One of my goals for 2015 is everyone I meet on and offline whether for 5 or 50 minutes, be it through my articles, books, coaching sessions, teaching, conferences, workshops or a conversation will be inspired, challenged and taught how and why they should constantly hit the target called distinction.
Leadership is bringing people into new realms of excellence and challenging them to become distinguished in their chosen field. ~ Onyi Anyado.
I don’t know about you but 2015 is proving to be a truly powerful, productive and prosperous year in more ways than one. With so many opportunities and possibilities available, truly, now is the time to become distinguished.
If you are in university and after you graduate your ‘dream job’ is to say work for, Ernst and Young, Barclays, Deloitte, Eversheds or Credit Suisse, your CV is great but your distinction will be greater.
When I deliver; How to become an employee of distinction™ to graduates on graduate programmes, I cover six keys but below I will give two.
VISION
To become distinguished in your industry, your clear and defined vision has to speak when you are silent, talk for you now and be your mouthpiece for the future. Having a clear and defined vision for your ‘dream job’ will give you direction, purpose and a reality of ownership. What do I mean? For example, if you want to become an Investment Banker for J.P. Morgan, from today, you have to make time to read, write, consume and deliver thought leadership which is relevant for your future job and the company too. One way of doing this is by joining relevant groups on LinkedIn and by following the company on Twitter. Don’t just join groups and follow but also engage and share your thought leadership too. Why? Everything you post online leaves digital footprints so with this, you are either walking in the zone of distinction or strolling in the comfort zone called average. LinkedIn is a powerful global platform to connect with people who are already in your industry but why connect with them if you have nothing to say, share or script? So, with this, you have to ensure your LinkedIn profile is stamped with the mark of excellence rather than marked with the stamp called mediocrity.
The worst kind of poverty is the poverty of vision. ~ Onyi Anyado.
CREATIVITY
When I deliver my talks, I always tell my audience, “creativity makes the world go round”. So, to become distinguished in your industry, it is vital you give birth to creative ideas which will distinguish you in 2015 and also be a reference point of excellence in say, 2020. A way you can make your creativity speak for you is by writing guest articles, blogs and LinkedIn articles which shows, solidifies and simplifies your thought leadership.
What was the last news about your industry you heard?
What issues have you seen in your industry which you believe should change?
What solutions can you bring to your industry?
These three questions, if you have the answers and in turn put them in guest articles, blogs, LinkedIn articles or Vlogs, not only are you sharing your distinction across social media which in reality is endless, but when you go for an interview for that ‘dream job’, you can show the potential employer your innovation, thought leadership and distinction too.
UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE
If you are in the 1st or 2nd year of university, a way to distinguish yourself for now and the future is by creating a society which in turn will make you the founder and president. So for example, if you are studying biochemistry in London, Lagos, Harvard, Helsinki, Toronto or Thammasat, why don’t you create a society where once a month you meet for one hour to discuss all things biochemistry. Create a YouTube channel, record the meetings then regularly share online to your network. Do this every month for the time left in university so by the time you graduate, your distinction would have spoken for you. Imagine what would happen if you showed this during an interview? Your thought leadership, creativity and distinction would actually announce you. This practical but vital step is relevant across all fields of study.
Creativity is the new currency, so, are you credited with new thoughts or overdrawn in old thinking? ~ Onyi Anyado.
Knowing your vision and creativity can empower, equip and establish you for now and the future, understanding this truth means, today is the day to board the train called excellence on route to destination distinction.
