Here is the first step in creating success at anything in life.  In fact without this step most can never move forward yet feel like they are working around the clock and going in circles.

Leaders Know What They Stand For—Awareness Precedes Change

I remember being at a client’s office building where I was asked to go and see another employee one floor up from where we were.  Not being aware of the floor I was at, I had two choices when I entered the elevator, try every button and get off at every floor one at a time until I found the right one or simply step outside the elevator and become aware of the floor I was starting from.  Until I became aware of where I was, I was not able to get to where I wanted to be.

You see, awareness always precedes change but often in our professional and personal lives we press every button we can get our hands on.  If you want your business to escalate, become aware of your business, employees and clients’ present situation.  Then and only then can you have control of the desired outcome.

Lack of awareness leaves you no choice but to be reactive to every situation.

Harvard University did a study on great leaders across the world.  What they found was that their number one characteristic was self-awareness.  These leaders we look to for inspiration and direction are not only aware of their present situation in finite detail but they are also aware of who they are and what they stand for.

Our clients always test our values.  Unfortunately most do not know what they truly value—and therefore will never know who they are and what they stand for in business, let alone in their lives.  In our highly competitive industry, we have to ask ourselves “are our values consistent with our daily actions?” Clients want to follow someone who knows what they value or live what they say they value.  Furthermore, anyone who is not passionate about what they do and where they are going will always travel alone.

Ask yourself, what do the people in your professional and personal life believe you are and what do you stand for?   One day Mohandas Gandhi, the Indian political and spiritual leader, decided to walk down the street and 10,000 plus people ended up following him.  They followed him because it was clear who he was and what he stood for.

Would you send someone referrals if you did not know who they were and what their business stood for?  Why should they send you referrals?
The second step will be posted tomorrow.

Fred Sarkari

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