Value is a Journey of Two Steps
Traditional goals are trivial distractions. You want a prestigious degree, a seat at the corporate table, or a big bank account. That’s nice, but you’re better than that.
Becoming
Who do you aspire to become? Achievements corrode your soul when you lose yourself to reaching them. You live above distraction when your goal is to become your best self.
Striving to become your best self enables satisfying achievements. Don’t get distracted by calcified cliches like “be yourself.” Mediocrity pursues you when you focus on “being.” Reach higher! Aspire to become.
Becoming exceeds being. Pursue your best self so you can bring value to others. David Shapiro put it this way, “The purpose of life is to grow and give.”
The journey has two steps. First, aspire to become your best self. Second, give your best self in service to others. The two steps are actually one. The best way to become your best self is to bring value to others.
Value
Service is the path to greatness. Ego blocks greatness.
The more value you bring, the greater you become.
Great leaders say, “I’m here to serve the people who serve this organization.”
The higher you go, the more people you get to serve. Great leaders are at the bottom of the heap, not the top.
Ease
Pour into yourself so you can pour out for others.
When I say, “Pour into yourself,” I don’t mean go easy on yourself!
Ease is the path to oblivion. Can you name one remarkable person who chose a life of ease?
Stop doing leadership. Become a leader.
The greatest loss of leadership is neglecting who you aspire to become.
What are the top three behaviors of the person you aspire to become? How will you live into that person today?
Brilliant and inspiring post today, Dan!
“Achievements corrode your soul when you lose yourself to reaching them.”
I left my last career path because I was becoming the type of person I never wanted to become. I grieved leaving an industry I loved, but am glad I didn’t sell my soul to be successful there.
I know I can be more impactful staying true to myself.
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for sharing your story. Some of my coaching clients come to the realization that they have lost their way. It’s easier than we might think. Constant busyness is distraction. Plus, the seductions of applause are powerful.
I love Einstein’s statement.
Striving to become my “best self” is hard to nail down. It’s abstract and vague. I think it’s more productive to establish short term, specific goals.
“The next time I am in situation X, I want to______________________”
“In today’s meeting, I will add value by___________________”
My “best self” will slowly begin to emerge over time.
Thanks for suggesting ways to practice becoming your best self. The incremental nature of growth can frustrate some. Occasionally we change dramatically. Perhaps a near death experience or some other tragedy changes us. More often we grow like plants. One day we look and think, wow, I’m not the person I used to be.
Really like this take on Be/Being vs Becoming. Words are so important and often overlooked. Drawing a distinction between a current state to ‘becoming’ as a future better self is inspiring. Thanks Dan.
Thanks for the good word, Will. Steady on!
Fantastic rumination this morning Dan! I really love the “becoming yourself” idea… as we are constantly in a state of movement and growth.
I believe that the top 3 behaviors of the person I aspire to become is curiosity, compassion (for myself and others) and consistency. I strive to do one thing each day that benefits these areas in my growth as a leader and a good human being. And I believe I will add to this list as I continue to develop my skills.
Thank you for the reminder to strive to become a better version of myself each day.
Thank you for sharing, Keala. It’s easy to see how those behaviors are noble and take people to higher levels of value.