In this exercise, describe the kind of leader you want to become by writing a short story of your life between now and fifteen years in the future. Take your time to think about it and start writing as soon as you’re ready. Write vividly. Make it come alive and don’t hold back. The more of yourself you can pour into this, the more valuable it will be to you as you progress through this book.
What if you don’t even know where you want to go with your life or what you want it to look like? Give it your best shot. Open your mind to your imagination, and try not to be constrained by what you think others want and need from you. (In the next part of the book, we’ll deal with the expectations of others.) Tawke the leap.
Ideally, your finished draft will be about one page. It will be a compelling image of an achievable future. It will also describe the journey, how you got there, and the destination, what a typical day looks like. Finally, it will show how you’re making the world better in some way.
I’ve looked at this topic for several days now, and haven’t been able to get started on the writing. I think I have a pretty good grasp of where I have been and who I am now, but where do I want to be in the future? What kind of person do I want to be? I’ve thought about it often and hard without much success, and that’s part of what I want to figure out through this book. So here goes:
I will continue to learn from my bright colleagues and challenging projects in the next few years, visiting different companies and studying how they function, and hopefully in the process discover the type of company I want to end up working for. Leaving the consulting world as a seasoned manager, I will be armed with both technical skills as well as the even more important people skills that will allow me to continue to succeed in the corporate world.
My new corporate job will be just as challenging as my previous career, with a more flexible work schedule and less time spent on airplanes. I will work with a group of people that will look to me for direction and coaching advice, and I’ll spend more time with people than spreadsheets. The company I work for provides a product/service that I am personally passionate about. I find pride not only in my own success, but that of my company. I steadily move up in the ranks, but have no desire to work myself to death for that early promotion.
I’ve continued to volunteer through most of my life, and found a few causes that touch me personally. I’ve made a commitment to one of the causes and dedicate at least one weekend every month to it. Rather than simply giving money, I like to actually be there and do something myself. However insignificant my efforts may be, I’m helping to make the world a better place.
When I go home there will be someone waiting. A loving family, or at least a dog (maybe a few cats and goldfish too). I still play sports whenever I can and take my health seriously. I never grow tired of learning, and still try to get a certification or two every other year. If I have kids, they will be taught to explore and experience things from an early age, something that takes much effort and time. I never lose touch with my close circle of friends even though we are spread around the world. I treasure my relationships with those around me, but always leave some time for myself. Memories are saved through pictures and blogs. Blurb continues to receive my support every year as I make little digital scrapbooks to document friendships and love stories and travelogs.
I still hold true the principles I’ve decided I should live by in my 20s. I surround myself with good people. I never lose my curiosity, my sense of adventure, my trust in people. I never lose faith.
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