Our deepest fear....
Is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our LIGHT, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be...
Brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually who are you NOT to be?!
You are a child of GOD!
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; It's in EVERYONE!
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
-- Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love (with permission)
I would like to share something with you. Something that is very personal to me. This poem hits home with me. I have it framed next to me at my desk and I glance at it each and every day. It is so uplifting and it makes me feel so powerful. Can you feel the power behind Marianne's words? If not, re-read it. It just begs you to play BIG. To use the talents and abilities and strengths you were born with to excel, not just to exist, but to truly excel.
This poem has given me a symbol to live by, a brand, a mental picture of how I choose to live on a daily basis. Every day I try to be a lighthouse for those around me. I let my light shine bright and steady. People know where to find me. They know that they can count on me. I'm not running all over the place yelling, "Hey, I'm a lighthouse, you need to use me, use my light!" (i.e. "Hey, buy from me, buy from me!"). No, I'm steady and consistent and THERE for people. My light reaches out for people, but the source stays the same. I stand strong, tall, and steady and when I'm asked to do something I don't want to do, I simply say, "No, thank you" instead of wavering or quivering. When there is a question as to the integrity of a situation, I'll always follow the right path. Today, I was in a meeting with a company who is seeking our business. I asked them, "What have you heard about me?" Their reply in unison was, "Integrity". I'm not sure if there is a bigger compliment.
This poem gives me strength and I hope you get the same reaction. I love you and I truly want you to succeed to your highest degree. I take enormous responsibility for what I am writing because you are reading this with the hopes of getting better, of improving, of becoming EXCELLENT. You have entrusted me to make the Leadership Letters entertaining, productive, and educational. I too strive for excellence in my work.
As you read the following chapters, I want you to know that the integrity of what I write is important to me. These are not pie-in-the-sky ideas. They are not theoretical thoughts. They are not rah-rah motivational speeches. I've always been more motivated to take action by action items and ideas with substance. That is what I am going to give you: true and power to-dos. With implementation, your business will grow and you will be on your way to excellence.
Remember, as John F. Kennedy would say, "We are not here to curse the darkness, we are here to light a candle." Cursing the darkness is easy, takes no action, and does no good. Lighting a candle solves the problem, implies taking action, and helps others. We're here to light a candle. You will light many candles as you read through the Leadership Letters.
Take care and God bless!
Michael
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