'What you see is what you get.'
Flip Wilson
Since he was 'involuntarily' retired at age 56, after one term as president, Jimmy Carter has become one of the world's great humanitarians. In a recent interview he gave about how he made the difficult transition from president to private citizen, he describes how he had to re-create himself and his life. After all, what kind of work can you do that comes close to being president of the United States? He had to re-evaluate his abilities, revalue his talents, and re-create himself.
He said, 'We went back to our tiny town of Plains, Georgia. I didn't have a job. We were deeply in debt. We thought the best time of our life was over. Just because we lived in the White House, didn't make us any different. Things looked grim-until we finally had the courage to do what everybody needs to do: sit down in a time of quiet contemplation and say, 'OK, what is it that I have? What are my talents? What are my abilities? What have my experiences given me that I can build for my future? What were some of the things we did when we were young that we really enjoyed and never had a chance to pursue because we were too busy making a living? What are the talents I had when I was young, those I was never able to develop?''
Do what Jimmy Carter did: Take stock today. Appreciate and be thankful for your talents and abilities, and celebrate your life every day as a gift to be opened. Take more than a few minutes to embrace the fact that your life truly is, and can continue to be, a wonderful life.
Recently, NBC ran the classic, It's a Wonderful Life with James Stewart and Donna Reed. I must have seen this movie 30 times, but never before from start to finish. It's a life-changing movie.
The movie's message is that when all is said and done, it's not what we have, but who we are and who we become that matter most. Starting today and on every day forward, celebrate who you are-and decide who you want to become.
You're probably not even coming close to taking full advantage of all your talents and abilities. Make a list of your strengths. Keep adding to this list as you recognize and discover more of your abilities. Ask yourself every day:
- What are my talents and abilities?
- What do I do well and enjoy the most?
- If I were to choose to make a living (part-time or full-time) doing something I love, what would it be? Why?
- Where would I start? What would be the first step I'd take?
The world of the 21st century will be very different. Challenge and change will be a daily ritual. Adapt-ability is a crucial life skill. In 2000, the average worker will stay in one job for only 3.5 years. It's expected that a 21-year-old college graduate will have between five and seven careers during a working lifetime-that's careers, not jobs!
Your future depends on having a clear understanding and appreciation for what you do best and how you add the most value in this dynamic workplace. Time is more compressed than ever. We could fill our days with work and still not get everything done! There's always something more to do. The day we die, there will still be plenty left to do.
That's the burden-and the beauty-of life.