Being in your sweet spot

What are you passionate about? What makes you excited? What gets you going? For many years I didn’t really understand the importance of being passionate about what I was doing. I was raised in a culture that was more directed by duty and responsibility. But looking back I realise that my biggest success moments was often found in the areas that I really enjoyed and got me excited. Did I get excited and passionate because I was good something or did I develop excellence because I was passionate about that area? I don’t know for sure but maybe both!

The point is that when you find what you are passionate about, and where that overlaps with what you are good at, you have found your ”sweet spot”. And when you have found your sweet spot you have a great chance of being successful at the same time as you fully enjoy what you are doing. Seldom can we operate only in our sweet spots. There are things we just have to do even if we don’t enjoy them. But if we can decrease the dragging duties and and increase the tasks that we are passionate about, we are moving towards more successful and happy lives.

Have you found your sweet spot?  I love being in mine! Wishing you a successful day!

What do you have in your hands?

”Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”

 By Theodore Roosevelt

What do you have in your hands? What are your resources? What people to you have around you and what do they have in their hands? Often people get very occupied by what they don’t have. In our times of media messages all over the place, we are exposed to all sorts of ideal successful people who appears to have it all. They are often presented to look great, they appear have all the key answers and they appear to be successful in all they do. Its not a bad thing to learn from and be inspired by genuine role models, but If we make those “super people” that are being sold to us, our reference there is a risk of getting lost. We just don’t see what we actually already have.

The founder of the global multi billion IKEA business, late Ingvar Kamprad, started his business journey by selling matchboxes and pens. That’s what he had in his hands where he started. With an entrepreneurial mindset, he made something of what he had that could added value to others and step by step it grew. Moses the ancient leader that at least three world religions relate to, got the question “what do you have in your hands”, and that stick he was holding in his hands, became instrumental for his success as a leader. 

What do you have in your hands? What can you do with what you have where you are?

Your scope of improvement and transformation

What are you able to do, and what are you not able to do? When we communicate we share information, ideas and attitudes. In some cases that influences the ones we are communicating with, in other cases not. True leadership is much about influencing people, the passion for the vision you have being one area of influence. The strongest way of influencing others is being an honest role model that others can follow and be inspired by. Its not so much about what you tell them, but much more about what you show them with your own life.

Aldous Huxley, a famous author said:

”There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” 

He was probably right in the sense, that you you have to start any improvement with your self. And when that improvement and transformation of yourself happens it will impact and influence others. However the transformation of yourself is not always an easy thing. As social humans who understands ourselves primarily in relationship with others, we often need help. Seeking help is never a failure! On the contrary, its a strength and may be the start of a life changing adventure, for you and the people you are leading. 

Who will you ask for help? And whom will you help today?

What do you see ahead of you?

One of the greatest human abilities is to be able to dream. To imagine something that’s yet to be seen, to see something that’s not yet created. One of the leaders most important roles is to see a bit further ahead, capture the dream, describe the vision by words and make it accessible to others. Help people see what you see, embrace it and make it their own. The dream, the vision has a fantastic power to release creativity and give people energy for taking steps, together in the same direction.

One of the greatest scientists of our times, Albert Einstein, is known to have expressed it this way:

“Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than the one with all the facts.“

What do you see today? What is your dream? Who are you sharing it with? What are you seeing together?