If you are anything like me and many of my friends and associates, the last few days in the year are the busiest ever. We are frantically closing off business calendars, cementing projects and reviewing yearly projections. Besides these basic things, we are also using the last few days in the year to stop, reduce our energy levels, even if for one day, to plan. For most planners and visionaries, this time brings you a certain level of anxiety; nervousness with a feeling of anticipation that others might find strange. You see, we are happy and excited because it appears that we will be given another year to make an impact, grow businesses and influence people. The highest satisfaction is when you share these feelings of positive hope, faith and dreams with another who for themselves or with you see the importance of positively impacting another year. For me it feels great, sometimes surreal and down right ecstatic. So when ever a new year approaches, think not of what you have not done but think of the fact that you have been given another year to grow, enhance your wealth, impact lives and simply be a better you. I love life and its many opportunities. I hope that you say, “Me too”.

Let’s positively influence people and build successful nations.

I am excited about continuing dialogue with you through this medium. The topic for this post is Staying in your Lane, Playing Your Position, Handle Yours. Please, please, please limit the number of times persons tell you these words in your entire life. Normally these words are said when you are offering advice which might not be welcomed because you are not following your own advice. The most damaging situation when this can be said to you is when someone is implying that you have no business questioning their tasks when yours are not completed. In the boardroom today, I gave feedback to a colleague about some work they had outstanding and while the feedback was good or so I thought, their reaction was I did not have room to offer suggestions as I had not completed one of my tasks. Admittedly so, I was angry at myself and pledged for it not to happen again. As successful as you might be, never let anyone have your number when it comes to your own deliverables. Protect your success by protecting your reputation. Only when you drift on the highway should someone have an opportunity to tell you “stay in your lane”.

Let’s positively influence people and build successful nations.

After about one year of trying to forge a friendship with a colleague of mine I decided if it was going to be possible something drastic needed to be done. He was invited after work for a social drink with some of my friends.

There was total conviction that the challenge I was having with him would be solved at this encounter. After about two hours of socializing we parted ways. As we walked to our cars I handed him a pocket recorder and explain that he should listen to this tape at a quiet moment. In about an hour he called back and indicated that all that was on the tape was a recording of all that we said at the gathering. He was then asked to listen to the tape again and every time he spoke or someone else spoke to mark a stroke on the paper. He was then asked to listen to the tape and every time he spoke and heard the word “I” he must also make a stroke. The next day he called and asked what was my point. I explained that in a circle of “friends” conversations that center around yourself denote a certain sense of selfishness. I further explained friendship is about sharing but most importantly about caring. Therefore you should say the word “you” more than you do “I”.

Persons are fully aware that persons who talk about themselves are feeding a void in who they are; striving to convince the world that they are important and successful while lacking internal satisfaction. So, listen to your own conversations. Are they dominated with the word “I”? Are you speaking about yourself when you should be celebrating others? Do you turn other people’s moments into your moment? Do you give speeches about success and only reference yourself? It is not good! So, let’s reflect inwardly and ascertain who we are, feel confident in ourselves but allow others to tell us how great we are. What do you think?

Let’s positively influence people and build successful nations.