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Do you have a Ph.D. in common sense?
January 1, 2007
I’ve just added that credential to my resume and I encourage you to think about doing the same.
When a woman recently told me “Girl, you are not being ‘choice-y’ enough,” her comment stopped me in my tracks. “Choice-y? “You mean making the right choice?” She straightened her shoulders and emphatically answered, “No, choice-y. Choice-y has a ‘y’ because ‘you’ are the biggest part of the equation.”
Right then and there, everything changed for me. I “got” it. Choices are a privilege. We all make choices all day, every day. Yet, how much thought really goes into the choices we make? Each choice might seem inconsequential but when they all add up, these choices determine where we are going, how we are going to get there and how well we sleep at night.
Even deciding “not to decide” is a choice. That's one that trips up almost all of us. We think we are keeping our options open when we are actually delaying the ultimate choice. Sometimes, delay is justified such as when you need to slow down enough to quietly weigh your options. Other times, delay translates into downright procrastination. Only you know the difference and that's where a Ph.D. in common sense really matters.
This month, we salute Atlanta's “25 Power Women” (page 30) and I bet you all of them counts a Ph.D. in common sense among their credentials. These women embody the belief that true commitment means always finding a way to lead. They seek out others with committed hearts and minds. They have an unshakable desire to change our world for the better and leave each person they meet a little better off. They are highly selectively with their defining moments of risk. They can be counted on to make the tough choice – even when they’d be better off personally on an easier path. These women open their checkbooks and their hearts with equal passion.
For these outstanding women, purpose is something they own. Every choice they make is moving them toward a singular goal – to do all they can with what they have. I so admire their unbreakable dedication to continual growth.
As we look at this year's Power Women, we see that despite the range in their experiences and passions, they all have a few things in common – a clear purpose, a passion for life, compassion for others and the need to lead. Their legacy is one that has evolved with each choice they have made. They truly understand being “choice-y.”
These women have no rearview mirrors. They keep focused on what is in front of them. They seek out opportunity, they step up and they say, “I’ll do it.” Then, they deliver on the hardest part of commitment - they make it happen. Power Women do what they say they will – every time. That sounds easy enough, but it's hard to do.
As we begin 2007, there is one question of more importance than any resolution. For me, that question is, “What is your word worth?” That's right, your word, the most powerful thing you own. Each time we make a commitment, we have another choice – to follow through or not. When you read that last sentence, did you shake your head? Do you believe that every commitment requires action and follow through? If you said, “Definitely,” congratulations are in order. If you are a little short on the follow through part of your game, now can be the time to choose a new path.
Make it a great 2007!
