January 25, 2017 Seven Things to Think About When It Comes to . . . Being the Hero in Your Own Life Story.

Since childhood you’ve heard at least one story about superheroes and their special powers. But has anyone ever taught you how to become your own superhero who saves the day in your career and life. Well, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love may have actually cracked the code. Here are seven ways to become your own heroic figure.

1. Answer the call: “If you want to be the hero of the story - you kinda gotta answer the call.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

2. Hold a mirror to your flaws: Seeing yourself clearly is the second step to becoming a hero. Heroes know who they are and what makes them special. Focus on the special powers you have and work on cultivating them.

3. Prepare yourself for peril: The only constant in life is change and challenges. Become a person who thinks three steps ahead, always has a plan “B” and will be prepared to successfully deal with adversity. Remember, it’s not IF difficult obstacles come along; it’s how you’ll respond WHEN they do.

4. Ride the wave: Superheroes know how to deal with a variety of situations but mostly they simply know how to ride the wave. In an opportunity, ride the wave/go with the flow and when the wave and movement and beautiful views end - so should you. But luckily you’ll have (or quickly create) a plan – to find and then ride another wave.

5. Take responsibility: Growth is about owning a part/role in any situation. Are you deathly afraid of speaking in front of others? Are you intimidated that others are better writers or simply smarter than you are? Own your shortcomings and learn how you can prevent something bad from happening again by being honest with yourself and others.

6. Never waste your suffering: Be empowered to use your mistakes and “failures.” However, there is no need to beat yourself up. When you can share your experiences and lessons with others to turn your misery into meaning.

7. Face fear: Facing your biggest fears head on – frees you. Heroes demonstrate courage – moving forward despite fear. Attack what scares you most and stop running from it. If you want to break into marketing, send out an updated resume that shows your pro bono consulting projects

Heroes help us in many ways, but becoming your own hero makes you qualified to not always have to rely on others to live and manifest a highly successful career. This week follow these simple steps to use a mirror to see your flaws and yourself clearly; bring you to your own attention; and tear down your walls.

I know what I love, and even what I do well—now what?

We each do one thing better than anyone else on the planet.  We often stumble onto that thing through trial and error, sheer accident or simple necessity, but we’re all an expert at something.  Chances are your thing has something to do with the fact that you’re a creator, inspirer, healer or protector, or a combination of the two.  But more than likely, you’re wondering, “I know what I like, and even where I excel, but how do I combine the two to create a successful life doing what I love?” Of course, there is no one straight path to follow, but these three simple strategies can help you take that next step in uncovering the answers to your question.   

1. Stop trying to fit in someone else’s box—create your own darn box and “sell it”. Show someone an untapped need, and how you, and only you, can fill it. For more than a decade, I had helped hundreds of friends, colleagues and even strangers find new jobs, get into PR, and change industries and careers—not to mention changing my own career path numerous times.  My “aha” moment was realizing these experiences were promotable skills, that coupled with my background in communications, could enable me to market myself as a “teacher” to anyone navigating personal and professional transitions.
    
2. Capitalize on who you are.  Chances are, if you were the hall monitor in grade school, we probably weren’t the best of friends.  However, I might hire you in a heartbeat to be my compliance officer/consultant. Know what makes you you, and embrace it. The story is that I started talking at 10 months old and … never stopped. I am a communicator, and at the heart of it, I am an inspirer and creator, sharing what I have learned (from some of the best) about marketing and branding to benefit others. Ask yourself who you are, and work it.
    
3. Take stock in all ALL of your LIFE experiences (paid work, volunteering, hobbies, and especially favors and how you “give yourself” to friends and family).  What’s the common denominator of what you love AND do well?  For me, it was inspiring others to think from new perspectives.  Even though I was clueless at first about how to use this information, I was also excited because at least I knew where to “dig.”  I soon realized in what direction I had to head toward to discover my greatest passion and purpose – it had something to do with using communications to inspire others.
   

Thoughts of the Week:

• The more positions you’ve had that you didn’t like, the more you’ll learn
  
• Knowing who you aren’t is the first step to determining who you are
  
• Don’t be too quick to say you’ll never do something again – you’ll only limit yourself more
  

It’s true. Albert Einstein gave the message that if you never made a mistake, you never tried something new. Life is about taking risks. 

Patrice Glenn Anderson

Welcome to the Living on Purpose Project

As children we crave structure and discipline. As adults, we need meaning and purpose. But no one tells us how to do it, in part because no two paths are the same. However, two things are universal amongst people of all ages and in various stages of life and success: (1) everyone wants practical ideas to create bigger, brighter next steps, and (2) people who learn to build upon personal lessons and experiences (whether it’s their own or through others’) can generally better navigate their pursuit of happiness, success and purpose.

Sharing our collective unconventional wisdom about life and careers is a simple thing that we all can do. Telling people not just what we do in life, but also why and how we do it, can be the little thing that makes a huge difference in the choices and courses someone makes and follows. Because perhaps what may really make that difference in the road less traveled is connecting with someone who has traveled a similar road before you, and knowing that you’re not alone.

Writing the Living on Purpose Project – a blog and book about finding purpose and doing what you love – is a natural extension of my 15-year work as a marketing and career transition Adjunct Professor, and a perpetual student and teacher of life. The Living on Purpose Project is part of my path to purpose. What’s yours?

Living on Purpose Project ™ – Living Life with Exclamation ™