Self-confidence and self-worth are in your own two hands
One of my favorite quotes , from a heavy hitting contender , the great Muhammad Ali , is “ service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth .” Ain ’ t that the truth ?
THE EXPERT
Mark Carter is an international keynote speaker , trainer and coach . He has over 20 years ’ experience as a global learning and development professional . His TEDxCasey talk ‘ Paws and Effect : how teddy bears increase value perception ’ was the movie trailer for his latest book Add Value .
The world would be a pretty lonely place if we were stuck doing everything for ourselves alone . EAs and PAs especially may relate to the idea of a role that is , at its core , being of service .
That said , not all service offered in the hedonistic digital age is received with warmth , kindness or appropriate acknowledgement . We deal with so many individuals . The stakeholders we all serve are a like a bag of mixed candy . The majority may be sweet , occasionally there ’ s that one that isn ’ t quite our cup of tea , or vice versa . In the workplace this may translate to a majority who value and proactively seek your input with the occasional case of someone who may not appreciate the gifts in others around them .
Regardless of who we ’ re working with , improved self-respect and valuing ourselves helps deliver harmonious equilibrium . When you ’ re feeling better about yourself it ’ s not unusual others begin to see you in the same light . In part due to the nature of our focus through aspects of brain function such as the reticular activating system ( RAS ) that acts somewhat like a filter for your focus . In other words , where we have inner peace and self-value our external world is more inclined to act like a beautifully framed mirror rather than a beaten up , cracked one . This edition ’ s contribution is a storytelling reflection with some tips to boost your self worth .
Self-Confidence and Self-Efficacy Self-confidence , including self-efficacy , is an opening chapter and theme in my first book , ‘ Ignite Your Potential ’. So , allow your imagination first to feel the essence of a short historical anecdote .
The little boy both lost and found himself .
His bright and inquisitive little mind completely absorbed in his task of gathering dead creepy crawlies of every kind : those that fly , crawl , have an exoskeleton , antennae , pincers , and many legs . The young lad then merely acted as the Latin origins of the word insect suggested . Insectum : cut into segments .
After dissecting them , he briefly studied the elements of their makeup . He then began to lose himself again , only this time to the imagination . He reconstructed the creatures using a variety of parts from other insects in a manner that was simultaneously visionary and disturbing .
Taking to paint brushes , with eagle-eyed attention to detail , he painted an image of a new creature . From the innocent collection of tiny , decomposing insects sprouted forth a spine chilling , lively monster . He then handed the masterpiece over to his father who found the imagery of his son ’ s imagination both terrifying and impressive . He also instinctively knew the finished piece would be valuable . So , rather than passing on the creation to the peasant who had commissioned the artwork in the first place , he elected to sell it to a notable Florentine art dealer . It was a wise choice . With the generous profit , he purchased a cheaper artwork decorated with a heart pierced by an arrow and gave that to the peasant , who was still pleased . Meanwhile the Florentine art dealer sold the fire breathing creation , born from the mind and efforts of a 5-year-old , to the Duke of Milan .
The boy in question was Leonardo da Vinci , the ultimate Renaissance Man and an excellent role model when it comes to the first element of selfconfidence : namely self-efficacy . Self-efficacy
54 Executive PA | Summer Issue 2021