Читать книгу The 'Driver' of Change - Lance Brown - Страница 6

In 2011, I was asked to introduce a guest speaker at a company event. Being fairly new to Deloitte & Touche, this was a great way for me to introduce myself too. I was called up to the front of the room and saw 350 staff staring directly at me, waiting in anticipation.

Lance Brown, Bill Russell (Consultant and Former Managing Director of Citigroup)

While I was standing in front of the audience, next to the Senior Director of Deloitte, and the speaker, a former Managing Director of Citigroup in the UK, I took a few seconds to reflect on my journey.

Just a few years earlier I was working for a financial services firm as a driver, delivering letters to clients and taking the Directors' cars to be washed. I was also a filing clerk, with one of my duties being to set up the meeting room for guest speakers - a room very similar to the one I was now standing in.

I continued with the introduction as planned and prepared, and just before I called on the speaker, I said:

“I am very excited about the presentation today, because it features some of the points which are very important in this industry, and some of the points which I have a passion for, such as creating opportunities, business development and doing extraordinary things.”

I didn't think about it at the time, but I had just introduced myself to the 350 people, including directors, managers and staff, telling them that I have a passion for creating opportunities, business development and doing extraordinary things.

You will be amazed at how many people will remember you for those few seconds and will refer to you as someone with genuine interest in the organization's well-being.

What I realized while standing in front of those people was that no matter what your background, education or job description may be, you can develop your skills at work.

In his book 'The Leader Who Had No Title' Robin Sharma says that:

“Work offers you a daily platform to discover the leader within. It is a chance to reclaim more of the potential you've buried and to awaken the dormant relationship between the current and your absolute best. Work isn't just merely a vehicle used to pass time and pay bills. It is a gift.”

What I want to share with you is my journey, progressing from a job as driver and filing clerk, to becoming a tax consultant with one of the leading financial services firms in the world. The way I did this was by changing my mind set about work, by creating and seizing opportunities within the organization.

This philosophy has impacted positively on my working career and personal life. It can also take you from where you are, to where you would like to be.

In the next few chapters you will learn how to:

showcase your talents;

develop your skills, perhaps the non-traditional way;

align your personal goals to that of your organization; and most importantly,

create opportunities at work to make your journey more exciting!