When I was in high school, my dad told me, “you are not as smart as your brother and sister, you are going to have to luck into a good job, like me”, I laugh now (not then). Especially when I became the youngest executive in a Fortune 200 oil and gas company, or when I was invited to Harvard Faculty Club as a panelist for diversity in higher education and even now, as I coach executives and boards through strategy and innovation initiatives. I am thankful, I did not allow limiting beliefs to stunt my journey. Craig Groeschel said “The fastest way to kill something special is to compare it something else“. Did you know, research shows, 85% of job success comes from well-developed soft skills and only 15% is from technical skills?
My dad was assessing my IQ and not my EQ and what he did not recognize is that emotional intelligence and soft skills are a better predictor of success and they happened to be my superpower. My dad dedicated his life work to teaching, influencing, leading, inspiring and transforming young lives and he touched so many, unaware his success was not “luck”. Because of his profession, more than 40 years in education, my dad, equated book smarts to success. Knowledge is in fact power but I have discovered something even more powerful. “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision” (John Maxwell). I was able to harness my strengths when I STOPPED comparing myself to others and STARTED leaning into my unique God given abilities. By accepting myself, identifying my strengths, being resilient and developing a daily habit of personal growth, I accomplished more than I ever imagined possible. John Maxwell said “To grow yourself, you must know yourself”, partner with me and I can help you discover your unique superpower. BE YOU BRAVELY and KEEP GROWING! Your best “YOU” is the superpower!
