I know this young woman who approaches her life and career choices in a very determined way. She chose her soul mate early on, meeting in high school and marrying right after college. She followed her true graphics design passion and landed a top job in a consulting firm. Like many in her generation, she decided that changing careers was the best way to experience life and she decided to pursue a teaching certification. As you may guess, she attained a position in education right after she graduated and is now a tenured elementary school teacher. But wait, there is more. Her husband too never gives up. After contemplating a career move to pharmacy, he just got off the waiting list for pharmacy school and two days later the entire family needed to move 8 hours away. And finally, this persistent young woman, found another elementary school position in her new residence as well as a house to rent in one weeks time. I have known this extraordinary woman since her birth and she is my “never say no” niece.
How can someone be so able to “will” actions to happen?
Is this just luck hovering over her or is she leading her life in a very purposeful way?
As we explore our choices at work or in our personal lives, we can allow things to just happen or we can deliberately plan for the forks in the road. We can empower ourselves to take action on what works for each of us.
[Tweet “Leaders plan for the crossroads along the way.”]
I am a believer leaders make their own luck in how they approach choices and decisions. Working with many leaders through the years I have noticed some just cave into changes that befall them while others dust themselves off and seem to embrace the challenges. Our personalities may play into our survival attitudes but I would argue that we all have the ability to direct our options. Are you ready to lead by sheer “will”?
THINK POSSIBILITIES
I think the first step in paving a path from luck to execution is thinking about options and alternatives to the status quo. In my niece’s case, she recognized that she may need to adjust her career choice or remain unhappy. What might that mean for you? That might mean staying in a current position and enriching some of your responsibilities or delving into some new territories. The essential piece is saying to yourself that there are other ways to lead your career or life.
DEVELOP A PLAN
Once you know what other directions you want to pursue, create a map to help make the necessary moves.
- Do you need a certification? Where could you get that?
- Does your plan involve speaking with other people?
- Talk to everyone you know in you field you may be interested in.
- Create a timeline of when you want to reach certain milestones in order to know when you have arrived where you want to be.
MINDSET SHIFT TO “YES I CAN”
Probably most important, you need to visualize going from a dream to a landing using your inner positive self-talk. Sometimes I will be working with leaders who keep saying that they are feeling unfulfilled but can’t imagine doing anything about it. They see themselves as a victim of circumstance:
“I need to keep this job and not rock the boat.”
“I don’t have the time to figure this out.”
“I should be grateful for what I have.”
[Tweet “Leaders make things happen when luck knocks at their door.”]
Take hold of your anxiety and reposition yourself to think positively.
MAKE IT HAPPEN
Finally, take action and stop putting off what would excite you and empower you to come alive. Once you know where you want to head and what change you need to make then become a “never say no” leader just like my niece.
Are you a leader who can “will” things to happen? What strategies have worked for you?
This is so very true Terri!
“Probably most important, you need to visualize going from a dream to a landing using your inner positive self-talk. Sometimes I will be working with leaders who keep saying that they are feeling unfulfilled but can’t imagine doing anything about it. They see themselves as a victim of circumstance -”
Our self- talk and self limiting beliefs can be so dangerous and so limiting!
I have worked with many leaders through the years who sabotage themselves by allowing negative chit-chat to rule their thinking. Studies have shown that when we push out the negative in favor of the positive we can change our thinking and our actions.
A shift to thinking that one can accomplish something and taking action of any kind will lead us to where we need to be.
Thanks Chery for your wonderful additions!
Great post. One of my favorite quotes is Thomas Edison, “opportunity is missed by most people because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Your friends are working hard at both the planning and execution.
Of course there is some luck involved, but unless the luck is really great or really bad, we’ve got so much we can influence.
I love that quote and I think many of us give up too early or don’t see the possibilities.
I believe luck comes into play when leaders have prepared and planned for change. Unless we are at the front lines ready to recognize as well as seize the opportunities in plain sight, the choice may pass us by. To me that is less about luck and more about being ready.
I so appreciate your insights and ideas Karin!
Love the story and your lessons! The mindset shift to “Yes I can!” is so critical. It’s particularly interesting to me because I have one child that has that as a default and the other would rather give up when the going gets tough. It’s simply how they’re wired. We’ve been looking for ways to inspire the can do attitude in both children.
One thing we’ve been doing is helping differentiate between circumstances that keep us stuck and when we keep ourselves stuck. Your niece clearly recognizes that she is in control and always has choices. Looking beyond the small horizon and keeping an eye on the big vision ahead helps to enable inspired and daring leaps to get there regardless of current circumstance.
Thanks, Terri!
So interesting Alli how two children from the same DNA can respond so differently to facing challenges. I agree that their personalities are coming into play and I would also add that as we gather more “wins” along the way we gain wisdom and confidence. It takes some children so much longer to not dwell on what went wrong instead of what is working.
My niece is one of three and is probably the most optimistic and positive of her siblings. And the youngest. Go figure.
Thanks Alli for sharing your world with us!
Terri,
Great question! I believe leaders who show up and say “I will” will have a better chance of success than those who don’t show up ready to engage fully. This may not be “willing” something to happen, but it is digging in and ready to get our hands dirty in doing the necessary work to solve problems and move initiatives forward.
Jon
Actually Jon I do think that showing up and saying “I will” is advantageous to making things happen. When we believe that something can be changed or accomplished we are probably more creative and open in how we will problem solve. “I will” provides leaders with energy and direction to see possibilities that others may not even consider. It broadens our “bandwith”.
Thanks for getting us thinking some more! I always appreciate your perspectives.
I love that phrase: Leaders plan for the crossroads in life!
So true…I believe that we can make much of our own luck by simply looking ahead, planning, and taking advantages of opportunities as they come our way.
Love this post, Terri!
Thanks LaRae!
I love your idea of making our own luck by seizing those opportunities that come our way. To make that happen we do need to be perfectly positioned and that means being prepared.
Your insights are always so meaningful!
Terri, yes. I agree and often see negativity creep in to destroy and limit people’s dreams. Great reminder. We make our own luck.
Great point Skip regarding negativity limiting our dreams. I too have seen people lose their way and allow obstacles to block them from reaching their goals because they let negative chatter influence their decisions. I also think fear can create negative thinking and sabotage our choices by talking us out of asking for a promotion or even making an important contribution. We do make our own luck and need to be ready when those opportunities arrive.
Thanks so much Skip for stopping by and adding your helpful insights!