A playbook for success by Bolanle Williams-Olley
A healthy lifestyle, career, and relationships. We spend a huge chunk of our lives building systems and creating habits to help us meet our goals. However, without the right support, we can end up feeling stuck, confused, or cynical about success. We all build, one way or the other, but not all of us do it with a willingness to take risks or with innovation.
I thought it would be a great idea to share Build Boldly with my readership for these 5 reasons:
Leadership isn't a Spider Suit:
At least once a week, my 6yr old dons his Spiderman costume and proceeds to do the most exasperating things. Leaping off ledges and challenging his older brother to fights he can’t win (and yes, I tell him he can do everything he sets his mind to, but…), it’s almost like the spider suit gives him permission to be an entirely different person. We may feel the need to be completely different before we can fit into typical leadership roles. Build Boldly highlights the importance of being fully ourselves in leadership.
Is it pleasing if it's painful?
People-pleasing isn’t just a disservice to us; in the long run, it’s a disservice to others. People-pleasers tend to get a lot of compliments – lovely, amazing, etc. They may get Thank you cards and effusive Shoutouts. That’s the part others get to see. What they don't see... the buildup resulting from people taking advantage, stress, resentment, or even depression. Factors that never make up for a successful career. It’s impossible to give our best when we are stressed, resentful, or depressed. For immigrants raised in cultures that promote intense people-pleasing, it can be hard to pull back and focus on self. For anyone on such a journey, I would recommend Build Boldly.
It’s all in the Why:
I grew up believing that staying was proof of courage. It meant that you were stable, reliable, dependable, and all of the good ables. It was primarily believed that if you were willing to keep your head down, follow the rules, and fit into the work culture then you could work your way up to the top. Recruiters made their final selections based on who they thought would stay put. Times have changed, and the author's career decisions prove that leaving purposefully can be as powerful as staying with intention.
Light ‘em up:
Empowerment is the buzzword of the last decade, in my opinion. Still, it’s an action word, and I’m personally unconvinced it’s been done as much as it is spoken. I would love to see it reflected more in representation, allocation of adequate funding, corporate social responsibility, and our daily lives. Build Boldly shows how to walk the talk regardless of your station. You don’t have to be a CEO or CFO to empower others. Start where you are.
Some rules need rewriting:
Reading Build Boldly had me reconsidering my next launch. My team and I were spending so much time tweaking and twirling on tasks because I was worried about what would happen if I didn’t follow the rules. I wanted different and better results and following “the rules” didn’t strike me as the best option. I knew the kind of impact I was looking to make, my target audience, and the product in question. How often do we try to force generic rules to fit unique situations?
Have you read Build Boldly? I would love to read your takeaways/thoughts?