Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use. -Charles M. Schulz
I’m not a doctor, a carpenter, or a car mechanic and while I can tackle some of the tasks associated with these professions individually. You’ll never find me performing open heart surgery, building the trusses for my home, or rebuilding the engine in my truck - I’m just not geared to do the work at that level. As we dig down internally we begin to uncover what we do, and what we do really well.
I’d like to think that it’s what we’re geared to do and you can see that when people find their calling they are often honing an innate skill. This skill is often something buried deep inside but sometimes if you’re lucky your greatest strengths get pulled to the surface and you can live from a place of passion. In my journey of life thus far, I have seen a solid mix of people living from a place of passion, and many from their limiting belief - believing they are incapable or find themselves chasing a lifestyle they will never have in their current line of work. This was me, I was chasing my calling in the corporate world. Learning that my greatest gift was what I gave away not what I was paid to do.
When I entered the working world or ‘the real world’ as my dad liked to call it; I entered as a freshly degreed engineer. I had just spent the last 4 years honing skills in designing products, understanding process flow, and breaking down the big picture into its smaller pieces. I was hired 3 times for my project management skills before we started Lifelong Endurance. I was exceedingly capable of understanding a process and how to break it down into the major pieces and components. The most prominent project was a multi-clinic (50+) roll out of software that required teaching basic skill development to high functioning, highly paid doctors and practice owners.
What you’re geared to do
It took me some time to understand what skills I possessed above all others that set me apart as a coach. It wasn’t so simple at first to understand what my skills were, it wasn’t as simple as ‘I help people get faster’ or ‘ I write successful training plans’, or even ‘10 athletes qualified for the Boston Marathon I coached’. These are results and not skills. It took me time to understand that skills are what make the experience of working with someone so unique.
You sell best what you’re geared to do
I was challenged in an early session with Nora to reach out to some of the people I respect most (athletes, colleagues, and friends) and ask them what I’m good at. What am I not seeing? What have I done for others that is just an innate part of my being? What problem do I solve for others? Here is what I found out:
I provide athletes a pathway to accomplish their biggest goals
I’m a patient listener that pulls big picture items out of small discussions
I breakdown the big picture into small manageable pieces
How to find success and celebrate the small wins
I take the small pieces and show how, even a set back, can be a stepping stone
Give people back control over the parts of their training that frustrated them
Remove frustration through education
I easily identify where athletes are struggling in training and day to day life
I help them take the reigns of their training and remove a frustrating obstacle
I plan around their busy day to day schedule
To draw it all together - I help people accomplish big scary goals that they couldn’t conceive of accomplishing from step 1.
Reach out and connect
I encourage any of my readers to do something scary. Reach out to the people you’re closest too and learn how the world sees you. I think you will be most surprised by the answers you get and very often see how your best personality traits shine brightly. A few queues for you who are taking a dive into self development.
Share your intent ‘I’m taking some time to work on myself and understand who I am more deeply’
Share what you want to accomplish early ‘I’m reaching out to you as a close friend/ colleague and am open to your honest feedback’
Make your ask ‘ I’m trying to identify my core traits and skills that make our friendship or working relationship so great’
What problem do I solve most often for you or customers/ patients?
What attribute do I bring to our relationship that you value most?
How would you say I achieve the attribute you value most?
These 3 questions sent to 3-5 people will help you better understand not just what you do best, but why you do it best. Keep working, thinking and drilling down into what you do best. This will ultimately help lead you towards what you’re geared to do with people, and where you can have the most impact. This might help you harness a new career, bolster your current one, or even help drive you towards a position or role that fits you best.