Every time I speak with someone else about what I do, or help their business by doing what I do, I grow in love for what I do. I love doing what I do and I really do hope I am blessed to continue in my business and grow it’s reach to many more businesses. But how many people feel the same way? I mean really? How many people, when asked about their job could answer honestly and say that they love what they do? It is rare.
And the great thing is that my love for my business isn’t dependent on personal success (though it helps!). Many sales trainers, sales coaches, etc, etc, etc enjoy their job because they love telling others what to do. It is a shame because it is basically an ego outlet. I have sat in on many a training sessions and made to feel that I was less than the person delivering the message. Individual personality definitely plays a role in this but in general, it’s just the way people who teach act.
So what makes me different?
- I use wisdom and expertise I have gained to hone the skills my clients already posses but may not be displaying. Reinventing the wheel is not always an effective way to coach others. The best coaches in the world (sports, music, business) assess the skills of their people, evaluate the potential for them, take into account the drive and determination they posses, and then formulate an execution plan. Now this doesn’t mean that I don’t teach new things (Tiger Woods has a coach to hone his game, not create it). This just means that my goals aren’t about me, they are about my clients.
- I seek first the success of others. I do not build a front-loaded plan or require a long term contract to protect my interests. I also do not put all the responsibility and accountability on my clients to perform. I have a ton of responsibility and accountability to my clients. They invest their own time and hard-earned money to grow. If I don’t perform, they are out way more than I am. I can’t have that so I always try to work harder on their business than they do :).
- Honesty and integrity sit at the top of my content and delivery. My word and my reputation are of the utmost importance, but maybe not because of the reasons you think. Pastor Tim Keller explains it best in this quote: “When Christians work in the world, they will either assimilate into their culture and support the status quo or they will be agents of change. This is especially true in the area of work. Every culture works on the basis of a “map” of what is considered most important. If God and his grace are not at the center of a culture, then other things will be substituted as ultimate values. So every vocational field is distorted by idolatry.” My KPI is God. Not that I perform for God, but that every practice of my professions flows from God and what He has called me to. I want to be an agent of change in my profession!
I love my “job”. I love the opportunities it creates every day. And I love the fact that along the way, I have helped many people love theirs too!
How about you? Do you love what you do? If you don’t, how can you make that perspective change?