Your defining moment is that singular occurrence which ends up defining who you are as a Person of Worth.
Look up the term defining moment. It is “an event that typifies or determines all subsequent related occurrences.” What is yours?
The majority of the time, our original defining moment is achieved early in our careers, when we are dumber than rocks.
- We are engaged in doing something that is beyond what we thought we could do.
- We figure everyone knows how to do what we do so effortlessly, so organically.
- We dismiss our accomplishments as being easily achieved by anyone.
- We are surprised when we are invited to sit at conference tables and participate in projects.
- We continuously under-estimate our value.
We do some of our best work under these circumstances. These creative and innovative environments continue to present themselves throughout our life.
Finally, we see the light. We gain experience and perspective. We become mindful and reconsider who we are. We gain clarity of purpose and a solid sense of self.
We name our defining moment.
We comprehend why we are frustrated in our careers. We smile that we are always the square peg on the team. We acknowledge our past difficulty in understanding differences in the perspectives of others.
Your defining moment is more than being the highest performance achiever on your sales team and making some sort of Presidents Club.
Your defining moment is more than being named President or CEO of a company.
Your defining moment is more than being the lead engineer on the team which harnesses solar wind power and changes the face of space exploration.
These are accomplishments, not defining moments.
In order for you to accomplish these honors, you have put in hours and hours – more than 10,000 – to hone your expertise in particular areas of science, math, education, engineering, the arts, technology, business, finance.
Because you realize, at some defining moment in your life, what you are really good at. And what you are really good at isn’t described by a job title or professional certification.
Your defining moment is about the intangible in you which creates defining value for you, your customers, your family, your congregation, your community.
In your career, you aren’t measured and evaluated on intangibles, are you? You end up suppressing what defines you as a Person of Worth as you chase someone else’s idea of what you should be and how you should behave and perform.
Pull up a chair. Have a good think.
Search for your defining moment from wherever it is that you have it stored. Get it out into the light. Take a good look at it. Wear it like a second skin. Make it your personal mantra.
Babette N. Ten Haken is a management strategist and team-building leadership coach. She helps teams, startups and businesses who wrestle with unpredictable revenue streams. Her Workshops and Playbooks create more productive and profitable teams in healthier organizations. Her Playbook on leadership and business strategies, including tools, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com.
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