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In 1988, John Powers founded the Powers of Motivation Institute. Since then he has worked with more than a thousand major corporations and national associations on how to succeed in a changing world. He is the author of four best-selling books, including the most recent one entitled “Odditude.” For more information please visit http://www.johnpowers.com/. |
| Without Self-Empowerment You’re Even |
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Excerpted from John Power’s book “Odditude … finding a passion for who you are and what you do,’’ from HCI Publishing To be ODD, you must have power over your own life. If you have no power, then you’re Even. People who smother those around them with control discourage them from fully living their lives. My dad lived a lived a good life. One morning, towards the end, I was sitting in his room. I thought he was sleeping. The nurse came in and went to move the box of tissues on the nightstand. All of a sudden, this easy-going, live-and-let-live kind of guy sat up in the bed and quite emphatically said, “Leave that damn box right where it is.” The nurse replied, “….Okay…” and walked out of the room. I followed her to apologize. She said, “You don’t have to apologize. You have to understand that life is about power. When you’re born, the circle of power you possess is about the size of a penny.
She was right. And she was wrong. In terms of physical power, she was right. My dad was down to that one box of tissues on the nightstand. But that’s not real power. The real stuff is spiritual. It comes from within. My dad would often say, “No one can make me happy. No one can me sad. No one can make me anything unless I first give them the power to do it.” My dad was a person of power until he took his last breath. Often, we give power over ourselves to people we don’t even like. Not Ronald. He acted as if he hardly noticed. I asked him how he remained so calm. Ronald said, “Oh, before, when something like that happened to me, I used to get quite upset. But all it got me was…upset. Now, I just tell myself that the other driver must be in a bigger hurry than I am or maybe he didn’t see me. Why should I ruin my mood over such a trivial matter? He’s not in charge of my attitude. I am.” Do people work with you or for you? The difference is empowerment. When people are working with you, they feel like part of the team and believe they have the power to get the job done in their own, creative way. They are not afraid to make “mistakes” because they know you will view such choices as part of the learning process. They love who they are and what they do. ODD. When someone works for you, they do what you tell them to. That’s it. For the most part, they go through the motions without emotion. They don’t feel they have any power so there is nothing unique, special or ODD about them at all. Evens. BECOMING YOUR WIZARD OF ODD: Remind yourself often that self empowerment is the heartbeat of an ODD. BEING A WIZARD TO OTHERS: Empower those around you by encouraging them to truly love who they are and love what they do. That way, you surround yourself with people, not robots; with ODDS, not Evens.
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“But as you grow up and grow older, that circle gets bigger and bigger and bigger until that moment arrives when…you often don’t even realize it…that circle starts getting smaller and smaller and smaller. Live long enough and you’ll reach the point where your dad is. The only thing he can control, in the entire world, is where that box of tissues is on the nightstand.