The first step before attempted to make our work, career or life’s goal fit us is to find put who we are. Who I am, what are my strengths, what am I passionate about is critical information that few people actually know about themselves.

In a recent Gallup Poll survey, researchers were trying to find the common denominator among successful people. They did not define success only by income, but also whether these people were recognized in their field of endeavour, and or were doing what they ‘wanted’ to do and were happy about it. The researchers interviewed artists, scientist, medical professional, business people, politicians, educators, parents, volunteers even nobel prize winners. What they found was surprising. As they were looking for that common denominator for “success”, they looked into all facets of their lives, their past asked a lot of questions. What was that one common denominator that made the difference between people that were at the top of their field and those that were average or just plain square pegs in round holes (see earlier article)? Was it education, money, or even where they lived? Although it is true that some of these can give you a “head start to success”, it was not anyone of these factors. It was not race, language, age or gender either. It was not whether they had tried other careers before or not, as some of these ‘successful’ people were in their early twenties and in their first career. It was not personality either, as some where outgoing, others were introverts. It was not beauty as some were not beautiful by most people’s standard and it was not whether they had a handicap or not.

What was the ONE common denominator that was present in most successful people? It was self-awareness. Self-awareness is when a person knows their strengths,  when a person knows something about their own personality, their passion and their goals. Researchers found that self-aware people were making up over 80% of people that were identified as ‘successful’.

Are you self-aware? Do you know what your strengths are? Do you know what you are passionate about or are you just coasting, tossed around by life. I am not talking about ‘doing’ those things that empower you yet, I am talking about ‘knowing’ about yourself.

The first step to success is self-awareness. In these next few posts, I’ll try to help you become self-aware.

Alain