It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that many of you in this meeting have a pretty good idea of some of the things you want to create in the coming months. Maybe even in 2023. And that’s great. As an Executive Coach, I know all too well the power of having goals and a vision for our future. It’s good to know what we want, and where we’re heading.
But today, I’m going to lower our field of view from the horizon to our immediate surroundings. Just for the moment, let’s not concern ourselves with the future. Let’s take a good look at the here and now.
So take a look around. If you are on this call, you are either a member of, or being introduced to, essentially the premier networking group around. And our origins and the majority of our membership center on New York. The most powerful team, in and from the largest, most diverse city in the world.
I mean… pretty cool. So let’s talk about being present, aware, and clear.
When we are out in the world, in conversations about our businesses, everything we do begins with belief. Whether you sell a widget, a service, or a combination, you’re first selling you. If we do not believe in ourselves — who we are and what we do — getting hired, closing the sale, or getting that deal done, becomes significantly more difficult if not impossible.
So there are two main places I invite you to look today to mine power for how you show up — to nurture that belief.
First of all, for what are you grateful? Look at things like your health, your relationships (in particular with family and friends), your faculties (nobody in this meeting showed up today lacking intelligence or drive — so appreciate it). Your knowledge and experience. Maybe even your challenges, if you can see them as opportunities or having lead to your growth. Doubt and desperation can be detected from a mile away. If you want others to believe in you, you better believe in yourself. And feeling good, feeling strong, can come from a clear awareness of all that we have. Right now. There’s a lot there. So write it down if you want. And when you need a boost, read it.
The second place is knowing our jobs. It’s knowing our purpose, the details of our offerings, the ins and outs of our organizations, and the way we get to operate inside those structures we belong to. That will provide confidence, because you’ll have easy access to information to answer questions, and an efficiency in your mental and physical energies. Instead of having to manage uncertainty, you can conserve and focus on your main goals. Get into a rhythm, and then you can take a shot at growth. More clients, bigger clients, higher rates, whatever that looks like for you. Know your role — down cold — and be prepared.
And lastly, be clear about how you present yourself. Know how to take all of that information and put it out in a way that will lead to success. Who are your clients? What are they looking to create, achieve, or solve? Why are you (or your team, company, or organization) the one that can provide that?
Imagine if you had both a 30 sec and a 5 min version of a presentation ready to go at all times. And I don’t necessarily mean a PowerPoint and a projector in your pocket — though you could. I mean what if you knew how to talk about what you do so well and with such ease that anytime you were in that elevator or at that airport bar pre-flight or waiting for a meeting to start, and the opportunity arose, you could leverage it to simply be present with the others around you, have an effortless conversation and create a referral or even close some business?
I see heads nodding. Good.
So by all means, build toward a bright future. But every road to it goes through the present moment.
Know what you have, who you are, and what you do.
And then go get it done.
