For over 30 years professionals wanting to make changes in their lives and career have come to me because they want to know what to do next in their lives. They may be phasing out of a job/career – (or being asked to leave: Downsizing, reorganizing, or policy disagreements). They may be on the retirement circuit. Or they may be feeling a strong pull to do something else without really understanding what it might be, but it is time to do something else and find a new direction in life.
Whatever their reasons, when I ask about their talents, many of these smart, savvy professionals suddenly become uncertain and hesitant, finding it difficult to name many talents at all. Yet, I know – as do their friends and associates, that they are quite brilliant in several ways.
Has this ever happened to you? It has happened to me for sure. It’s an awful feeling to stutter out, “Well, gee, I think I’m good with people.” Heaven knows I do not want to brag about myself. But, to quote the line from the movie, Pretty Woman, “Big Mistake. Huge.”
One of the problems is that when facing uncertainty, we just don’t have the words to sell ourselves. Here’s one of the first things I do with my clients. We do a deep dive into their gifts, talents and abilities using a variety of questionnaires and coaching resources so that they leave crystal clear about who they are. We find the unique exact words that not only describe who they are at their core, but what they have to offer. Because the two primary assets we need to be armed with in life are the right words about ourselves and the ability to express how we can help others. The rest is filling in the details.
So, I am doing something I have never done before, and it’s my free gift to you. Click below for a link to 50 often used self-descriptive words culled from the years of working with people in my coaching programs, and it might give you a few ways to start thinking about yourself. It’s just the tip of the iceberg, but still revealing.
Just do it fast and don’t think!! You might be surprised at how talented you really are!
P.S. Of course, I want to hear! Feel free to e-mail me at mlm@firedup4success.com.
