Clarify Your Personal Mission to Engage Crowds (882)
THE RESURFACING OF PAINFUL MEMORIES was hurting Heather's work as a software sales strategist.
And interfering with her ability to make educational social media videos about the company's star products in particular.
“My company came to me and said they were worried about the messages I was putting out,” she confided to Michael during one of their coaching sessions. “They didn’t know if I was OK.”
She was being hit hard by the return of memories of the death of her beloved uncle 10 years earlier - and how members of her family had provided scant comfort.
On top of that, she'd also been knocked sideways by the recent deaths of a number of people close to her, she said.
EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES
Heather recognized that she needed help dealing with her emotional challenges. Michael recommended she reach out to specialists who were equipped to help her explore her unresolved feelings - and she said she'd take his advice.
But she still wanted him to help her improve her ability to make those videos.
With the backing of her counsellor, they collaborated on helping her create a personal mission statement that would give her greater clarity about her emotions and career direction.
Here's the three-step system Michael used with her to help her craft a personal mission statement that freed her from the tyranny of unexplored feelings:
Step 1: Writing
Open a journal. Write down answers to these questions:
1. What's most important to you? Who are you and who do you want to be? What are you most passionate about?
2. What are your most important goals? What are your major personal and professional objectives? In a perfect world, what would your relationships, achievements and career look like? Get as specific as you can regarding your job title and level, for instance.
3. What do people who know your work best consider to be your greatest strengths?
What traits, skills or other factors do you want to be known for when people think of you?
4. What is the mark you want to leave on the world? Which skill set or knowledge base will help you achieve your goal? What vision motivates you?
Step 2: Go Deep
After you’ve worked out answers to these exercises, do a 2-3 minute video version of these insights. Your aim is to get to the core of your feelings. As you speak into the recorder on your phone or laptop, answer these questions:
1. Who are you? What do you do? What’s your main purpose in speaking to us?
2. How did you get interested in this topic? What can we hope to learn from hearing your story today?
3. How did you find your story? Make us see, hear and feel every detail of what you are remembering and feeling.
4. How have your experiences affected your personal growth and world view?
5. To what extent have your experiences affected your resolve to help others? Talk about relevant actions you’ve taken in this regard.
6. What are your proudest triumphs, projects, or success stories in connection with helping others?
7. If you had only have 1 minute left to share your final message from your journey with the world, what would it be?
Step 3: Practical application
If these exercises give you clarity, start getting more specific. Create a 2-3 minute video on any one of these business or work topics:
1. Why do you do this? How did you get into this?
2. How do you work with your clients? What is it like to work with you?
3. How do your clients inspire you?
4. What is your dream for this business/for your clients?
5. How has your background shaped your world view?
6. What was the breakthrough moment that gave you your mission?
7. Where or who do you get your inspiration from?
8. How would you answer a common question you get from your target audience?
9. What's your prediction for the future in your industry?
10. What is your side of a topic that your industry is split on?
11. What are your thoughts on a notable piece of content that's been published by someone else?
12. What's your top 10 list of lessons learned?
13. What's your welcome to your new followers? What can they expect from you?
14. Why do customers need to use your product/service? What are the risks if they don't use it?
15. What’s a common misconception in your industry? What's your advice on what your target audience needs to start doing?
MAKING DECISIONS EASIER
Working through this system helped Heather. Practicing thinking deeper made decision-making easier for her, as it clarified whether the decisions she’d been making were in alignment with what she wanted for her life.
You can go deeper as a communicator and thought leader by going to michaelbarris.com/mini-course and subscribing to a free public speaking series based on Michael's bestselling book, “How to Become a Super Speaker: The 7 Principles for Speaking with Confidence and Connecting with Audiences.”
You will receive tips, strategies and take-action homework assignments to guide you toward becoming an empowered speaker and more in touch with your feelings and mission.
Heather expressed what a lot of people who go through the process of self-discovery think, in one of their sessions.
“I knew my truth, but I didn’t want to look at it.”
MICHAEL BARRIS
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Michael Barris is the consummate evangelist for speaking better to be your best and create an impact with your career.
He is a transformational public speaking coach and speaker who has a background as a former adjunct professor of public speaking and expository writing at Rutgers University.
He also is the author of "How to Become a Super Speaker: The 7 Principles for Speaking with Confidence and Connecting with Audiences."
A longtime journalist, he worked for Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, producing articles on many of the world’s biggest financial and business news stories.
In total, he has produced over 3, 500 print articles over his journalism career, including more than 300 for the Wall Street Journal, and countless more published online.
Learn more about Michael and his work at michaelbarris.com
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