Finding My Path

When Gail Blanke talks, people listen. The New York-based life coach and founder, president and chief executive officer of Lifedesigns LLC, was one of many speakers at this year’s global conference.

She was poised at the podium, with a distinct attitude and sense of purpose that commanded attention and respect. Watching and listening to her motivated me to consider what I can do to create a more powerful professional presence. In short, I’ve been inspired by Gail.

Author of the book, Throw Out Fifty Things, a de-cluttering guide to lighten your load, Gail talked about letting go of the old view of yourself and the “type” of person you think you are.  She encouraged us to contemplate what we would toss in the trash. At my table, the answers varied from tangibles like a BMX bike to more abstract items, like in my case… I said I want to cast away my doubts to make room for more self-confidence.

Gail also talked about six steps for thriving on change and mastering the art of self-reinvention (read them all on her website). But one step in particular resonates with me… never underestimate the power of a vision.

She asked a fundamental question: “How good could we make it?” Whether it was career related or personal, we pondered for a few moments, and then wrote our visions in our notepads and imagined how good we can make them. Leadership is about having a vision, taking risks and driving change… like an ECLP improving a process for example, challenging the status quo or introducing a new market segment or product. Come to think of it, this applies to our personal lives, too.

Leadership is also about action and dedication, or as Gail said, you must run! Well, you don’t literally have to run – unless that’s your thing. The point she was making is that you should find something you’re passionate about – ideally something that’s good for you mentally and/or physically - and stick with it no matter what, even when those little voices are telling you that you can’t do it.

I plan on making a trip to the bookstore to purchase her book because not only am I fascinated with her personality; I find her ideas pragmatic and utilitarian. I’m also throwing things out to de-clutter… and when I’m feeling tired and don’t want to workout I’ll fight that voice inside my head and run!

Posted by Callie