B Inspired
Mar 4th, 2010 | By blair | Category: bsailing to success
STORY: Valerie Hausladen
Many of us are finding ourselves in a time of change… or we are yearning for change. In terms of our profession, it is becoming less and less tolerable to simply work for a paycheck with little or no sense of fulfillment. Deep down, we know that the moment we truly admit that our current situation doesn’t mean anything anymore, our life begins to change. Some of us are ready, some are not. When we do choose to discover fulfillment and purpose in our professional life, we begin a journey that is full of great joys, fears, obstacles and tests. It is a journey toward our Professional Destiny® that will lead us to an expression of our natural gifts and full creative potential. We will experience deep satisfaction along the way and ultimately feel fulfilled. Beware—the journey is not for the faint of heart…
Think of following your Professional Destiny — as sailing a ship out onto an open sea. It should be perceived as a great adventure. To reach your destination, you’ll need preparation, guts and a strong commitment. You must be willing to journey into the open sea, beyond the safe harbor of your current surroundings. This requires moving past comfort and complacency. Confident that you are the captain of your ship, you can determine and adjust your course even when outside forces affect your journey. You have a compass, your inner guidance, to direct you.
If there’s a storm raging and drama around you, it may be momentarily drowned out and you’ll likely be tossed around — but this is temporary. With your ship in good working order and your crew (or people who support you) in place, you’ll weather the storm and arrive at an exciting new destination. Here are six tips to help you on your way to finding your Professional Destiny:
Prepare yourself for the journey. Like a true professional, you need to practice your gift every day. To do this, you must be fit, rested and have your physical and mental capacities about you.
Trim down to the essentials. Make sure your mind and body are fit for the task in front of you. You must have the stamina, strength and essentials that you need—but only the things you need. Leave all the extra weight behind.
Get focused and determined. Growth is a journey, and on any journey you will encounter unforeseen obstacles. Your ability to overcome these barriers will determine whether you succeed. It takes complete dedication and, a whatever-it-takes mindset.
Overcome the fear of moving into unknown territory. You might have to struggle when you venture into something new. Worst of all, you don’t know what’s out there. Your mind tells you maybe it’s better to stay right in your comfort zone.
Be responsible. Realize that you are the driver of your life and you have the ability to respond to each situation. Take ownership and steer the ship. You cannot take a hands-off approach and expect to become a master of your gift.
Dare to be remarkable. If you pattern yourself after others, you will be like others and, consequently, ordinary. The people who show an absolute conviction to make it, who pick themselves up when they fall, fully invest their effort, time and energy, are the ones who accomplish extraordinary results.
Do not expect the journey to be short. It never is. You can have the destination in mind, yet the journey will take you in directions you never imagined going. Looking back, you will see that these were places you needed to go. They were experiences you needed to have, or lessons you needed to master to prepare you for your destiny—the career for which you were born. When considering whether to set sail into new waters, remember a ship isn’t built to stay in the harbor—and neither are we.
