I accomplish my best work when I’m passionate about what I’m doing. I guess you call it being in flow.
I look at the world around me and people are pushin and pullin and elbowin and spankin and chasin and marathonin and yada yada yada.
It’s all so draining.
I look at my Hootsuite Twitter feed board and there’s a stream of people tweeting all kinds of stuff ya should do, gotta do, and stop doing.
These Twitter peeps are definitley not in the flow.
One of my favorite books is Paul Johnson’s biography of the late great Winston Churchill.
One of my fave lines from the book is when a 17 year old Johnson asked Mr. Churchill, aka Winnie, the secret to his success. Mr. Churchill replied:
“Conservation of energy. Never stand up when you can sit down. Never sit down when you can lie down” he replied.
Love it!
Churchill achieved lots of success yet in an effortless way.
So, what was his secret sauce?
I don’t know for sure, though my gut tells me had conviction about what he wanted to achieve.
When you think of the word conviction, what comes to mind?
For me it says:
- Authentic
- In your bones
- Will not be denied
- Certainty
- Potent ideas
- Quiet strength
- Faith
- A little Cra Cra
- Fearless
- Resolute
I could go on and on though I think you’re pickin up what I’m puttin down. (A little slang I learned from my daughter back in the day.)
You all know or have seen someone with conviction.
They’re that person who you know deep down without question will achieve their endgame.
As obstacles roll across their path, they laugh. Ha! They remain in flow no matter what is thrown at them.
These people will not be denied.
When I jumped into the coaching profession 11 years ago, I’ve never looked back. It’s who I am. It’s in my bones. I have a conviction who I want to become.
I hope you’re doing the same with your life.
Check this Chinese drummer girl as she plays to the song “Little Apple.” A tune that became an instant hit in Chinese culture.
Do you see and feel her conviction?
Are you having as much fun in your professional life?
The sooner you realize your true conviction, the sooner you’ll be in flow and be much happier.
Conviction is an intriguing concept. There are people without conviction who accomplish some pretty neat things, and people with conviction who can’t get started, probably out of fear.
Thus, I like the first word you used in defining it, that being authentic, or authenticity. Sometimes I hate putting people on the spot in questioning their conviction towards being successful because I know it can be hard and depressing at times. Yet, when people are authentic they’re consistent, trustworthy and fairly honest; you know what you’re getting with someone who exhibits these great qualities.
It depends on the person and what they see is most important in their lives in how they manifest this, but hopefully they’re manifesting it in a way that will give them maximum benefit they can live with.
Thanks Mitch.
The operative word for me in your comment is -consistent.- I believe people who have conviction are consistent day in and day out.