We Are All Walking Resumes (By Wilson Horrell)

What kind of person are you? How do you perceive others to view you? How would you like others to view you? That's a difficult question to answer. So difficult in fact, that I don't think that most of us really get past asking ourselves the question. We go to that place in our brain and begin to ponder, but we never really go into the answer. I don't know when or how often any of us will really need to have this information, but I know it would be comforting to have it when things aren't going our way.

Last week, a friend of mine informed me that she might be losing her primary job. She sounded concerned. OF COURSE, she sounded concerned, she is losing her job! I, on the other hand, am not concerned in the least. Not only do I lack concern, but I am excited for her and her family. You see, I know what this person is. Of the three questions I posed at the beginning of this post, I know the answer to the first two. There is no one better in the world at living out life's resume. She is one of those people that when someone asks how they are doing, you know that they are just making conversation. You expect them to be doing good, cause they are good, and they deserve good.The future for her is going to be nothing but a huge payout of everything that she has done in the past, and is doing in the present. It might take a moment for the universe to serve her the fancy dinner, but make no mistake about it... she will be eating a big, fat, beefy dish of "I told you so" from my kitchen, when it plays itself out.

This friend of mine has positioned herself as intelligent, hard working, diligent, reliable, competent, loyal, tough, brave, and able to work through adversity. There is not an employer in this country that would not hire someone with these qualification. The problem is that everyone claims to have these qualities, when they need a job, but many people don't demonstrate these things consistently enough to make it part of their identity. I think it is important to remember that we are all walking resumes. People are continuously sizing us up in an effort to somehow further themselves, or make their life a little better. I don't mean that in a "sociopathic" way, I mean in it in the reality of "being human" kind of way. Some people are so aware of this that they don't allow themselves to reach their true potential, because they are constantly living inside of strict parameters that they have let the masses govern their every behavior. I want to be accepted, and live life as a good person, but I can't base my personalty and restrict my desire to live loudly based on the majority. I believe that people who live their life fully are never out of options, and always presented opportunities.

I have formed step-by-step instructions on how I need to go about becoming the person that I want to be. It is easily the most difficult set of directions that I have ever tried to follow. Stepping outside of these directions will only be setting myself up for failure. I have to concentrate on this most complex guide to becoming who I want to be, with every shred of my being. I view it as cooking in a crock-pot. These instructions have to be initiated, and then I have to re-visit time after time and make sure everything is progressing as it should. I need to stay plugged in, and supply myself with continuous, positive energy. I shouldn't expect results immediately, as these things take time. However, it's important that I don't forget what's cooking, or else my recipe will dry out and fall to pieces.

OK, are you ready? This is some seriously intense Yoda-type business. It's mind-numbingly complex and will require re-read after re-read. Print it out if you have to, because you won't be able to swallow it all at once. Here it is:

1. Decide who and what you want to be.

2. Be that person.

I know this because I continuously see this in the people in my life. I watched my best friend become a partner at his architecture firm, because he decided to. I watched a buddy take ownership and manage a profitable promotional products business, because he wanted to. I work with drunks and junkies who wake up and decide to be completely different human beings, because they are ready to. I watch my wife position herself as the best that there is in her field by constantly making herself available, and gladly willing to put in the extra time to educate not only herself, but others. These people are the best at what they do, simply because they decided to be the best at what they do. Now, I could argue about what is different about these people, or what these people have that I don't, or I can learn from these people, and move forward in my career path of becoming a better person. It's of great comfort to me to know that I can become a better person and start living a better life, at any time that I choose. The problem is that it is up to me to become that better person and live that better life. I wish that there was a pill I could take, or a package that Amazon could deliver to make these changes for me, but there is not. It is all within, free of charge, and in abundant supply. Become better. Become better, now. Ready. Set. Go! Have a great week.

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The Power of Self-Affirmation

There's an old saying that says sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Of course, we all know that this isn't really true. Words have power, and when they are wielded carelessly, they actually can hurt. In both your personal and professional relationships, the words you choose and the tone you take can shape the way other people feel-about you and about themselves.

Chances are, you know this from personal experience. Perhaps someone said something thoughtless to you once, and it really hurt. It caused you to lose some of your own confidence or self-esteem. At the same time, people who speak carelessly can also do damage to themselves; perhaps someone says something rude to you and you simply lose your respect for them, finding it difficult to look past their haphazard remarks.

As a leader, the way you talk to your team members can have a dramatic impact on the way your team functions, and ultimately on the very way in which your company works. Here's something that's just as important, though, and even harder to implement: The way you talk to yourself also has huge ramifications, and can make or break you in terms of everyday success.

That's why I think it's so important to start each day right-looking in the mirror and speaking a few words of affirmation to yourself. These don't have to be over the top; simply remind yourself that you are capable, that you are hard working, and that you have what it takes to succeed. Build up your own confidence with some positive self-talk.

By no means is this a silly or nebulous exercise. Psychologists agree that the way you speak to yourself can shape your attitudes and your actions throughout the day. Speaking positively to yourself pushes your subconscious to step up, take action, and spur you toward success-whereas speaking negatively to yourself will only suppress your potential.

Getting into the habit of self-affirmation can have other positive effects, too. For one thing, it will build within you a meaningful routine of affirmation. You'll find yourself speaking negative thoughts-I can't do this, I'm going to fail, etc.-much less frequently. You'll be able to shake off those confidence-killers once and for all.

Self-affirmation also helps you stay focused. It allows you to be reminded, each and every day, of what your purpose is, what you're trying to achieve-and how you're going to achieve it.

Speak powerful words into your own life-and watch how that confidence overflows into your daily activities, and even into the way you speak to others!

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