Shaun O’Connor reflects on his journey of leadership and explores the moments that help us to find fulfilment as we grow along the way.
If life was a bicycle, then I was a cyclist with no direction or purpose.
Just the road in front of me and I followed it. I took instructions, I followed the money and I swam with the current. Follow the path laid out for you, the responsible thing to do.
Despite a 15 year career in diverse industries and with different companies, I did not understand myself well. I knew that I did not enjoy the various jobs and titles I had, chasing an income, living life like I was told to. Worse, I did not know how fortunate I was, what I had at my disposal and the advantage I had.
It wasn’t until 2015 that my journey changed, when I took a job that turned out to be interesting and fulfilling.
For the first time I enjoyed what I was doing.
Two Big Lessons Learned.
That was the first big lesson I learned in work, that you can truly enjoy the work you do.
I decided to take control for a change, decide in what industry I wanted to work, for what company and what I was going to do. No more cycling down the road without a map.
The next job and company was a complete miss. Yes, I worked in the software technology industry like I intended to, but I wasn’t passionate about the product we made.
Two years later I saw a vacancy at an interesting-looking company. They wanted to change the world. Instead of chasing profit, brand reputation and glory in that order, they pursue impact and social change. I was so excited and felt so connected to their cause that I wrote a heartfelt message from deep inside, tapping into my being.
Here I learned my second big lesson. I found myself in a good space, doing good work and feeling satisfied about it. Good work could mean many things, something you enjoy, being creative or fulfilling your cause – to each their own. When you operate in this space you function completely differently, and you start sharing, giving back and going the extra mile.
Suddenly collaboration and giving back is important, more so than anything else.
The more you share, the more you see the impact of that sharing. All of a sudden you realize that you turned the tide, from swimming against the current, the current is following you. Why is this? Because you learned and you shared – unselfishly.
The more those around you receive and grow, the stronger you become.
Find Fulfilment in the Journey
Those two lightbulb moments were the moments that I started thinking about leadership.
It’s a journey, and we all have different trails to follow and clues to find. I hope these four tips with help to find fulfilment on your journey:
- Be honest with yourself, first. If you don’t enjoy a particular job, perhaps you don’t enjoy how you are being treated or how you treat others. Admit it to yourself, say it out loud. The more honest you are with yourself the more you connect with your true authentic self.
- Get to know yourself. Once you understand yourself a bit better, understand how you feel, what your value system looks like, then you can start taking control of the environment around you, your own actions.
- Little things matter most. Help a random stranger, try a new activity for the first time, or drink your coffee in the garden. Point is – look after your well being mentally and emotionally, feed your soul with positive energy.
- Growth is painstakingly slow. You probably don’t even know you are evolving, you don’t notice the small wins. It takes effort to reflect on the little wins, but they are the most important.
Take the Next Step on Your Journey.
At some point I realized that I am doing something that is feeding my soul.
The reality is that every day at work I am able to make a difference in the world. How fulfilling is that? By giving back to society, I am able to give more of myself.
Passion and purpose forces you to lead the way, for yourself and possibly others as well. Leading others in terms of inspiring them, supporting them so that they are able to take control themselves – this was the start of my leadership journey.
Have I learned everything there is to know at this point, reached the pinnacle of a particular skill set?
No, but I do know that I am on the right track, the start of my leadership journey, transcending naturally, in an organic manner.
Bicycle or not, I wish you fulfilment on your journey of leadership.
