Have you ever felt not enough?

Have you ever felt like you are not enough? Not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, talented enough or even worthy, special and brave? We are all been been there. However we are all good enough, smart, beautiful, talented, worthy, special and brave and so much more.

I published a book 3 years ago called Just Rock It!

Why?

I wrote this book because I’m so freaking over hearing people claim a lack of self-confidence, watching people sabotage themselves, and seeing others put people down. I am truly over the fact that we live in a culture and society today where it’s frowned upon if we advocate for and believe in ourselves. I mean, really?

Again, why?

On my 46th birthday which was 3 years ago (now I am showing my age!), I stood in a room with a group of people who were all part of a conference I was attending to help teenagers build their confidence and leadership skills. Most importantly, I was there with my beautiful 15-year-old daughter, who had been struggling with her sense of self-worth and self-belief. I was there to learn how to be a better leader and mother.

Frankly, it was the last thing I wanted to do on my birthday. Even though I live and breathe this stuff and can inspire, empower and grow leadership and leaders all over the world, I was dreading doing it with the most important person in my world.

I thought she would find it confronting, and agonising, and thought that her sullenness might make the entire experience most definitely not a walk in the park.

What I experienced and learned was unexpected. It brought back a rush of memories for me and seemed to transport me back to my pre-teen years. I began to remember the times when I didn’t feel good enough, smart enough, and when I felt I had flat-out failed. There I was, turning 46, and I felt like my 12-year-old self all over again. Believe me, it was a humbling feeling, especially with my young daughter right next to me, experiencing the very same thing. At the end of the seminar, though, I had come full circle. I reminded myself that I’m a smart, successful and amazing leader and mother who is good enough. And the best part? My daughter was grinning by the end of it, saying, “Wow, Mum. You really do this stuff all the time? That was great!”

I decided to write this book for those people who can’t seem to grasp their potential, their greatness; for those who want a life where they can be the best version of themselves. These people (you!) simply need a little nudge, a little bit of support, confidence or motivation to rock it.

This is why you need to focus on what makes you rock!

I have a quick quiz for you. Now, I don’t want you to take much time to complete it. Jot down your immediate thoughts (I’m talking one-word answers, here!) within the next minute or so:

What are your talents? ________________________________________

What are your strengths? _____________________________________

What are your passions? ______________________________________

What are your goals? _________________________________________

What are your dreams? _______________________________________

If you groaned your way through my mini-quiz, or hemmed and hawed, or even if you knew each answer and scribbled down all of them in a jiffy, know this: Life is way too short not to focus on you. Focus on your skill set, have confidence, and work on you—every day. Then, before you know it, you’ll be rocking every aspect of your life.

Simple, huh?

Maybe not.

When I ask my leaders at events or conferences, and my coaching or leadership programs, to write down what makes them different and unique, most people struggle. (I bet they wouldn’t if I asked them to write down their weaknesses, which can be so frustrating to me.)

So, how do you find out what makes you unique? Why are you special? (Be assured, we all are!)

It really is simple to figure out your strengths, but it does take some work and time set aside for self-discovery.

Here are a few well-known strengths assessment tools available to you. Please note that it is important to have an expert debrief them for you if you complete them:

• 360 assessments—we have some brilliant ones!

• DISC (www.discpersonalitytesting.com)

• Myers Briggs (www.mbtionline.com)

• LSI (www.man-synergistics.com.au)

• Talent Dynamics (www.talent-dynamics.com/profile-test)

• Gallup Strengths Finder (www.gallupstrengthscenter.com)

Ask your peers, family, friends and work associates to tell you your strengths and talents as they see them.

Discover your values. What’s important to you and why?

Write down a list of achievements, successes, what you love doing, what you’re doing when you are at your best. What are you doing when you’re in the “zone”?

And finally, surround yourself with people who have different strengths than you. They rock, too! The more aware you are of what makes you rock, the more you’ll be able to help those around you rock right alongside you.

Write down on a journal now 5 things that you believe others would say about you that rock and please share them below or let me know!

Stay Courageous. Stay Kind. x

About Sonia McDonald

Sonia McDonald is the CEO and founder of LeadershipHQ and McDonald Inc. Sonia is an in demand keynote speaker, leadership coach and advisor, author and facilitator.

Sonia works one on one with CEO’s of Multi-National organisations and advisory boards to start up enterprise, facilitating in-office workshops with emerging leaders and supporting companies through cultural transformation and positive wide behavioural change.

For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of Human Resources, Leadership and People and Culture. She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader.

Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is recognised as a LinkedIn influencer and has become an in-demand keynote speaker, starts important conversations. Sonia has also been recognised in the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe and Top 100 Entrepreneurs across Australia by Richtopia.

She is an award-winning published author of Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! With her third book close to completion, Sonia understands the importance of distilling inspiration and cold hard facts into a few digestible pages. Entertaining and irreverent, you will find a methodology that takes you courageously to the next step of your career or journey

Keynote Speaker

Sonia has been a keynote speaker for over a decade and has delivered presentations to a thousands of people all over the world. Renowned for her candid rhetoric, personable insights and fierce business acumen, her presentations and books have transformed how people worldwide conduct themselves as leaders. Book Sonia HERE.

Phone 1300 719 665

www.soniamcdonald.com.au

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