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Letter
Sharma's powerful
effect
Thursday, November
11, 2004
The recent two days of leadership training
with Robin Sharma had a profound effect on me.
It will be difficult to give this experience justice
with words. What I walked away with can really
be summed up in one word – peace. It’s
the only word I can find that describes the changes
I feel since having had the opportunity to participate
in the Elite Performers' Series.
The experiential exercises were deeply moving
to me because they forced me to honestly consider
and give voice to my fears, my regrets and the
kind of legacy I wish to leave. It was through
these exercises that I came to admit to myself
that I lacked integrity and I don’t say
that to be dramatic or glib. The two days called
for deep introspection and I was forced to face
some hard truths – one of which was becoming
painfully aware of the compromises I have made
and how they link to the parallels between my
fears and my regrets. As humbling as this admission
was, I believe I found peace in revealing this
difficult truth and understanding why and how
I went wrong as well as what I needed to do to
make things right.
I worry as I write this, that people may wonder,
“What kind of a person says they lack integrity?”
Well average – that’s how I would
have described myself. I consider myself kind,
respectful and good-hearted. The integrity gap,
as Robin calls it, presents itself not in my actions
but rather my inactions. I held back – for
most of my adult life. Afraid to try my hardest
in case I failed. After all, what do you do when
your best isn’t good enough? Afraid to be
myself in case people didn’t like me. I
realize that if I failed, I was conveniently positioned
to tell myself that I didn’t give it my
all. If people didn’t like me, I would still
be able to tell myself that they don’t know
the “real me.” I did what was easy
so I could get through each day and start again
tomorrow. I compromised – a little bit,
each day.
The Elite Performers' Series helped me find my
own truth. I was afraid to go to sleep Friday
night because I was worried that I would wake
up Saturday morning and feel differently than
I did during those two days. To strengthen my
resolve, I did something difficult I’ve
known I had to do for years – I had forgiveness
to give and apologies to make. As we heard –
the power is in the start. I made a commitment
that I would work hard to sustain this feeling
of power and possibility. Over the weekend, I
re-thought my personal philosophy, my daily devotions
and reinvented my daily rituals to include an
hour at the beginning of each day. You see, I
don’t want to feel any other way than I
do today.
The two days taught me that elite leaders are
people who are truly connected to their own feelings
and others’. Elite leaders have taken the
time to evaluate their lives and identify what
is most important to them to live their best life.
Elite leaders have the self-respect and self-love
that is necessary to nurture the self-discipline
they require to pursue that best life they have
defined. Elite leaders are elite people.
Does it scare me that this may find its way on
the World Wide Web? Oh yes – in a big way.
But I made a promise to myself to speak my own
truth so I chose to be honest. I promised I would
act with courage and resolve and tonight I can
sleep because I didn’t compromise. I don’t
want to feel any other way than I do today.
Corrie Dunlop,
Eastern Regional Office
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