April 2008
The Path to Success
Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of
the men of old; seek what they sought. – Matsuo
Basho, 17th C. Japanese poet
When I was in the 7th grade, I wanted to be just like Lisa Piscatto.
A classmate of mine, Lisa was popular, athletic and, it appeared
to me, utterly at ease with herself. No small accomplishment at
the tender age of 12.
While I had my share of friends and was both musically and academically
inclined, I did not possess Lisa’s athleticism or apparent
self-assuredness. Although the latter quality would come with time,
I was never to be the star of the lacrosse team or the belle of
the basketball court.
In retrospect, all that comparison, while quite normal, was terribly
unproductive. In reality, there is no one path to greatness. No
universally effective style of leadership; no single formula for
success. Yet so often we compare ourselves to others and judge
our own achievements only in contrast to the accomplishments of
those around us. We seek the magic formula for success and believe
that if only we follow in the footsteps of others, we will be on
the fast track to success.
In point of fact, this is pure fallacy. The truth is, each of
us possesses unique talents that can be called upon to move us
forward, professionally and personally. To be sure, we can learn
from those who have already arrived at the heights we seek. We
can adopt those approaches and strategies that may serve us well
in our quest. But we cannot attempt to turn ourselves into someone
we’re not. I was never to be Lisa Piscatto. I now understand
that I never needed to be anyone other than myself.
If you haven’t yet discovered your strengths, it’s
time to start exploring. Here are a few tips to help you in the
process.
Engage in meaningful self-reflection. Ask yourself the following
questions: What do I do exceptionally well? Of which accomplishments
am I especially proud? What are the things I simply must continue
doing to reach my goals?
Gain input from trusted others. Speak to your peers, your boss,
your family and friends. Ask them where your strengths lie. It’s
not unusual for others to recognize those talents we simply fail
to notice in ourselves. You’ll find that most people are
more than happy to help.
Try new things. Push yourself outside your comfort zone. Engage
in new activities and see what happens. Above all, don’t
be afraid to fail. Hey, if you’re not failing from time to
time, it means you’re simply not trying. Besides, you never
know what abilities and inclinations you may discover along the
way.
Remember this: In unearthing your unique talents and individual
style, you place yourself firmly on the path to personal and professional
success.
Speaking Engagements
Liz Bywater will be speaking at the May 15, 2008,
Business Breakfast Meeting for Senior Executives, hosted by Mercy
Neighborhood Ministries in
Philadelphia. The topic of her presentation: The Intangible
Skills of Great Leadership. The event will be
held at the headquarters of Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, 3535
North 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140.
Tickets are $25 per person. The cost is tax-deductible, with
proceeds supporting the renovation of Mercy Family Center. Reservations
can be made online at http://www.whoscoming.com/mercyfamilycenter.
In the Press
We are pleased to provide you with links to our most recent articles and citations. As always, we welcome your comments and inquiries.
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To submit a question, send an email to Liz@BywaterConsultingGroup.com and include Ask the Expert in the subject line.
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Warm regards,
Liz Bywater, PhD
http://www.bywaterconsultinggroup.com
email info@bywaterconsultinggroup.com
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