The Second Book The 21st Chapter - Don't Let Your Past Chart Your Future

July 11/17

Have you had an experience and after it was over you were looking back thinking, I could have done better.  Ask yourself why you have this feeling?  What should have been an exciting new experience that added value to your life, it has perhaps had the opposite effect.

Part of this concept of not performing like you had wanted to is sometimes you are the subject to your last similar experience.  Your environment you are currently in is a determining factor of your ability to create consistent level of value.  After each experience look around your environment and feel the energy that is surrounding you.  Your mind is powerful and others around you plant the seed of influence, this influence can be either positive or negative and it can have an result on your performance.

Almost 6 years ago I was given the opportunity for a different leadership position at a large company.  I struggled at first on how to allow myself do accomplish more value and not let my past influence my current state.  There was a time during the beginning I wanted to go back to my old position.  When that thought started to occur my performance went down.  To the point that was low enough I was almost given a discipline warning due to my poor attitude and performance.

This was the first time in my working life I was struggling at this level to try to succeed at my work.  As I reflected to why this was occurring I realized my thoughts were driving my results and I was focusing on my past.  I realized it was not possible to go forward and to create the value I desired to create.  Once this realization occurred I focused on the moment and thought how can I succeed in this new role.

The key was to have the thought and from that thought value was created.  During the remaining 5 years at that position I was able to grow and lead a group of amazing individuals.  Not only was I able to create value in my direct reports, I was able to increase the value of the over 1000 people working there through the team of people I was working with.

The 2 key leanings was to be able to identify my current performance level and to be able to identify where others were around me in their journey.  By starting first to lead yourself you will have the ability to lead others in a way that will create value.

Your biggest return on your influence will be leading others to a point where they are able to chart their own future that does not depend on their past.