Monday Distinction #5
To really accelerate your personal and professional success, you must understand and appreciate the difference between personal strength and traditional notions of power.
Power, in the traditional sense, represents control, authority and/or influence over others. In essence, the notion of power is subject to others giving it to you - or taking it away. Becoming consumed with power results in you spending your time on the perception others have of you - which is completely outside of your control. You will find that a focus on the action of others will leave you empty, wanting more and virturally powerless. For examples of how easily power can be taken away, we need to look no furthur than Michael Vick’s recent troubles. Michael Vick’s “dog fighting” troubles illustrates how you can have a huge influence on others at one moment in time and then lose it all fairly rapidly (for example, Vick’s now cancelled Nike endorsement).
Personal strength is a manifestation of your authentic self that embraces your skills, talents, abilities, fortitude and character. When you commit your energy to increasing and expanding your personal strength, you become focused on what you can control. This is a key point for effective leadership. Your focus on building your personal strength will most often result in an increase in your influence on the world around - and beyond - you. Leaders with great personal strength are able to make a great impact on society and when unfortunate events occur in their lives, can often quickly rebound and continue to succeed.
Today’s Tip for Upward Action: Remember that those who focus on developing personal strength instead of traditional notions of power are able to accelerate and maintain success. Look for ways to expand your strengths, develop your weaknesses and build your fortitude.
Until next time … Take Great Care!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! I know your blog is “Inspire by Action” but it should be “Inspire by Words”! Great post! Thanks for sharing.
very nice write-up on inspirations. Well done! Cheers from Fruity
“Leaders with great personal strength are able to make a great impact on society and when unfortunate events occur in their lives…”
Absolutely! Whenever I’d hear about celebrities who used to live in their cars, watch movies like “Pursuit of Happyness” it always gives me hope that I can make it too!
“personal strength instead of traditional notions of power are able to accelerate and maintain success.”
I couldn’t agree more. I like to think of it as building a base. Build a base of solid brick and you can put anything on it. Build it out of seaweed and you’re gonna have a mess.
Hi Brad,
Thanks for joining the conversation. I appreciate your comments!
~TC
I think you hit the nail on the head. I see personal strength as as an individual’s internal character whereas power is an attempt to get others to do what you want them to do irrespective often times of what that person wants. I suppose it can also be a reflection of one’s character as well.
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