One of my clients recently decided to write a manifesto to give clarity and depth to his professional value proposition. The result was a simply-articulated yet powerful declaration of the beliefs that guide and motivate him – at work, yes, but also as a human being. As we were discussing strategies to convey these essential principles to others when talking about himself, he asked me whether I had a manifesto of my own.
I did not. But I do now! So thanks, M., for inspiring me – and for the excellent template, which I have tweaked only slightly.
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I want to help people create meaningful opportunities for growth and success in their professional lives that are aligned with their broader values, beliefs and interests. I’m committed to doing this by building relationships with my clients that activate their intrinsic resourcefulness and capacity to change. I’m committed to doing it in my own life, too, by continually seeking out and learning from new experiences to broaden my knowledge, skills and perspective-taking capabilities.
What do I believe in?
- I believe in having the courage to pursue a self-actualized life
- I believe in non-linear career paths that allow for unexpected opportunities, new realities and soul-nourishing detours
- I believe in having as much fun as possible along the way
- I believe in aiming for the big circle below, as uncomfortable as it may be at times:
What am I passionate about?
- Traveling
- Connecting with people who expose me to new ideas and ways of thinking
- Having conversations about the things that matter most
- Helping others acquire the right tools and mindset to make positive changes in their lives
Are there any sayings or quotes that I live by?
“This process of the good life is not, I am convinced, a life for the faint-hearted. It involves the stretching and growing of becoming more and more of one’s potentialities. It involves the courage to be. It means launching oneself fully into the stream of life. Yet the deeply exciting thing about human beings is that when the individual is inwardly free, he chooses as the good life this process of becoming.”
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
What words inspire and bring forth a positive reaction in me?
- Transformation
- Potential
- Optimism
- Resilience
- Empathy
- Generosity
How will I be known?
- For my tendency to see the best in, and assume the best about, others
- For my ability to relate to a wide variety of people and make meaningful connections with them
- For my belief that, at the end of the day, what really matters most is the quality of our relationships with the people we love
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What about you? Do you have a manifesto? Trust me, writing one is a lot more fun than working on your taxes, so why not give it a try?
