‘Know thyself’ – Socrates
Immerse yourself in the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates’ words and for a moment consider that this famous scribe possibly assigned deeper meaning to the knowledge of self, than for example simply understanding your personality type. Knowing whether you are an introvert, ambivert, or extrovert, what your likes and dislikes are just means that you are navigating the periphery of your existence.
To get to a deeper understanding of yourself in terms of what your true infinite potential is and what your “deep driving desire” (purpose) is, is far more meaningful work and creates a deep level of wisdom in terms of the self and others.
“Whatsoever your deepest driving desire is, so shall your thoughts be, as your thoughts are so shall your deeds be, and your deeds shall echo in eternity”
Upanishads
As entrepreneurs we will do well to be reminded constantly that our businesses are extensions of ourselves and our teams. To do the work of self-development and the development of others on the deepest level possible is the key to developing and growing your business. First and foremost invest in your own development as an entrepreneur and person and in that of your team, for when business teams stagnate the business stagnates.
Be yourself. Be Authentic
Trying to be a Tony Robbins or a Richard Branson when you are simply not like them is futile effort. You are not here to be someone else you are here to be the best form of yourself as an entrepreneur and person. Wasting the energy to try to be someone else will, in time just leave you tired, unhappy and unfulfilled. To be authentically you, you must first find out who you truly are under the periphery of personality types, likes and dislikes.
Take the first step towards authenticity and honestly and deeply ponder the questions of:
What really gives me peace, or what will? What in life truly excites me and sustainably so? What do I sincerely have passion for and a deep love for? When I completely stop acting up to others expectations of me and be who I really am and do what I really want to do, what would that picture look like?
Being authentically grateful
To ensure that he lives a life of authentic gratitude a fellow coach, William Badenhorst regularly asks himself the following very meaningful question:
“What if I were to wake up tomorrow morning only with the things that I was grateful for the previous night?”
Sincerely reflecting on this question casts light on the level of gratitude that you live with. Develop authentic gratitude even for the trials and challenges on your entrepreneurial and leadership journey, for as the great Persian poet Rumi exclaimed:
“Through the wound, the light seeps in”
These beautiful poetic words alludes to the fact that there is always something positive to learn and take from even severe challenges, that is if one is willing to look deeper into the situation and be truly objective about it.
Lets’ get practical
Within a high pressure and highly competitive (within the business team) environment wherein creating an image is important as opposed to acting according to character, authenticity suffers. When you as an entrepreneur and leader create a paradigm shift towards constant self-improvement within your business and hire and fire according to character (true self within the context of this writing) and not image (false self within the context of this).
- By example make it ok to admit your fears, weaknesses and struggles. If you hide them they never surface and thus are never worked upon and improved. Firstly admit your fears to your team and also explain what you are doing about it and then create an environment where they would openly share theirs and what they are going to do about it.
- Be authentically you, if you are an operations expert be that and focus on that do not try to create the image of being a marketing genius when you are not, just develop the skill of finding the right person in your team to handle the marketing.
- Starting now go on a lifelong journey of constant learning. If you do not like to read, listen to podcasts, or go and learn directly from a mentor, alternatively there is a wealth of free information on the net.
- Ask yourself earnestly: “Where has my excuses got me to?”. Stop entertaining your own excuses because they form self –inflicted stumbling blocks on your journey.
- Let your voice of authenticity and your truth be heard within the business environment. Withholding the value of your ideas and insights is a disservice to the business.
- Take action. A meeting is purely talk. Thinking is just that, thinking. Procrastination is the fertiliser that problems use to grow. Do!!! Think before you do yes, but just for as long as really, really necessary and then do! Empires are built by building it not by thinking about it and doing nothing.