Commitment

It's been awhile since I've posted anything. I've kept waiting for big inspiration. And, while I've been inspired it hasn't been anything big. So, I decided to write shorter bursts and update more regularly.

I want to write about commitment tonight. I've done a lot of work in human psychology and what drives human beings and I've been incredibly lucky to work with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet at this time including Tony Robbins, Steve Linder and Cloe Madanes.

If I were to be lucky enough to discover something of value to add to this field I think my contribution would be around the area of commitment.

Real commitment. The difference between a decision that's just a good idea, one which you can go back or change and justify to yourself (I'll start dieting tomorrow...this cookie just looks too tempting tonight, besides I've had a hard day, I deserve it) and one for which there is no turning back (I'm going to lose those 22 kilos!)

I know in my own life there have been watershed events that really changed the course of my life. Deciding, after 4 years of being out of school to go back to university. Passing the CPA exam on the first try. Losing 22 kilos.

Each one of these events had a profound impact on my life and each one was preceded by a commitment. A commitment from which there was no turning back.

I've made another commitment recently. That is that I'm here in Sydney to stay. It's been a long, hard settling in period. But after my first trip to Vietnam I made the commitment to stay in Sydney and it's made all the difference in the world.

Business started to pick up dramatically, men started showing up, I started meeting some very interesting people. All out of a commitment.

But what is the difference between a commitment and just a good idea? I have my own theories, but would love to hear yours? Do you have stories about how your life has changed as a result of making a true commitment? What happened to lead you to that event? Why was it different than all of the decisions you made previously where you changed your mind and broke your promise to yourself (unless I'm the only one who does that).

If you don't feel comfortable posting your stories here I'd love to have you email me directly at Kim@KimSeelingSmith.com.

Happy committing!

On not being the smartest chick in the room.

My niece, Kristen, who is extremely intelligent (along with my other two nieces, Heather and Robyn) commented at the beginning of her Freshman year at Ohio State (my and both of her parents' Alma Mater) that she was adjusting to not being the smartest girl in the class. She is, after all in Honours Engineering at one of the top schools in the US.

I reflected on that statement at the time and wondered what that felt like. Now, I don't claim the intelligence level of my nieces (although I am a pretty smart chick). But where I've been the smartest chick in the room was in my profession. After about 12 years in recruitment I'd reached the pinnacle of success in so many ways. Others made more money than I did, to be sure. But I was working 4 days / week and doing rather well. I was clearly at the top of my game and the "go to" person in accounting and finance recruitment in Auckland.

I spent the next 2 years really just going through the motions. I would interview a candidate and know within 5 minutes (and that's being generous) whether I could place them, where I could place them and if it was the right decision for their career. Then I had to spend 30 - 45 minutes with them going through the motions of an interview so that THEY felt like that had value.

I would sit in client visits and know in 5 minutes whether I could help this company. I knew what they needed (many times when they did not), I knew if they really had the authority to make the decisions and whether they would make them quickly or be a pain in the backside. Then I had to sit through the next 45 minutes with them establishing a relationship and making sure that they felt like they had received value from me.

Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing in terms of furthering relationships from both a candidate or client's perspective. But once you attain a certain level of mastery in something it just feels sometimes like you are going through the motions.

For the last several years that I was in recruitment I longed to learn from others who were better than I was. I longed to be challenged, to try something new and a bit daring or edgy. But it just didn't happen.

Then I moved to Sydney, gave up my recruitment career, started my new business and began to hang out with some really cool people including but not limited to the Thought Leaders Community, and the SRI Community. Not to mention my friends that I began developing through Tony Robbins (the grad community is much more active in Sydney than in Auckland).

I just completed Thought Leaders Million Dollar Expert's Immersion Program (yes, ANOTHER course!) yesterday. This was two days of intense thought around my business, my message, my mode of delivery and my market. Very cool stuff. I have a lot of work to do, which is really really exciting.

I was blown away by the caliber of talent in the room, quite honestly. Not only was I not the smartest chick in the room, I wasn't even in the top 50%!

And what a wonderful feeling that is.

My main message, I've discovered, is to help people re-invent themselves. Isn't that perfect? I've had 4 distinct careers, been married, amicably divorced and am now dating again, and lost 22 kgs / 50 lbs 5 years ago. I've re-invented myself several time over!

I think that challenging yourself and putting yourself in the position where you're not the smartest person in the room is not only a great way to re-invent yourself, but is also a fantastic way to keep from having to. If you're constantly learning, evolving and growing you can avoid most pitfalls that will necessitate a major change in your life.

Hmmmm, something to think about.