How Many Legs are you standing on?
How many legs are you standing on?
Somebody told me a story approximately 20 years ago that has stayed with me to this day. This person had previously worked with a colleague who would say with complete conviction:
“The day I wake up and there isn’t a BMW parked in my garage is the day I kill myself.”
That struck me deeply. Not because I’m more of a Mercedes fan, but because this guy based such a massive part of his identity and worth on the brand of car he drives. Don’t get me wrong, I also like nice things – but what I have learnt in the 41.5 years I’ve been alive is that it’s probably not a good idea to base your entire identity on just one thing. Like a table standing on one leg, it won’t remain upright for long.
What I have learned from the best performers in the world is that they typically do much better when they see themselves as more than one thing: you might be a world-class tennis player, but also a spouse, a parent, a friend, a son or daughter. When too much emphasis is placed on a single element of their identity, wobbles emerge. Especially when the inevitable loss of form or injuries strikes.
The same applies to us. It’s cool to be a CEO, business owner, athlete, in a relationship, wealthy or whatever else you can think of, but chances are good that none of these things will be in place forever. What happens when one or more of them changes or falls away? How many legs will you be standing on then?
I was reminded of the importance of cultivating multiple facets of identity by our friend Pierre du Plessis this week. He writes:
Who or what affirms you?
Where is the bedrock of your identity?
What is the platform you push off from?
Make sure it’s stable.
Thank you for the reminder, Pierre.
If you are having a difficult time building a stable base, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
