Do you ever look at other people and think, ‘gosh I wish I was more like them!’, as they seem to have their ‘stuff’ together & are getting amazing results?
Then you start believing, that if only you could think and act like them, then you’d also have similar successes?
So you start ‘modelling’ them but it just doesn’t feel right – (like it would if you were squeezing yourself into someone else’s underwear (yuck!).
Then you start to saying not so nice things to yourself & putting yourself down, because surely it’s down to YOU and how you’re not as good as them – so why even bother?
Sound familiar to you?
Well, here’s the thing …. maybe it’s because you’re admiring the wrong type of person for you?
I’m a firm believer that we can learn from other people around us – whether that’s famous folks; colleagues; managers; leaders or even our close relations – but you’ve got to be super choosey when it comes to it!
Last week, I was down in Preston for the annual Talent Dynamics partner’s conference and again it really highlighted to me, the importance of knowing what your talents are. Because it means that you can do more of what you’re good at & enjoy – BINGO!
Sounds simple doesn’t it, but really how much time do you actually spend at ‘work’ doing the things that float your boat?
From the world of Talent Dynamics, which I share with my clients – it quickly shows how there are 8 different ‘type’ of people – who each bring different things to the party (a.k.a. your business or team). Each with their unique ways of thinking; communicating; feeling & doing things. The cool thing is that each of the 8 different profiles are needed to makes the world function & go around.
But here’s the thing … each of the 8 types of people ‘see’ things differently from one another! (I remember at times during the conference people looking at me like I was from another planet – when I was sharing with them some of the things that I do in my business & get excited about – but that’s because to them that would feel like hard work!’)
So getting back to my original point, it’s all well & good modelling those who are some steps ahead of you in your business or career – or have a particular skills that would be really useful for you …. BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE THE SAME TYPE OF PERSON AS YOU (sorry for shouting but that’s super important!)
Let me put it another way – if you were in a 8 piece band & you played the guitar … but wanted to up your game. Then go and learn from another guitar player who’s in a band – rather than the drummer!
“Focus on your strengths,
not your weaknesses.
Follow your flow.”
Roger James Hamilton
For example, in my case, I’m a Trader profile in Talent Dynamics – which is the complete opposite from a Creator profile. That means that even though I think the late Steve Jobs was super cool because he came up with amazing new innovative ideas, because he’s a Creator – even if I was to put some of his best strategies in place – for me they just wouldn’t connect as well as they would for other Creators out there.
Instead though, if I focused upon some of the things other Traders do, like Sir Alan Sugar, then that would help me to grow, develop & continue to get even better results.
I’m not saying that the other 7 profiles aren’t relevant to you (or me) in our ‘work’ but there may be other people out there in your team (or associates), who you could enlist to help with those parts.
That way they’ll be getting to play the ‘instrument’ that they’re a master of & you get to play your ‘instrument’ and you can make sweet music together (… I think I’ve been listening to far too much music while typing this …)
So enjoy getting to know YOU even more & then choosing more people who are like YOU to admire & learn from – as this is key for you to both LOVE what you do & get amazing results in your working life.
I look forward to sharing even more with you next time and until then bye for now.
