It’s All About You, Except That It’s Not

Photo: Thomas Hawk

We are all making a tremendous journey through our lives.  There is no one like you.  There is no one like me.  Each of us are the only ones who can bring what we bring to our lives, our families, our businesses.  You are what makes you special.  It’s all about you.

Except that it’s not all about you.

No matter how amazing our story is, not one of us has a story that is told in isolation.

We didn’t get here alone.  

I was reading an article from someone I admire, Corbett Barr, on his brand new website called [Expert Enough].  He wrote an article, “23 Incredibly Useful Insights to Becoming an Expert” wherein he interviewed 23 amazing people whom he respects about whether or not there are “shortcuts” to becoming an expert on any topic.  The contributions are insightful.  I encourage you to go take a look.

There is one thing that stands out above and beyond everything else, however.

We are who we are because the people we connect with give us the opportunity to demonstrate who we are.

If we engage other experts to help us get better at our craft, or if we engage someone in conflict because they think we smell – either way, we have the opportunity to demonstrate who we are.  We always have the choice to show up as our best self.  And, frankly, whether the connection is perceived as constructive or not, each connection sharpens us.

It’s beautiful to know that we didn’t get here alone.

When I think about the path I’ve travelled, and the many twists and turns that path has taken (see my personal blog) along with the people that gave me the room to figure it out, I couldn’t be more grateful.  Of course, I can’t mention everyone who has had an influence on my path, but there are a few specific people who have had a profound affect on my journey to actualinfinity.

I am grateful to me – for finding myself, having the courage to leave everything behind to bloom in authenticity and continuing to show up every day – to myself, my friends, and my clients as nothing more than Who I Am.

I am grateful to Eric Lejeune – for being a leader, a mentor, a friend, a coach and my biggest fan.  I am grateful you listen to my story without judgement, you refuse to give me your opinion (even when it pisses me off), and you model the discovery of incredible brilliance in what you do.  You inspire me. @strideus

I am grateful to Steve Wimber – for teaching me how to deal with conflict, having incredibly higher expectations of me than I had for myself, for being supportive of Who I Am, and for pushing me to the point I had no choice but to break free.

I am grateful to Sarah Shah – for demonstrating and sharing such profoundly quiet wisdom which lies within the unknown, for helping me find peace in “not knowing”, and for leading me to find myself within my own style. @sarahshah

I am grateful to Mattison Grey – for sharing lessons on clarity, lights, acknowledgment, receptivity and story, among others; for absolutely rocking the worlds of those who rock my world.  Credit must go where credit is due and some of my biggest life lessons over the past couple years have been most powerfully presented to me by you. @MattisonGrey

Each of you are part of my “It’s Not About Me” club.  I am so grateful I’m not the only member, for who would I be without you?

Who else is it about in your life or business?  Who has given you the room to demonstrate who you are?  Who’s in your “It’s Not About Me Club”?