57a. Weekly with Waller Mastering the Power of Who Life in the Leadership Lane

Last week, I was selected as Global Mobility Top 100 service providerspresented by Benivo. There were over 4000 nominations from around the world so this was quite an honor to be selected. On this list were many industry professionals that I have considered icons, and many that have been (and still are) role models for me in my career. The award said “The Global Mobility Top 100; The Most Admired Service Providers of 2021. As I reflected on what this means, I was full of joy because our goals should never be about being the best, but about living our best, doing our best, and giving our best in everything we do. This is what having a great career is all about to me. Yes, we want to perform and do well, but serving and making a contribution in our industry is where we find the joy in our career, and in our everyday. 

This weekend, I watched the final round of the PGA championship and it also validated these thoughts about the importance of who… Phil Mickelson became the oldest Major Golf Champion in history by winning the PGA Championship in South Carolina.

As I watched him play on Sunday final round, I could feel the pressure of every shot… It was energizing… But what stood out wasn’t necessarily the great shots he made (although the shot he holed in out of the bunker was amazing), but it was the way he interacted with the crowd by smiling, and acknowledging them on EVERY hole. In fact, I saw him give one spectator who was sitting in a wheel chair a golf ball during the round. The spectator’s face beamed brighter that the sun. It was inspiring how he had all this pressure, yet, he was walking slowly through the crowd to make sure they were included in the experience. 

Phil Mickelson’s greatest feat wasn’t that he won another major at age 50, but that he touched so many lives that day and over the course of his career. People that were there will talk about this forever. Look at me, I wrote a blog about it, shared in my podcast and plan to add this story to my new book (Life in the Leadership lane) coming in October 2021. It’s both energizing and inspiring!

Now, I am definitely a goal setter… However, if you really want to make impact in your career, don’t start with the “do” goals… Start with the “who” goals and they will eventually lead to the do! In other words, find the people you want to emulate, and look for the traits and inspiration to add to your everyday. Do they connect, are they approachable, generous? Are they givers or takers? Do they make time for you? Do they smile, do they bring energy, and are they the same yesterday today and tomorrow? I share this all, the time… making the investment in people will always be the biggest return in your career!

Make a list of people that inspire you or ask others in your network about people that inspire them… Dig deeper to find out why! Write down some names and a trait they have… if you know them, share your story… It just might be what you need to move your career to the next level!

I will leave you with this quote….. “People need our presence more than they need a plan.” -Andy Stanley

Until next time, keep growing, connecting, moving, and energizing my friends. Our most important work is just ahead! 

Visit www.brucewaller.com to subscribe to Bruce's Blog MOVE TO INSPIRE, or purchase his books: Find Your Lane and Milemarkers. 

Life in the Leadership Lane Book coming October 2021!