Last year this time my consultancy firm helped a client make $ 1.5 Million in 4 months. The firm had been around for 10 years and had put in the work,true but we worked on something that was the secret sauce to making those 'magic' numbers. That 'something' is the same sauce that could help anyone: start a dream business (my favourite topic),have a healthy marriage, work for a great body, live a life of spiritual fulfilment and on and on...the answer to that is as simple as it's complex: you. Yes, you're the secret sauce!
That's right: you hold the key to being whoever and whatever you were successfully meant to be. It sounds cliche I know. That doesn't change the fact that it's real. Sample these guys :
“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” ― Ralph Ellison,
“To say "I love you" one must know first how to say the "I".” ― Ayn Rand
“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I'm not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” ― C. JoyBell C.
“you can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.” ― Ernest Hemingway
And we could count on many others who've pointed out that the key to ultimate potential lies not in things outside of ourselves but rather within us. The obvious has been repeated so many times we could be forgiven for taking it for granted.
Let's revisit it, this whole notion of the 'sauce' we need to tap into our inner being, our inner destiny, attain our crazy goals. Let's give it a name to make it simple. How about : self-awareness?
That's it. SELF AWARENESS.
In short ...If you know who you are, like really know who you are...you've given yourself a massive head-start towards achieving your dreams. Looked at another way, when we don't know ourselves we instead end up helping others ( who undoubtedly have a high level of self realisation) achieve their own dreams. Nothing wrong with that but I much prefer looking out for myself first, thank you.
Every big brand you know started of not as an idea but as a dream. That dream would never have seen the light of day if it's innovator didn't have a strong sense of self. Yes...Nestle, Coke, Shell and Batman are all a product of someone looking real hard in the mirror and deciding to live with a full understanding of themselves.
Self awareness can be a ghost of concept to understand. It's so up in the air and academic. I tend to look at it in 3 steps :
1. Know who you're not
2. Know who you are
3. Be the best version of yourself
Simple. Most people these days are not content with being inspired by a role model...no, they actually want to BE the role model. Now that's not only dangerously deceptive, it can be depressing as well! The sooner you understand that you'r not Ferris, Branson, Obama, Oprah or even your boss, dad or mom, the closer you are to unlocking your real value.
But why is it that we try so hard to be others? Could it be because deep down we're afraid of who we are ? Or are we angry about who we really are? That sucks because no one can be grateful if they're angry or fearful. And true greatness demands that one be first grateful. So whether we like it or not, there's a point in our self-awareness journey where we must embrace who we are - warts and all - not only the strong positives but the weaknesses as well. The ones that make us human.
This is an ongoing journey...it doesn't stop. Self awareness evolves as we do...it's fluid as are our emotions based on our daily experience - but it's a definite journey to really knowing this guy or gal called ME.
Peace. Confidence. Gratitude. Patience. Passion.
Those are some of the gifts of knowing who you truly are. Those same gifts are the fuel to achieving your seemingly impossible goals or making $ 1.5 million in 4 months.
This isn't a mantra, a new-Age call or a movement. It's just common sense that's not so common. The next time you set out to complete a goal - no matter how big or small, remember that all you do should be focussed on making you the best version of yourself, not making you someone you admire but are not.
Success without fulfillment is the greatest failure - Tony Robbins
The author, Jan Okonji is an entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and Founder of the Pan-African accelerator BGS – Business Growth Solutions.
Jan is passionate about helping employees transition safely into entrepreneurship whilst turning their great ideas into profitable businesses and has helped entrepreneurs collectively grow their revenue to over $ 10 Million in the course of running BGS.
Get in touch with him and book a personal session HERE