Most of it was, obviously, very 'writer' intensive. Doug Johnston, Abel Keogh and Janet Kay Jensen all spoke and provided really helpful information focused on promoting myself as a writer. Great stuff!
However, I thought I would share with you some tidbits from the keynote speaker, Eloise Owens. Ms. Owens is the creator of Momentum Selling, and the author of Get Off The Beach - What Legendary Surfers Know that Salespeople Need to Know ... Now.
The first thing that struck me as interesting was that she asked us to commit to being present during her time with us. Since I've been thinking a lot about living in the moment, that was pertinent for me. Also, she asked that we tell the truth. Later it became clear that what she really meant by that was that we be honest with ourselves and our audience because that's where the 'money', or sale lies.I also thought that telling the truth and being present went hand in hand. If we are not wholly present, how can we tell the truth? We are not living our truth, but hiding from it, denying it.
Target Training International identified 23 attributes or qualities that professionals possess. Ms. Owens told us that the quality that made it to the top of the list was Self Management. In order to be successful in life you need to be able to know what gets you up on the morning, what keeps you working and what motivates you enough to get you up off your knees when the trials come and back to work.
Ms. Owens suggested we look in the mirror and be honest about what we see. Not the freckles on our face, or the gray hair, but the sort of person we are. What motivates us? She listed six types of attributes and suggested that everyone is all six, but that there is the one thing that gets us out of bed in the morning and something else, a second attribute that is our strength--and then there's the something that we really need to work on.
Have a look at the following six qualities and see which ones fit you best:
Theoretical ~ You love data, knowledge and information
Utilitarian ~ You demand results, you are practical and money focused
Aesthetic ~ It's the experience that drives you. You are artistic, driven by emotion and the need to create
Social ~ You long to change the world and influence others
Individualistic ~ You are a leader. You are focused on quality and you need to control your own destiny
Traditional ~ Your strength are your beliefs and you are systematic in your approach.
So which one of these attributes most motivates you each morning?
Which is your strength?
Where do you need to focus more, to build a strength from a weakness?
Ms. Owens spoke about the three sizes of waves: There's the whitewater--that frothy fun stuff that spins around our ankles and knocks against our bodies, but doesn't push us under. There's the outside--this is where most average surfers hang out. The waves are challenging, but there's still safety--these are comfortable waves. The third kind of wave is the Monster wave. This is the wave that only the best of the best will dare to take on, but that's why they are the best!
Milton Willis, famous accomplished surfer, said, "The bigger the wave, the quieter the ride." I'd say, it's like being in the zone. When all the tidbits on skill and technique are forgotten and you lose yourself to the moment--you just do it.
So, bring clarity to your life. Figure out where your strengths lie and what livens your heart and mind and then acquire the skills to achieve your dreams and then live it. Be present in your life, tell the truth about who you are and what you're here to do. Be great at whatever it is you're here for and then ... enjoy the ride!
