What Makes Me Great?

As a recruiter, I am consistently trying to match job seekers to their ideal career path. Part of this process includes coaching potential employees on the methods of "up-selling" themselves to potential employers. One question that is constantly repeated in interviews is: "Why should an organization hire you?"

Never giving much thought about the question, I recently started to search for what my answer would be in broader terms. Let me put it to you this way: Have your ever stopped and asked yourself, "What Makes Me Great?"

TOUGH QUESTION.

Everyone has a different response. When searching for the answer, it is important to remember two key elements: 1) Your motivators 2) Your core values.

MOTIVATORS

What gets you out of bed in the morning? If your answer to this question is: the alarm clock, the kids, work, or my parents yelling at me, sorry...these responses are NOT truly why you choose to live life everyday.

We are all motivated by different things. If you are unclear on what truly moves you to achieve more in life, think about these questions:

1) What/Who is important in my life?

2) Why is what/who important to me?

3) How do I feel when what/who is safe and secure?


CORE VALUES

What makes YOU different? Everyone has a different value system that is prioritized based on environmental, relational, spiritual, emotional, and behavioral factors. The bigger question is: Have you ever listed your values and assigned them a ranking based on importance in your life? If not, I dare you to try. Trust me, its a lot harder than you think.

I encourage you to think and pray about the answer to this question,"What Makes You Great?" More than anything, you will probably find things about yourself you did not know.

Reposition and Refocus-Changing Your Goals

Insanity is the term used to define the action of repeatedly doing something and expecting to get different results. Well, I think I have officially became insane. Many of you know that my ultimate running goal is to be faster than my dad. After working hard, my quest to beat my old man has left me eating his dust.

So, what do I do now? Give up? Toss my goal? Not exactly.

When looking for clarity or an answer to a problem, I turn to my bible, my family, my friends, or Oprah. Oprah is quoted for saying, "Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it."

THANK YOU OPRAH! I have the answer I have been searching for in my crossroads of self doubt and desire to win. I am goiong to beat my dad on distance rather than speed.

All of us have struggled with the ability to accomplish a goal. We all experience the trials and tests that are laid out on the path of claiming our victories. When we get frustrated, it is easy to scrap our goals, push them aside, and enter into a place of feeling broken and disappointed.

However, I challenge that before we completely discount our goals, we simply refocus and reposition our strategy. I want to beat my dad. Period. End of Story. Realizing that my chances of being faster than him are not going to happen soon, I have decided to reposition my training on distance. Ultimately, all of us can reach our destinations if we regroup and find different, creative avenues to success.

I registered for my first full marathon in Chicago on 10/10/2010. Follow me on Twitter @SeeKrisRun as I start training and start to claim victories over my dad.