Be the CEO of Your Life
Whether we like it or not, we are all responsible for our own success and happiness. We have as much control over our own lives as a CEO has over the running of his or her company. Ask yourself: Who makes your decisions? Who is running the show? If you want to take charge of your life, influence others and lead effectively then you need to become your own CEO! Here are some steps you can take today to live a happier and more successful life tomorrow:
1. Create a Vision
As Steve Jobs once said, “If you’re working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” As CEO of your life, you must cast a vision of where you want to go and what you want to achieve. Once that vision is in place, you have to create an emotional attachment to it and then enthusiastically dive into the how-to’s and details.
2. Make Informed Decisions
How we make decisions can often be a major problem. We rarely consider more than two choices, we can be blinded by short-term emotions or we can even have a false sense of certainty that skews our judgment. To succeed, it’s critical to make informed decisions and widen the available options. You can make quick decisions if you’ve run through all the ramifications first, but never make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings.
3. Keep Hope Alive
If we want our dreams to become reality, we have to put in the work and keep digging deep. It’s vital to be faithful with the calls, notes and pop bys and invest in ongoing training and the improvement of your skill set. Success is built one handful at a time, so keep hopeful, persevere and be faithful with the little and you will be rewarded in the end.
4. Influence Others
We influence other people everywhere we go, but we must do it intentionally. As the CEO of your life, challenge the status quo and ask yourself ‘why?’ more often so you don’t get stuck in a state of homeostasis where no growth is possible. You must also nurture a deep desire to serve. If you’re not serving, it’s self serving. Finally, you must strive to leave a lasting legacy in the lives of the people you know.
4. Facilitate Transformation
When we’re fearful we stay put. But, as Dale Carnegie once said, “If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” Don’t become resigned to your circumstances. Transformation is possible, but you can only control it in yourself. You must work with the hand you’ve been dealt and take responsibility for your own success, failures and everything in between.
As the CEO of your life, you determine your own success. So get in the driving seat and take charge!
