How to add significant value to you ...
In the Law of Addition, John Maxwell challenges us to add value in others. In order to be a good leader, it is what needs to be done. We add value, connect, and build our teams & inner circles. John is also quoted; “in order to add value to others, you must first value others” However, before we can add value and lead others, we must first be able to lead ourselves and that starts by valuing yourself. My question for you today, do you value yourself? If you value yourself, what value are you adding to yourself every day?
ROI
Return on investment we know as a term that finance departments utilize. If your company invests $100,000 in a project, what profit or added revenue (value) will be gained? For professional & personal growth investments, it is sometimes hard to quantify. Though you do use the same calculation, you just have to look for value in different areas. If you invest in yourself what will you add in value? In order to get moving in the right direction on personal or professional coach, an executive coach may ask you to start small. First ask yourself, what are you missing? If you could have something that improves your life, what would it be? Let’s say the answer is more time, than maybe a simple time management course would be appropriate. If you had that extra time, put a value on it. Would you be able to spend more time with your family, or see another customer, write another blog? Would that available time be enough to create an additional revenue stream? Or for example, if you believe that you would be more promotable at work if you could make better public presentations. Maybe joining a Toastmasters Group could be a solution. If you received that promotion and the corresponding pay raise, how much is that Toastmasters group investment worth? Could that $120 per year, and 40-50 hours of time, turn into a $10,000 pay raise? Now ask yourself, what are you missing? What can help you get to the next point easier, faster, or more efficiently? Be careful here not to bite off more than you can chew. We don’t have to answer the big questions like; what is the meaning of life? Or what is my real purpose? Maybe just a simple step forward is what we need to start building momentum.
Momentum
In his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” John Maxwell discusses the Law of Momentum. How do you start gaining traction? If you are having difficulty envisioning what traction is, consider a football game. It’s the beginning of a new game, and your team has the ball. They start by gaining a few yards. Then your team puts together two or three first downs in a row getting to midfield. It’s then that you can see the end zone a bit clearer. When we have an entire game to play, we aren’t throwing bombs from our own 5-yard line on 1st down. We are going for the quick wins, three yard gains, maybe a 10-yard pass play. We are gaining momentum. This is how we have to think of our own growth while planning to add value. If you are having a difficult time answering these questions, or even deciding which question to ask, find a mentor or an executive coach. Get on the phone with someone to bounce ideas off of who can help you get centered & focused. The quarterback may want to throw that bomb, but he looks to the sideline and his coach calls those plays. The purpose of gaining that momentum is for you to build traction. Once you get used to growing yourself it will be part of your life, and you will grow exponentially in the long run.
“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther”
JP Morgan
When you get that momentum, you will be able to see farther than you ever dreamt possible. It is truly amazing what becomes possible when you start investing in yourself. When Steve Jobs was working in his garage building the first Mac, do you believe his vision at that moment was a company with nearly $1 Trillion in valuation? He knew he was on a growth path, and he was building momentum that would take his development through the next 30 years, and live beyond him. What small step can you take today to invest in yourself? How much is your present and future worth to you? Executive coaching is a way for you to improve your personal and professional self. Executive coaching will help you identify the areas that could yield the highest ROI. Contact me, let's have a 15 minute talk to see what you need, and if I can help. We have a summer special of $99/month including; two 30-minute sessions for 3 months!