Nice To Meet You

[Deb Ingino]

In addition to founding My Wired Style, I am the CEO of Strength Leader Development. During one of our Strength Leader classes last week, we talked about Increasing Your Morale and the Law of Solid Ground. 

These were two separate calls, but there is an interesting connection between the subjects.  Really, it comes down to how you define yourself.  The fact is, if you know who you are (your strengths and your purpose) and you operate from those strengths and within that purpose, you will be on solid ground and less vulnerable to the low morale that very often stems from self-doubt.

Let’s say you’re in a crowd of people you haven’t met before.  You’re going to get two questions:  (1) “What is your name?” and (2) “What do you do?”  Really what they’re asking is, “Who are YOU?”

How you answer that question says a lot about your definition of you.  You will define yourself in one of three ways:

• Your Job
• Others
• Unique Strengths and Gifs

Let’s say you answer, “I am an administrative assistant,” or “I am a homemaker,” or “I am CEO of XYZ Company.”  This tells what you do.  You are defined by your job.  This is not a bad definition, but here’s the thing:  what happens when you can no longer do that?  You have not only lost your position; you have also lost your identity.  This is why being laid off from a job can be so devastating and why some folks only live a short time after they retire.

Perhaps you say, “I am so-and-so’s assistant,” or “I work for XYZ Company,” or “I am Joe’s mother.” 

This tells about your relationships, but it does not tell who you are.  Very often, folks who lack confidence in themselves or who don’t have a clear focus on their strengths and purpose will answer this way.  Here’s the problem with that.  What if so-and-so retires or XYZ Company goes away?  Again, you have just lost your definition of you.  What if you are “Joe’s mother”, and Joe grows up and moves away?  You’ll look in the mirror and wonder who that person is that is looking back at you.  This is why empty nest syndrome is so prevalent.  Joe, in essence, has moved away with your identity.

Now don’t get me wrong.  I am all about relationships.  But that is not how I define myself.  Why?  Because relationships, of necessity, change.  So if that’s not the definition of you, what is?  How SHOULD you answer that question? 

I will tell you how I answer it, because it came up very recently for me.  I tell folks I am a strength leader.  Yes, I get quizzical looks.  And then I explain that I help people find their strengths and live with purpose.

You see, that is who I, Deb Ingino, am.  In relationships, I am a strength leader.  In corporate, I am a strength leader.  In life, I am a strength leader.

So maybe you are a CEO, assistant, mother, wife, business owner, homemaker, or coach.  But what’s underneath all those layers of what you do?  Who are YOU?  Find that, and you’ve found the key to be a better CEO, assistant, mother, wife, business owner, homemaker, or coach.

Think about it, and fill in the blanks below.  

I’d love to hear your response because it will help others.

I, _____________ (fill in your name) am _____________. 

I ___________________________________________________

(what is your unique contribution to the world?)

Email your response to me at [e-mail],

putting "Nice to Meet You" in the subject line.

If you can’t answer these two questions, join us. 

Let us help you define YOU and then you can use your strengths to rock your world.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Join me on the next call,

and let's introduce YOU to YOU.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Mark your calendar for

Saturday March 24th

10:30 am ET.

Here's the link to join in the next Open Q&A call.  You can join via phone, skype or via the live webast page.

Bring your

Wired Style Questions!

_____________________________________

Here is a Special Invitation for those of you looking to build a business, career or ministry.  Strength Leader Mentor is a community that I have begun to sow into our lives rich, leadership content that I have learned from such greats as John C. Maxwell, Dan Miller, Peter Drucker and more.

The base membership is a gift and you can join us for our weekly Leadership Insight Lesssons Mondays at 9:30pm est.

Click Here to check out this wonderful new community!

[Deb Ingino]

Way to go Jay, great one!

Ok I'm looking forward to connecting with you on the call Saturday morning.  Glad you met Jonathan on here too, you're both readers of Dan Miller too!

[Deb Ingino]

Jonathan that is awesome!

Ok firstly being a Dad is the best job ever! 

As for problem solving, that is precisely what so many businesses and organizations are looking for today...someone to help solve their problems.  I believe the landscape for you to contribute is vast!