You are already a CEO. You just don’t realize it yet. You are the CEO of the most important business in the world – the Business of You. If you don’t treat your life like that, then who will
One of the biggest regrets from people on their deathbed is that they wish they were more true to themselves. Instead, most people live their lives with this idea that they are obligated to others. For some people that may be work, family, and/or relationship(s). They continue to live in this world of “shoulds” or “have to” or “can’t” until they get to a point where the end is near and then they have this painful regret in their chest because they feel like they wasted their precious lives making other people happy at the cost of their own. They weren’t true to themselves.
I remember the day when I realized this truth and it wasn’t when I first started my business. It was while I was working for a Success Coaching company. Sometime during my fourth year there, I had an epiphany. I came to realize that I was not working for the company, I was working for myself and that the company was providing an opportunity for me to more easily express my love and passion. I was giving them my time, energy, knowledge, and experience in exchange for a comprehensive package of financial compensation, social interaction, opportunities to learn and grow, and clients with which to work and practice my skill. Honestly, I would say I got the better end of the deal.
In this “business” exchange, those were the proposed offerings and it served both of us for a very long time. Yes, the exchange had some requirements for me and it also had requirements for them. They had to ensure I was being compensated and I had to ensure a certain level of professionalism and production. Isn’t that what all business exchanges do?
When I realized this “truth” I looked at my work in a whole new light. I always felt in control of my situation. My business contract was “at-will” and I had the choice to cease the deal at any point. I could literally hand the company a piece of paper and walk right on out through the door (of course, I wouldn’t want to do that because it’s not good business practice for myself, but I always knew I could). That knowledge or wisdom allowed me an amazing amount of freedom along with satisfaction. I no longer felt like I “had” to do something. I now “get” to do something because of this mutually beneficial exchange. I also built a better connection with my managers because they now became partners instead of bosses. I became more interested in the company direction since I had to always evaluate it to see if I wanted to continue the ride. I became invested into my work in a whole new way that was both beneficial for me and the company.