How will you be remembered?
If I asked - raise your hand if you want success - your hand would most likely go up. We all do. We all want to have success in our work, in our relationships, and in all areas of our life. But success is fluid and fleeting which causes us to often get complacent and makes us sometimes feel stuck.
I remember early in my career when I thought success was getting promoted to manager and being part of the leadership team. I thought success was getting a raise to make a dollar amount or achieving a certification. All worthwhile achievements - but achievements don’t last.
The bigger question I want to ask today is – “do you want a career with significance and impact to leave a place better than you found it”?
Do you want to make an impact for others ahead? I am sure everyone’s hand will go up. We all know time is limited and we want to make impact - but how? Today, I want to share a few questions and ideas to help you drive with purpose in your career to make more impact on others ahead
A great starting point is to ask yourself - what do I want to be known for? It's a great question for reflection and reflection brings ideas and energy. It's a difficult question for this who haven't had a lot of experiences - but you can take something from every experience. When I began my new role in sales, I tried a lot of different things including attending association meetings to meet people. I didn't know anyone. It was daunting and challenging early on. But what I learned was how to be more interested in others. When I began networking, it was about me sharing my story with others - today it’s what can I learn from other’s stories?
Once you decide – you need direction and these questions can help:
What are my goals?
What habits do I need to add?
Where do I need to invest my time?
What are the values that mean the most to me?
The lane of significance requires being intentional in everything you do, but it all starts with desire. My uncle Walter was a high school football coach and was noted for saying, “I can issue your uniforms and equipment to play the game - but what I can't issue is desire”.
The next question is - how can I pursue impact? Here are ways to get started...
Journal gratitude each day,
Wrote encouraging notes to others,
Use the 100/0 rule,
Celebrate others.
In 6th grade - I received a note from my teacher on the back of my report card that said “Bruce’s energy and enthusiasm will serve him well in the future” - it inspired me to keep it!
As a new sales professional- I received a note from our VP that said “I look forward to seeing you at a convention one day as a “Presidents Club honoree”.
One year, I was watching the NFL Hall of Fame speech when Ed Reed looked at Kurt Warner and said, “I still remember the book you sent me when my brother died.”
Today - I make writing notes a practice. It makes impact.
Also – you need to get used to applying the 100/0 rule – give 100% and expect 0% - it helps you sleep better each night not worrying about what others aren’t doing. And celebrate others. It brings great joy to see others have joy! We can do this in so many ways.
Lastly - How can I live it - in significance every day?
In my book, “Drive With Purpose”, I share stories about how our operations leader serves his drivers to make them feel valued each day, and how a CHRO shares her team appreciations after each meeting to show employees how much she cares, and how leaders of “Carry The Load” and “Move for Hunger” started with an idea to make more impact and bring awareness to inspire people around the world.
When I was 2 1/2 years old, the doctors noticed a tumor behind my right eye that needed to be removed. My mom was pregnant with her 4th child and didn’t have the money, so the Edmond Lions Club and Dr Marklyn stepped in to fund the surgery. They saved my eye. That’s significance.
But if that’s too big and your thinking I’m not sure I can do this. Start looking for little ways to make more impact like the story below…
Years ago, I was asked to help a family with relocation from Texas to Canada. I drove to the home and met the family - husband and wife along with their 5-year-old boy. During the survey - the boy would follow his dad and me around the home as they pointed out the items moving for my survey inventory. I would sometimes make comments like “hey – is your toy moving – so make him feel moving is fun. When the survey was completed, I drove back to the office to print and send the estimate. But before I did that - I went to our marketing closet and found a coloring book and drove to the store to buy some crayons and mailed an overnight package addressed to the boy and his family. The next day, the dad called to tell me how much that impacted their family and awarded us the business. The stress of moving was gone - all because of a $1 coloring book.
To make impact - it doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, what matters is that you are always in pursuit to serve others to make them feel valued. That’s significance and that’s how you can make impact in your work and in every area of your life.
As I close, I want to share a quote from Dill Driscoll during a video promo for “Carry The Load” organization honoring our men and woman that served in the military and as a first responder that died in service. It moved me and hope it moves you to ACT - because “action changes things”.
“No movement ever started without the human touch.” -Dill Driscoll
Now is a great time to ask yourself “how do I want to be remembered”?
Discover it, pursue it, and live it… a career and a life of significance.
Call to Action: What is something from this article that you can ACT on… send me a note – is there one thing that inspired you? Write it down on a post it note and post on your wall or computer or on social media and tag me! I would also like to share this story as a TED TALK if you have any connections. Keep driving in the lane of significance my friend.
Want more motivation – pick up a copy of my books below – or listen on audio!
Drive With Purpose; Move Your Career from Success to Significance a #1 Best Selling New Release – Now on Audible… Click HERE
Life in the Leadership Lane – Moving Leaders to Inspire and Change the Workplace – Now on Audible… Click HERE
Find Your Lane; Change Your GPS Change Your Career – Now on Audible Click HERE
Looking for a podcast? Listen to Life in the Leadership Lane podcast – Season 5!
This is “Move to Inspire” with Bruce Waller! For more information, call 972-389-5673, or email bwaller@goarmstrong.com or check out my social media Facebook and Twitter page. Also, check out www.BruceWaller.com to review my leadership books “Life in the Leadership Lane”, “Find Your Lane” or pick up a copy of my journal “Milemarkers” to start recording your everyday and Hot Off the Press - Drive With Purpose, Move Your Career from Success to Significance! All books are available on amazon and audible. Be sure to subscribe to my YOUTUBE channel to watch the video podcasts and other messages to help you lead in the workplace! “Life in the Leadership Lane podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform including APPLE, GOOGLE, and SPOTIFY.