Is This My Forever Self?

Do you know what it is like when you feel stuck? The work keeps coming and you keep doing, but it seems like your forward movement is minimal. This is the reality for the majority of people. It has many names; being stuck, burnout, inertia, too busy, overwhelmed. The outcome is the same. An ever-increasing work load with no sense of significant accomplishment. So how do we change that?

Internal Resources

If I asked you to name your internal resources, what would you answer? Most people would be able to name experience, training, and knowledge as internal resources. But there is so much more!

• Time
• Energy
• Focus
• Effort
• Emotional intelligence (EQ)
• Rational intelligence (IQ)
• Conversational intelligence (CQ)
• Acquired intelligence (AQ)
• Motivation (internal)
• Optimism
• Agility
• Change readiness
• Resilience

I could go on, but you see where this is going. What surprised you about this list? Which of these internal resources would you like to enhance for yourself? Why are internal resources so important?

I have seen this play out over and over in people's lives and work. The greater their internal resources, the more prepared they are to overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities.

New Year - New You?

January 1 brings that special time of year when we make new year's resolutions. How many of those really worked for you in the past? Frankly, I have struggled to keep the new year resolutions I have made. Now I know why. I am asking myself to change a habit without understanding the drivers behind those habits. Habits are neural pathways we have created at some time in the past that rewarded us in some way. It does not mean the habit is good or healthy...it just made us feel good.

There are a few people who have the will power to simply change those habits when they want. But those people are rare. For most of us, we need a better pathway to change. That pathway starts with getting to the root causes of habits. In a previous article, "What is Your Habit Story", I shared my excitement about a new assessment that does just that, gets at the drivers and root causes of habits. This is going to move my coaching and consulting to new levels of impact for the people I work with. It is transformative!

For now, I want to take you on a different journey. The title of this article is, "Is This My Forever Self?" I think we all ask that question of ourselves at some point in our lives. The answer is obviously...No. I think the real question is, "Who do I want to become?"  Notice changing the question moves from a passive and reactive place to a more intentional and proactive place. Do you want to shape your own future or let others do that for you? Here is a free eBook on "Shaping Your Future"

The Growth Spiral

Why is it so difficult to grow your internal resources? Because most people do not know where to start. We have good data about so many things in our lives and work, but that usually does not apply to people (ourselves or others). But it could. I have found a very effective way to accelerate growth and development for people:

Seems so simple, right?! The key is in how you do this. The assessments must be validated for predictability and diagnostic insights. The equipping must be designed to fit into busy schedules and use cutting edge learning techniques based in neuroscience. The alignment must be focused on specific goals and objectives that are relevant to the unique needs. Then people can succeed and thrive, whatever their situation and circumstances.

Lifelong Learner

Learning is fun, right? Not everyone will agree that learning is fun. But it can be, when the learning is designed correctly. The best way I can describe this is to show you something that has come out of my decades of experience and a very rigorous Advance Trainer certification process. This approach works for personal or professional growth and development. Let's focus on leadership development. At some point, we are all leaders. Leadership is not so much about a position as it is about influence.

In today's busy workplace, leaders are struggling to keep up. The challenges, uncertainty, and pace of change are making life for leaders more difficult. When I talk to people about professional growth and development, too often I hear, "we are just too busy to consider that." That "too busy" statement is a huge red flag...but I understand how people are feeling. That is why this new approach is so effective. It fits into busy schedules while building internal resources and much needed leadership skills. Here is the roadmap:

This is the answer to today's leadership development needs. There are similar "Growth Spirals" for personal growth and organizational growth. Even better, this approach offers:

• Diagnostic insight into specific needs
• A customized plan aligned with goals
• Fits busy schedules
• High ROI
• Very budget friendly pricing
• Several levels of available support
• Accountability measures
• An easy to implement development program
• Multi-year program

Where did this come from. Years of listening to business owners and organizational leaders asking for an easy to implement leadership development program that fits into the high demand on leaders' time and focus.

Your Future Self

We all make choices every day that impact our future. The question, "Is this my forever self?", has one answer, and that is no. The real question is who you want to become? There is a specific pathway waiting for you if you choose the proactive approach. Whether it is for your personal or professional life, the same approach works. Don't make new year's resolutions that will most likely fail. Invest in a different approach to become who you want to be...Assess, Equip, Align, Succeed/Thrive. Your future self is cheering you on!

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Copyright © 2023 EQFIT® - Author: Steven Goodner. All rights reserved. No portion of this material may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact: [email protected].