What is Your Six?

It’s been a very busy few weeks.  Last week, I spent three days in Boston at the Annual HBA Leadership Conference.  I love this amazing group of dynamic women!  It is always an inspiring place to be.

That said, we had “homework” and I would like to share it because I found it fascinating!  We were asked to prepare our “Six.”  What’s Your Six – is your six word story that describes you, your leadership, your brand, your story.  So, I would like to take you on my journey to my six.

Without knowing all of the details, I got to work on my six.  Now that you have gotten to know me a bit, that is probably not surprising…

So, with little direction, I started to think about who I am, what’s my story, what’s my brand.  If you know me, or if you don’t know me, what would my six word story be?  What would it include?

Well, first, I would need something in there about my faith.  That is a definite.

Hmmm…  Now I’m stuck.  What else?  Well, I am someone who likes to jump into new and undefined opportunities and make the best of them.  I love to think of new ideas.  Ok – innovative, maybe?

What else???  Well, considering that above, I guess I am happy to challenge the status quo.  I’m not into making change for change sake, but I am very comfortable working through uncertain times.  I’d say not just comfortable, I love being part of change.  Ok – Change Agent…  That might work.

So, Let’s put those together in a six word story…

Faith-based, Innovative, Agent for Change

Ok. That’s my six.  I’m done.  Move on.

Not so fast.  Then I learned what the six word story should really mean.  Here is how it has evolved:

The story should be pithy.  It should start with your history or pivotal moments that changed your life.  It should be uniquely you.  So, if you would like to take the journey with me, get out a piece of paper and join me on this journey to my six:

• Remember:  What shaped you as a person?  What were significant events or turning points?  What took courage?  What would you do differently, if you could?
  • For me, there is a lot there.  My infertility journey made a significant change in me as a person.  It not only strengthened my faith in God, it helped me to better appreciate the world around me.  I realized that I don’t have control.  While I had been quite successful, it was God who was pulling the strings.  He gave me those gifts. And, I owed Him the glory.
• Reflect:  Write down words or phrases about these memories / events.  Think action words, descriptive words.  Why are you unique?
  • Faithful.  Give for God.  Appreciative.  Centered.  Generous.
• Reach:  Push your thinking.  What words describe your struggles?  When have you been tested?  What are seemingly opposing forces?
  • When I think about who I was before I began my journey, I was a very selfish person.  Why wouldn’t God give me a baby?  All I wanted was a baby.  Wasn’t I good enough?  Why not me?
  • When I think of that time, I see why.  He needed me to see that the world I was living in didn’t revolve around me…SHOCKING!!!
  • When I look back on my younger self, I am truly embarrassed.  God had (and still has) such great plans for me (and all of us), but I was willing to throw it away because I couldn’t see Him.  All I saw was my wants and my “needs”.  I needed a baby.  I was selfish.
  • Now, I can see that God is part of everything.  I need to seek Him first.  He has such great plans, and I need to be faithful and patient.
• Relate:  Stand back and recollect, reflect & expand ideas.  What seem to be connected to each other?  What words / ideas are in conflict with each other?  What stands out that must be included?
  • Tension – Self-centered to God-centered.  Expecting to Appreciative.  All about me to all about others.
• Refine:  Start choosing the “must” words/ideas that have to be part of your story.  Arrange them.  Change them out with other words.  There are no right answers, it’s your answer.  Have fun!
  • Ideas that must be included:
    • Must include God and my faith
    • Must include my belief that God put me here for a reason, it’s up to me to get everything I can out of it
    • Must include my focus on others.  It’s not about me; it’s about how I can share with others.
• Radiate:  So…what’s your story?  What’s your six?  Write it out!  Go back to 5, refine it again & write it out.  Repeat!  It should feel good when you say it. It should be your unique story.

So, with all that said, what did I end up with?

Look Up!

Start with seeking God First.

Live Up!

Live Up to God’s Expectations.

Lift Up!

Lift Up those around you.

 

So, that’s my six.  While it might change / evolve, I’m proud of it.

 Did you do it?  Did you write your six?  Would you be willing to share?  If so, I have two requests:

1.  Post it on Twitter and tag me (@jennmuszik) and include #mysix
2.  Share this blog with others and ask them to do the same