Let me quote real life example of Peter M. (name changed), who started his engineering career 23 years back with a multinational company. He was ambitious, technically sound, sincere and diligent. His qualities saw him growing well in the organization for first 12 years. He was happy the way he was and with his accomplishments. He was put through leadership development programs. These did create impact; but limited. He used to be too busy with his routine duties and did not find time or could not fathom what he can do to bring incremental change in his qualities and character.
From 13th year, Peter’s growth started to taper down and 2 of his peers surpassed him to take up key management positions. He did not align well with his management assessment of these peers, though he knew that they are more visible, better respected by management and employees alike. He became very frustrated; however, determined to figure out how to come in the limelight and achieve a faster growth. But, his preference to focus more on his routine work brought him only limited results. Though he is now holding a management position; but his grouch is growing on being treated at par with rest of peer crowd and gap is widening with his earlier 2 peers.
Do you want to be like Peter M. or be Different and Distinguished?
Hopefully, you do not want to spend 9 to 5.00 p.m. stereo life and do desire, dare and dream to stand out. You do aspire to leave a legacy behind you, which generations would remember and revere?
10 myths and misconceptions to be discarded
- It is destiny, which determines my destination.
- I cannot influence others.
Although we ignore how we are constantly getting influenced by others. - I am not gifted like great people, who have/had God gifted talents.
- I cannot be very different than what my Zodiac sign suggests.
- I know enough; why should I break my head to know more.
- I have no choice, but to live with my limitations and inhibitions.
- If I am happy with what I am and I do; I do not need to change or take initiatives.
- It is more important to work for comfort than to work on constraints.
- It is impossible to solve all problems.
- I cannot drive my seniors.
10 point resolution
- I need to be in limelight not for popularity; but for a purpose.
When you get it, popularity would come as an automatic consequence. - If I want to be different than the crowd, then I ought to do things differently.
- Ideas should not remain merely in mind or as words on lips; but should become way of my life.
- I have immense possibilities to explore.
- I would have hopes for myself and heart for others.
- I would help; but not hurt anyone.
- I would not be judgmental or develop any prejudice against anyone.
- I would be positive.
- It all starts from me and ends with me.
Hence, successes and failures are all mine. - It is foolhardy to assume that my path would not be rough; but I would remain on course.
10 points to come in Limelight
- Be in limelight for right reasons and not for wrong ones.
You may get tempted to be visible by raking or engaging in controversy, conflict, crisis or culpable acts; you would get thrill but troubles also! - Be aware that whatever you do, it is always possible to do it differently and more efficiently. Keep exploring these possibilities; you would find one and share such info or knowledge with all stakeholders.
- Best differentiator for you is to innovate or create values in what you do!
You may feel inertia or inhibition to do that; but push yourself and pursue till you get it. Set a goal for yourself that be it small or big, you would create at least one value in your work in one week. It can be as small as changing format of documentation partially for better clarity. Once you do this, you would automatically feel motivated to do more and more.
It is important that you share and spread these with your seniors and colleagues. It is desirable that you reach wider audience through publication of these ideas and public speaking through media and other forums. - Be consistent and credible in your behavior and care about comforts of your colleagues.
It matters a lot and gets noticed. - Be ethical by choice and not by fear.
- Bring elegance and élan in how you carry and present yourself every time!
- Be interactive and helpful to as many people as you can.
- Be composed, when you face conflicts or setbacks. Use your emotional intelligence and not emotions or ego to manage and learn from these.
- Be a problem solver; not a problem creator or narrator.
People have natural tendency to do the later part; trash it. - Be efficient by giving more for less – more output in less efforts or time, more meanings in less words, more love even if you get less and so on.
Believe it that if you wish to be different and distinguished, it is within your reach and realm! It is just 3×10 – 10 I’s to Ignore, 10 I’s to Imbibe and 10 B’s to Implement!!
This would be a sure shot to hog in and hug Limelight!
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