You Can Tag Me, You Can Title Me,
But I'll Make My Own Success!
By Cyndy Robinson
An associate once brought up a subject in conversation which I found to be very profound. You are not fully who you are until you die. WOW, that's deep. We are all a work in progress and our work is completed when we are completed.
To demonstrate this concept, take the example of introducing yourself at a meeting. When you introduce yourself, you say, "Hi, I'm Cyndy Robinson, Graphic Designer", but what you really mean is "Hi, I'm not quite Cyndy Robinson yet, and I'm trying to be the best graphic Designer I can be with the experience, training and personality traits that I currently have". Realistically, it is on this path whether you choose to develop recognizable leadership skills or not.
Pretty deep, isn't it? To put it in terms you can better relate to, your name is your leadership "tag" that you use throughout your life. Your profession is your leadership "title" and what you aspire to be, everyday. Couple this title with desire, passion and motivation, and you have the outline of your path in life.
What you do with this combination of tag and title is up to you. Some aspects of it you can master, others are beyond your control. You can't choose your given name, but you can choose to change it later in life. You can choose your profession, but is it one which is best suited to your personality? Be careful here. If your profession does not suit your personality, you may have a lesser chance for success. Make the choices you have be in your best interest. Not in a self-serving way, but in a selfish way that does not have a great effect on others.
In my case, as explained above, my tag is Cyndy Robinson, and my title is Graphic Designer. I stuck with my given name, but when I began college, I made a financial and logistics decision to stay local for my learning. I initially chose a course in the social sciences. I wanted to make an impact on people and experience close social interactions with them, thus making a difference. I completed my first year in class, but decided it wasn't the best fit for me. Somewhere inside of me, I realized that I would not become an effective leader in an occupation that I did not reap better personal rewards from. I was honest with myself.
After waiting a few years, I returned to college, choosing to take a new route with passion, one that was suited to me, and more honest to myself. I graduated with honors and began what could be a periodically volatile career in Graphic Design. Trying to maintain a career in the arts in a small town proved to be quite a challenge. As my family grew, they stayed the course with me, deviating away from the sector for financial reasons, and returning back on track while times were better. I persevered with my desire to become somewhat of a leader, an aspiration that is continually being developed.
Currently, the internet has posed a fantastic opportunity for Graphic Designers alike. We can operate from home, at any hour and be successful. It has helped me fulfill my passion, and helped me continue to be the best me I can be - today.
So about the "You are not who you are until you are die" thing. Without being too emotional, envision of your final resting spot and imagine what it would say. As you see your name, see it as a final work, your work, YOU. Now bind this image with the concept that at this point in time, you can consider that you are fully who you were meant to be. Were you an effective leader? Did you listen? Were you judgmental? Did you hear both sides and do your best to help people out in difficult times?
Let's face it. We all realize that life can end at any time. It's important to know that by engaging your passion for your most suited profession, you become a more true and honest person, and maybe even grow into a fantastic leader.
Take your tag and title and find out more about you and your life's path. Being honest and true to yourself is the best and most wonderfully selfish gift you can give to yourself and others.
For more information on professional leadership guidance for your team, contact Gary Gzik at ggzik@bizxcel.com.
Cyndy Robinson is a Communications Consultant and facilitator for BizXcel. She is a Graphic Designer with extensive experience in e-learning development and media production
