LAW LIFE: What do you really want? Create your own vision today

By Cheryl Leone and Dave Favor The Daily Record Newswire In the past we have written a lot about how to do your job better, which got us to thinking about how to feel better about yourself. We have talked to many paralegals out there and the one theme we hear loud and clear is uneasiness about the future. There is a lot of stress out there. Some of that is being caused by not knowing what you want, some is the current economy and some is just human nature. Some things you can't change. But there are lots of things you can change if you know what you really want. You can buy self-help books with grandiose names to give you direction such as finding your life purpose, your dream or even what you want on your tombstone. Most people want to figure out what will make them happy. All these books, authors and materials are designed to tell you that you need a vision for the future. This is where we tend to find our clients. We haven't found one attorney or paralegal yet who has any defined idea of what they want or what would make them happy. They have no reference point to setting goals or to adjusting their life. When we visualize the future, we have to consider all areas of our life, including: * Belief and spirituality -- This is the concept that there is something greater than ourselves. * Health and fitness -- This includes energy, health, exercise, fitness, wellness, beauty and attitude. Everyone wants to be healthy. * Social -- Having an active social life keeps you connected and involved with the world. Plus, having fun and sharing laughs helps you recharge intellectually and emotionally. * Companionship -- Ultimately, every person is searching for a lasting, meaningful relationship. It can be both nurturing and challenging. * Profession -- What we create in our work as a meaningful contribution to society and to our personal fulfillment. * Finance -- This includes money and belongings. Once we have reviewed all areas of our life, then we have to consider what is driving us. Not being clear on your motivations can make it difficult to express your vision. One example of this formidable task might play out like this: Suppose that in our first interview, we learn that you want to be happy. Beyond that, you want to contribute and be appreciated for your efforts. Actually, most studies would show that you want to be right, appreciated and needed. There is no set formula that we can find, but in general, these qualities make most of us happy. Further discussion reveals other hidden wants in the areas of your life, such as: You want to earn money to support yourself. You want to be liked. You want to be acknowledged. You want to be healthy. You have a certain lifestyle in mind. Now we have a start on seeing your real vision. The initial motivators are to contribute to something and to be happy. We know what you want to do, but we still haven't pinpointed the details that make you stand out from hundreds of others. Let's define who you really are and how you serve the culture you are in better than anyone else. Start thinking about where you want to excel: What are your skills? What are you passionate about? Be creative here. What makes you stand out in the crowd? What is your unique business proposition, or what most marketing people call your Unique Selling Proposition? Of course you have a selling proposition. We are selling ourselves all the time. You may be looking for a job position or just a new friend -- but whatever it is, you are marketing yourself. All the rules of marketing apply, including packaging. You can get the message correct if you first figure out what you want. This brings to mind an old saying: Be careful what you ask for, because you may get it. Now we are getting closer to what you really want. Perhaps your vision is to support your family by selling your services as a paralegal and enjoying life. It could be that you just want to be the best paralegal you can be, recognized by the firm you work for as a key contributor. Sounds reasonable, so how would you do that? The first step would be to define goals or expectations. Your list of goals might look like this: My skills as a paralegal will always be current and match what my career path needs. My relationships will always support my vision. That can be a little tricky. I will seek opportunities to demonstrate my skills. Nobody is buying out there if they don't see what is available. There are at least four driving forces that create results. We start with the vision that leads us to a career that leads to a paycheck. There are three other drivers that will impact your results. Your passion for the vision will affect your communication about what you want. What you measure and gather feedback on will impact your performance, so the feedback you request is important. Then there are your values that will drive behavior and set the tone for your work culture. If you can establish the four drivers so that they act in concert and are consistent in execution, you will produce consistent positive results. Now go back and look at the six areas of your life to see if each one can be satisfied by your vision. If each area of your life supports your vision, you win. You may have to tweak the vision, but this should provide a starting point for you. We believe we are living our dream. We check and double-check ourselves all the time, and if something is out of sync, we go back and look at our vision and how it affects the six areas of our lives. This has allowed us to move forward in our personal and professional lives with enthusiasm, vigor and happiness. Start today working on your vision! Let us hear from you and as always, we are glad to answer questions you may have. Contact dwfavor@catalystgroupinc.com if you want to ask questions or tell us how you are starting your journey. ---------- Dave Favor and Cheryl Leone are principals in Catalyst Group Inc., a national company based in Raleigh that provides teaching and development of high-performance law firms. Soaring Eagles is a division of the company focused on paralegal development. For more information, visit www.catalystgroupinc.com or www.theexpertspeakers.com. Published: Fri, Oct 7, 2011