Make a Difference
There are endless opportunities to make a difference. Giving back to the community as an example, can figuratively and literally be a seamless extension of who you are, enriching on so many levels. It doesn’t need to be a burden or too demanding of time. As some of you have read in previous blogs, my biggest pet peeve is the “I’m too busy” mantra. When we create a “Giving Back”, which is an extension of what we are passionate about or our ‘for profit’ participation, it becomes another integrated component on our ‘calendar’ or ‘to do’ list.
Professionally and periodically, I am engaged to design strategy aligning an organization’s culture with its mission values & vision, hence forth providing due diligence and recommending the right CXO for the position.
Having received the request to volunteer from both SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and LVP (Lehigh Valley Professionals – a professional extension of Career Link, focused on a tool to sharpen skills, and network professionals who have experienced a severing of their employment), to participate in LVP’s mock interviews, yielded a momentary hesitation. Already inundated with this task – currently focused on 3 clients simultaneously in need of high level management positions to achieve growth initiatives, I would have declined. What gave me pause was hearing that voice inside my head which gently reminds me of my purpose here on earth, and seeing the opening in my calendar, I accepted.
At face value, I was there to serve, greater than that, to grow. I was enriched by meeting two amazing people, the three of us uniquely different, and yet able to be open to experiencing each other for who we are. Each of us receiving more than we brought to the mix. Reflecting this moment, the thought which leaves me most unsettled is this…
I was flawed, that these two amazing professionals could not articulate either what their value was, or what they really want, instead they were so paralyzed at the prospect of being ‘Here Now’ - a job seeker at this point.
It reminds me of a very dear friend, in love and not quite able to articulate what she really needs or wants, independent of the relationship. Both are so similar, and I am so saddened that their worth and gifts to the world are not treasured, serenading so simply off their tongue.
More distressing is that their (collective) needs won’t be heard – by prospective employers, or partners, because of the lack of confidence, or comfort in accepting, loving, and presenting who they are.
Being open and staying away from the ‘I’m too busy‘ motif has allowed me to be exposed to many opportunities to give, to do the right thing, and hopefully – transform others to become their best selves.
More than creating opportunities to enrich the world around you, or even simply your neighbor, is to be open to those we make superficial judgments about, like looking at a book and choosing to not read it because of the picture, author or title. Both, being open and inviting in what you want will lead to the most exceptional next hire, neighbor, best friend, or soul mate.
Our moment on earth, is but a speck in time, make yours set in motion a ripple effect, one touch at a time.
“We rise by lifting others ”