How to Turn Your NOW into an Even Better NEXT

"Leveraging what you're bringing to the table creates a feast of a life/career." - Sam Horn

A woman in line at a recent book-signing said, "You are so LIT UP. I want to do what you do."

I laughed, "Have to admit, it is incredibly rewarding to do work I love that makes a difference."

I switched the conversation back to her, "Are you already clear on what you want to do?"

"That's the thing, I know WHAT I want to do, I just don't know how to get there from here."

"Want good news? There are pragmatic ways to turn your NOW into a rewarding NEXT."

"Cool.? How?

"The first step is to do a deep dive into your EEE?to clarify and codify what you have to offer that people will pay you to do FOR them, teach TO them, or share WITH them."

She asked, "What's EEE?"

By this time, a small group had gathered and were listening in. One said, "TELL US TOO!"?

"Get out a piece of paper right now so you can take notes and start applying this to your life."?

I waited until everyone had taken out a notebook. The guy said, "Can I just use my phone?"

"You can, it's just that I've found there's a kinesthetic pay-off when you write things down.?

Inking it when you think it makes the learning process more visceral as you're personalizing what you're hearing in real-time.?You're not just passively recording what I'm saying, you're actively engaging your brain and body so you're thinking more deeply how these insights pertain to you so you own them.

He said, "All right, already. Can someone loan me some paper so I can write this down?"?

Once everyone had their pens ready to go, I said, "Your EEE is your:

*? Expertise - What are your pragmatic credentials, skills, education, positions, leadership roles, clients, certifications, publications, professional awards/achievements?

*? Experience?- Where have you been? Who have you met? What are your real-life stories? What have you experienced that is intriguing, relevant, useful, one-of-a-kind?

*? Epiphanies - What are your evocative/provocative AHA's - your surprising perspectives, contrarian insights, lessons, recommendations that get people's eyebrows up and add value?

The guy who had wanted to use his phone said, "Fascinating. Can you tell us more?"

"Well, I actually coach people on this.?I'll give a quick a preview of some of what we do in our sessions. I ask a series of questions that help clients identify their unique EEE so they have a comprehensive WHOLISTIC inventory of what they have to offer.

Most people have a traditional resume or standard CV. They've never reflected on EVERYTHING they're bringing to the table that could lead to a more aligned, profitable NEXT that is FUN and that honors who they are at their core - instead of ignoring it.?

I call the answers to your EEE questions your CAREER DOTS.?Steve Jobs said, 'You can only connect the dots backward, you can't connect them forward.' I totally disagree.?

Not only CAN we connect the dots forward, our success DEPENDS on it.?

Connecting the dots FORWARD is a way to play what I call BRAND CHESS where we think several moves ahead and turn our NOWS into a strategic NEXT that lights us up."?

The guy said, "Keep going!!"?

"Here are just a few of the questions I use to help you hone in on your new positioning.

* "What am I good at that is NEEDED and WANTED that can't be found elsewhere?

*? What don't people like/want to do - that I actually enjoy??

*? How can I reverse-engineer this to provide shortcuts that save people time, money, hassle?"

We collect your answers to those questions (and many more) and then run those EEE DOTS through my 5C filter to connect them forward into an umbrella brand, book, cause, creative project, marketing campaign (whatever you want) so it's:

CLEAR

COMPELLING

CONGRUENT

CURRENT

COMMERCIALLY-VIABLE."

He said, "How do we do that?"

I smiled, "That, you have to pay me for. Hopefully, this has kick-started your reflecting and collecting of your unique EEE dots so you can transform them into a FEAST.

Did you know FEAST is defined as 'joy, celebration.'

My philosophy is, if we put our mind, heart and EEE's into this process, we can create a life/career FEEEST where we feel/spread joy and celebrate our talents and skills in service."

Have you found this useful? If so, how so?

How have you leveraged your EEE's? How have you created a life/career FEEEST?