Who do we want to be...?
Who do I want to be in the world – in my work and in my life?
That was the subject of a one-minute pitch in a voice coaching module of a leadership programme. There was 15 minutes notice and a cast of 26 crown (mostly civil) servants.
I can feel you building pigeon holes and boxes into which to squeeze us.
I’m not sorry to disappoint you – with hand gestures if necessary.
We are more than your prejudices. We reject your stereotyping. We are better books than our covers and very human beings. I came away in awe, with gratitude and inspired by my colleagues. You would have done too.
I jotted down some of their wisdom, including:
Engineering, professionalism and being proud
Listening, making music, being the best that you can be
Making time, for partners and children and for yourself
Serving others (including your country), helping others, supporting others
Being passionate, authentic, genuine and being in the moment
Catalyst Cohort #3 – with much respect and many thanks. It was a great couple of days.
And me? Who do I want to be in the world?
I said this…
I want to be the boy I always was.
Curious, caring, hopeful. Optimistic and trusting.
The boy who explained to his Mum that the wind was created by air going in and coming out of milk bottles.
I want to be the man I am.
Hard working, diligent, kind, trusted and trusting still – a bit of a crier.
Creative, energised and never as alive as when I’m telling a story to an audience from a stage.
Making them laugh, then getting them here [points to heart]
I want to be the man I’ve never been.
The singer, the dancer, the serial shagger? I think the moment has passed, don’t you?
The one without the doubt.
The one with self-belief that lasts longer than the boiling of the kettle.
The man who is creative and energised and telling stories from a stage - having patented his theory about why the wind blows or written a novel and had that published…one of the two.