Are you Paying it Forward in Service?

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.- Muhammad Ali

Paying it forward is a business practice that has become as important as paying your bills.

Customers learn a lot about the integrity of a business by observing the integrity of its leaders.

Over 14 years ago I decided to become a Rotarian. The Rotary motto is “Service above Self". Those three words have shaped the way I live, run my business, and interact with my community.

Joining a service organization like Rotary or Kiwanis is one of the best ways to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between your business and your community. It enables you to align yourself with other like-minded leaders who value service as an important component of business and life.

As you build your network, demonstrate the type of leader you are by leading in a service organization. We all want to do business with people we like, trust and respect.

If you are not a member of a service organization, maybe it’s time to sit in on a service organization meeting. It’s a great way to expand your network…and have a great meal.

Check out: Rotary, Lion's Club, Kiwanis or another organization that speaks to you.

Are you spending your time with like-minded leaders in the kind of service that means something to you?

Admit it…it’s Emotional

Over the years I have worked with many clients as they make the transition to selling their business.

One thing has become very clear: It’s emotional. But nobody wants to admit that.

Emotions are messy and we often view them as a weakness.  We all have emotions and being in touch with them is a strength. Dismissing them, sadly, does not make them go away.

I have seen client after client struggle to maintain the illusion that they are not mentally ready for such a tremendous change.

Mental readiness is a matter of the brain.

Emotional readiness is a matter of the heart.

The heart gets such a bad rap when it comes to business language. It is time we give credit where credit is due. The heart is where dreams originate, and where the courage to follow those dreams is manufactured.

Someone faced with selling their business is someone who followed a dream. Someone who had the courage and tenacity to turn that dream into a reality. It only makes sense that the very place the dream originated will struggle with letting go.

Identify Your Core Strength

At the root of it all, what is your most indispensable quality?

If this question gives you pause…don’t worry, it’s supposed to.

The most rewarding questions you can ask yourself are the ones with elusive answers. If you're willing to chase them, you are already on your way to becoming a more effective leader.

Put in the work and figure out what your most indispensable quality is.

Why?

If you know what your core strength is – the thing (or things) that come easily and naturally to you, that you can do better than most anyone else – you can develop that strength and be disciplined in using  it to achieve your goals.

Too often, we put attention on our weaknesses, trying to get just a little bit better. Instead, activate your strengths, and results will follow.

When I am working with a client, one of my early objectives is to help them capture this white rabbit. Having a guide to help you navigate down the winding path of self-awareness is pivotal.

Most people have no clue what their “it factor” is.

Simply by knowing yours, you are at a major advantage.

Ask for help. What is clear to others may not necessarily be clear to you.

If hiring a coach is not a viable option for you, get creative. Look around at your resources. Identify the people in your life that you respect, and can trust to give you open an honest feedback. Think of candid friends, colleagues and mentors.

Reach out to them. Ask for their help in identifying your core strength. Most people are happy to share what they admire about you.