PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Throughout human history, reaching one’s
potential has been the grand objective of
life. It’s an honour to share the following
principles, an extract from my book
Leadership Lessons from the Summit which will
be published in 2013. May these inspire you
to live life not only to the fullest, but to
push forward in making 2013 a remarkably
successful year.
Let the self emerge. Try to shut out the external
clues as to what you should think, feel, say etc
and let your experience enable you to say what
you truly feel. Stop living other people’s lives
and start living yours!
Action: Write down three things you might be
doing in life that you really don’t like but you
are doing because other people want you to.
Then stop doing them!
Experience things fully, vividly, selflessly.
Throw yourself into the experience of
something; concentrate on it fully and let it
totally absorb you. One of the major reasons
why we fail to find happiness or to create a
unique lifestyle is because we have not yet
mastered the art of being. We go through the
day rather than getting something from the
day. We are everywhere at any given moment
in time, except living in that moment in
time.
When in doubt, be honest. If you look into
yourself and are honest, you will also take
responsibility. Taking responsibility is selfactualizing. This is one of the hardest for
people to grasp. They might think they are
being responsible, but ultimately they blame
circumstances and other people for why things
happen in their life.
Action: Learn to become responsible for your
own life, today!
Living in the moment is developing a unique
focus on the current moment, wherever you
are. It’s about taking time to watch the sunset
or listening to silence. Living in the moment
is not something we do; it is something we
experience and until we learn to be there, we
will never master the art of living well.
Action: Identify three ways you can eliminate
distractions, both mental and physical, so you
can more fully engage in each of your activities.
Life is an ongoing process of choosing between
safety and risk. Make this growth choice a
dozen times a day. So how can you take that risk
at least a dozen times a day? Asserting yourself
in a group meeting, introducing yourself to a
stranger standing in line with you, asking for
a discount on a purchase and saying no to an
unproductive request of your time.
Action: Write down as many ways as you can
think of to make the growth choice each day.
Listen to your own tastes and be prepared to
be unpopular. One of the greatest strengths,
especially of leadership, is the willingness to
do what is unpopular. Don’t follow the herd.
Don’t do what’s fashionable, trendy or popular.
What’s popular is what’s common. Do what’s
common and you will get common results (aka
mediocrity). You are looking for uncommon
outcomes and extraordinary achievements.
Use your own vocabulary not other’s excuses.
Never use other’s methods of drift and neglect.
What I’m trying to say is that you need to
walk away from the 97% of ordinary out there
and join the 3% of extraordinary. Take charge
of your own life and don’t let others lead your
life for you.
Action: What three obligations, activities or
behaviours will you stop doing to walk away
from the herd, the crowd, conformity and
the norm? Pick actions that might make you
unpopular, but make you more productive,
happy and peaceful.
Use your intelligence and do the things you do
exceptionally well, no matter how insignificant
they may seem. Strive for excellence in
everything you do, particularly in those
things that matter the most. Make every act a
statement of your world-class brand.
Action: Name three important functions or
tasks where you could push yourself further for
excellence. Do the things you want to do (or
don’t want to do) even if they seem insignificant
– doing them with excellence ignites the best
within you.
Make peak experiencing more likely. Get rid of
illusions and false notions. Learn what you are
good at and what your potentialities are not.
Remember if anything you need to do falls
outside the strength you bring in your career,
no matter how alluring the opportunity might
be, don’t take that on. Focus on what you are
good at and leave the rest to those who excel
in these specific areas. Stick to what is in your
circle, your strength zone.
Action: Write down a half dozen things you
are great at. If we lined you up shoulder to
shoulder with 20 people, what do you think
you do better than any of them based on your
experience, education, background, developed
skill, intuitiveness or innate ability? Once you
know what your unique skills and competencies
are, go for mastery.
Find out who you are, what you are, what you
like and don’t like, what is good and what is
bad for you. Know where you are going and
what your mission is. Opening up to yourself in
this way means identifying defences and then
finding the courage to give them up.
Action: Knowing your mission and your core
values will set you on the path towards your
greater destiny, take time to pin these down!
Look to the future... your summit awaits!
about the author
Suezette Smit is the Founder and Managing Director of Performance Development Interactive, an International
Skills Development Company, formed in 2002, with its Head Office in Cape Town, South Africa. Suezette Smit has
become well known as an International Conference and Motivational Speaker and Leadership Excellence Coach with
International appearances in the USA, UAE, New Zealand, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Africa and
her home country South Africa. With more than 20 years of experience in the administrative business arena, training,
entrepreneurship and innovation, Suezette Smit empowers all business professionals and leaders to move beyond task
work to higher-level functions so they can meet the ever-changing and increasing demands of today’s workplace. Some
highlights of her administrative career include: National President of the Office Professional Association in South
Africa, International Liaison for Office Professionals in the USA, Finalist in the Clover, Egoli and Rooi Rose’s Personal
Assistant of the Millennium and Finalist in the Sanlam Business Woman of the Year. Suezette has just been elected as
a Finalist in the South African Business Woman of the Year Award. She is also a qualified NLP Fire Walk Master and
has to date stepped onto 1,400°C hot coals as much as 35 times in the past 48 months. In September 2011 herself and
her team successfully summated Mount Kilimanjaro (19,000ft) in their quest to contribute towards Cancer in South
Africa. Her new book Leadership from the Summit promises every reader a unique experience with the profound message
of “Living life on the edge, otherwise you are wasting space.” Her personal motto statement for 2013 is “Don’t wish
for it, work for it!”
www.executivesecretary.com
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