The Four Steps to Living Fully

It was Oscar Wilde who wrote, “To live is the rarest thing in the world – most people just exist, that is all”.  Malidoma Some of Burkina Faso said, “When death finds you, may it find you alive”.

Observing our own lives and watching others, and then seeking wisdom, has helped us see that there are four clear steps along the way.

Step one is personal effectiveness – succeeding with the daily challenge of getting the rights things done right.  This is basic non-negotiable stuff with no excuses of too little time, too little money or too little anything.

Step two is what we call personal mastery or personal leadership.  When people take this step confidently they follow their hearts – their lives are full of purpose and passion.  They wake refreshed and excited to tackle whatever the day brings.  They bubble with energy.

Step three is team effectiveness – to be able to manage and be managed as part of a team.  Successful managers learn from being managed (even managers have managers) and they learn role clarity, accountability, best practices and how to work within boundaries and with rules.

Step four is what we call team mastery or team leadership.  Successful leaders win the willing and enthusiastic followership of the whole team and together their achievements are legendary.

We have observed that the key learning to take Step 2 and Step 4 is the critical component of positive human energy … on a sustainable basis!  Until one understands and masters sustainable personal and team energy, one cannot take these exciting steps.

We also observe that those who have mastered both energy and effectiveness are capable of quantum achievements.  They multiply rather than just add.

So we have focussed on human energy.  We help as many people as we can to take Steps 2 and 4 confidently.  In what we do, we assume effectiveness, but teach energy.


COLIN HALL
1 March 2007