiny- to achieve success as
I served others. Accepting why I am destined to succeed,
has given me confidence during the great times and strength
during the tough times. Knowing Your Purpose will drive
you to effective decision making and strong actions. I specifically
want to direct this point of feedback to our young people, those future
leaders who are considering their possibilities. Be sure to ask
yourself “what am I passionate about?”, “what am I good at?”, “who am I
trying to please?”, and “why is this important?” If you
have big decision like choosing where to go to college, analyze the pros
and cons of the choice, think about how the school might open doors for
the future. Think about how the choice enables your purpose – a
purpose based on your passions and considerations. Give yourself the
license to dream big, you have a lifetime ahead of you and many people who
will celebrate your success.
- Confidence Aura – In my opinion, the most successful people are those who
are self-aware, those who are conscious of how they are perceived.
It has often been described as one’s Aura, our image. Lucian
Freud, the noted English painter, was quoted as saying “the aura given
out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their
flesh.” The ability to create your aura of confidence is
critical to your success. As you approach your Moment Of Truth
with courage, preparation, and purpose, you will give off a
sense of confidence that others will pick up on. Stand Tall, look
people right in the eye, smile at them, and be genuinely happy to have the
opportunity to succeed. When you walk into the room, people will
notice and will be drawn to your positive energy. Have your “mojo”
at it’s best. I have been asked “what’s the difference between
Confidence and Arrogance?” The fine line between the two is
based on your Humility. A sense of humility acknowledges
that you are indeed a work in progress. While you are confident in your
skills and potential, you know that you are bound to get better.
Also, practice maintaining an internal Peace in tough
situations. Establish calming signals for yourself when you feel
nervousness coming on. Physical cues like curling your toes, making
a fist, or paced breathing are very effective. No matter what
happens outside, stay cool on the inside. This will help you explain
yourself better, avoid “fast talking”, and allow you to think more
clearly. This insight is best captured by modern day
philosopher and spiritual leader, Deepak Chopra, “In the midst of
movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you”.
- Faith
– Faith is the most critical building block. It is based on the
belief that the Creator does not gives us anything that we
can’t handle. We must savor life’s lessons on
every level. The greatest performers know that they were placed
in a Moment Of Truth by the Higher Power. Success
which glorifies the confidence placed in them by the Great Spirit
is the only option. They also perpetually “Give Thanks” for
their success by acknowledging how Faith made a difference. This
Faith permeates everything in their lives – how they impact others, how
they lead, how they prepare, how they perform. Mohandas Gandhi, a
historical leader of enormous significance, proclaimed “My Life is my
message”. Amazing words to live and succeed
by, all based on on a powerful Faith.
I hope that these insights are
helpful as YOU Seize Your Moments Of Truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment