The words my mentor wrote resonate with me: I Want to Make a Difference, Doing Something That Makes a Difference, With People Who Make a Difference, At a Time That Makes A Difference.
The good news is that you and I want to make a difference–we’re on the same page 🙂
Well, how is that coming along? Are you having the impact you dream of having, or is your work slightly short of what you hoped it would be…or short of what you hoped you would be?
More likely, you have achieved levels of personal success yet yearn to do more, become more, have more, and give more. You believe there is more in you. I believe there is more in you too. Let’s get it out.
Here are 4 steps I take to begin making a difference…to move from success to significance:
- What most of all do I want?
- If achieving my desire benefits me most of all then my desire is for success. If achieving my desire benefits others most of all then my desire is for significance.
- I re-align motives as necessary.
- Is what I am doing effective in creating positive change?
- If no, I try something else that has the potential to bring me the positive return necessary.
- “There is nothing quite so useless, as doing with great efficiency, something that should not be done at all.” Peter Drucker
- Am I partnered with the right people?
- “One is too small a number to achieve greatness.” John C. Maxwell
- I check the alignment of motives, synergy of skillsets, availability, and whether or not certain people, organizations and communities can “play nice” together.
- “What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” Attributed to Mother Teresa.
- When is the right time?
- Knowing when to lead is as important as knowing what to do and where to go. This is the Law of Timing (from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership).
- While the right action at the wrong time brings resistance. The right action at the right time results in success.
These steps help me personally time and time again. When I walk my coaching clients through these steps my clients achieve greater excellence, purpose and action.
Want to make a difference? Collect what’s missing and let’s begin.
