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Decision-Making — A delicate art.

↳ From me to you

There was a point in my career where I was in a dilemma, faced with a pivotal decision that could shape my professional trajectory. The weight of the choice was daunting, and the fear of making the wrong decision loomed large. It was during this crucial juncture that I began to appreciate decision-making not just as a process but as a delicate art form.

I adopted a method that involved a blend of careful analysis and following my instinct. Instead of being paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice, I focused on gathering information, assessing the potential outcomes, and listening to my intuition. This approach allowed me to make decisions with a newfound confidence.

During this period, I learned the importance of clarity in defining my decision-making criteria. Clearly outlining my priorities and understanding the long-term impact of each option helped me sift through the noise and focus on what truly mattered. It was like finding a guiding light amid the complexity of choices.

I also embraced the idea that not every decision had a one-size-fits-all solution. Some decisions required a logical, data-driven approach, while others called for a more intuitive response. The art of decision-making, I discovered, lay in recognizing the unique nature of each decision and adapting my approach accordingly.

Moreover, I discovered the value of learning from both successful and challenging decisions. Instead of viewing setbacks as failures, I saw them as opportunities to refine my decision-making process. Each choice, whether triumphant or challenging, contributed to my growth and honed my ability to make effective decisions.

Here are 3 tips to help you with effective decision-making:

1.   Take the time to clearly define the criteria that will guide your decision-making process.
2.   Identify the key factors, priorities, and values relevant to your decision, whether it’s in your professional or personal life.
3.   Strive to strike a balance between analytical thinking and intuition in your decision-making.

P.S. Please what would you add to these tips?

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Purpose is often hidden in assignment.

Here’s how I found mine –

Have you ever felt like you were just drifting through different jobs without a clear direction?

I know I have.

I’ve had a long and successful career in IT. I’ve also worked as a teacher and founded a water treatment company.

However it wasn’t until when I started speaking to people, sharing my story and encouraging them to be their best selves that I found my purpose.

Now, I feel fulfilled and at peace doing what I was meant to do, regardless of any external rewards.

It’s not always obvious at first, but our purpose is hidden within our assignments – the tasks we’re given in life.

These might come through;
→ your boss
→ a parent or mentor
→ a hobby you enjoy
→ a project you’re working on

Then as you tackle your assignments, you start to understand how they contribute to the purpose for your life.

Here are 3 ways you can discover your purpose also:

1. Pray for wisdom and direction
The best way to find purpose is to reconnect to the Source. Ask God to reveal your purpose through prayer.

2. Follow your passion
What are you passionate about? If money didn’t matter, what would you spend your time on? Explore your passions and see where they lead you.

3. Identify your gifts and talent
We all have unique talents, and assignments help you develop them. As you develop them, you’ll move closer to discovering your purpose.

In his book, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” J.R.R. Tolkien says, “Not all those who wander are lost.”

You may be wandering through your assignments but you’re not lost if you remain focused and commitment.

It’ll lead you to your purpose.

And you build the tenacity and skill to carry out your purpose in the assignment.

If you’re not working, or trying new things you may likely not discover your purpose.

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TRANSFORM your business with the – Problem Solution Equation.

If your clients don’t have a problem, you don’t have a business. Regardless of

your business, in one way or another, your clients have a problem for which

you are offering a solution.

Now remember, like pain, people become comfortable with their problems

and you may need to remind them. Once you define their problem, you can

show them how you have the solution to their problem, and after that you

can define what OTHER problem they have and provide a solution for that as well.

The process looks like this:

1. PROBLEM:
→ What is the problem your ideal clients have that your product/service will solve?

SOLUTION:
↳  What is the solution that your product/service provides?

2. PROBLEM:
→ What problem still exists, even after you give them the solution that your product/service promises?

SOLUTION:
↳ What can you offer that solves the remaining problem?

Remember, sometimes someone ELSE (another company or person) can fulfill your clients’ remaining problems and you can arrange to refer them to the other party, possibly receiving a referral fee or other benefit.

P.S. Please share your experience on the problem solution equation?

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Leadership is not about leading others.

Not if you want to make a lasting impact.

It’s about leading yourself first.

To do this, you need to conquer your fears, develop your skills, and uncover your potential.

Here are some practical steps to unleash your leadership potential;

1. Adopt a mindset of life-long learning
↳ Leaders must stay ahead by continuously improving their skills. Stay curious, seek opportunities, and learn from others.

2. Seek feedback and self-reflect
↳ As a leader, you need input from your peers and superiors. Even if you hold the highest position at work, you need someone above you for honest feedback and advice.
Self-reflect often to know your strengths and weaknesses and help you improve.

3. Develop emotional Intelligence
↳ When leaders have high emotional intelligence, they inspire trust and collaboration within their teams. They empathise with their team members, manage conflicts well and build strong relationships.

4. Build a supportive network
↳ Create an accountability circle with supportive people who care about your growth. Seek out mentors or join professional networks and leadership forums.

5. Lead by example
↳ Actions speak louder than words. By living your values and setting a positive example, you inspire others to follow suit.

Everyone is a leader, irrespective of where you are placed.

Many underestimate their leadership potential because they cannot imagine themselves leading others.

Before you attempt to lead anyone, lead yourself first.

Then you will develop the capacity to lead others.

P.S. Please what are your thoughts on this?

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The dim glow of my laptop screen reflected the uncertainty I felt within.

Despite years of experience and expertise in my field, a persistent voice of doubt lingered in the recesses of my mind.

It was a Monday morning, and as I prepared to step into another week of challenges, I knew deep down that something had to change.

My journey towards unstoppable confidence began with an essential moment of reckoning.

It was during a crucial client presentation when my nerves got the better of me, leaving me stumbling over my words and questioning my competence.

As I left the room that day, I made a silent vow to myself that I would no longer allow fear to hold me back.

I started by acknowledging my fears and vulnerabilities, understanding that they were not weaknesses to be hidden but strengths to be embraced.

I sought out mentors who challenged me to push beyond my comfort zone and invested in personal development resources to expand my skill set.

With each lesson learned, I felt a subtle shift within myself that whispered, “You are capable.”

Of course, the road to confidence was riddled with obstacles.

There were moments of frustration and setbacks that threatened to derail my progress.

As I continued to push the boundaries of my comfort zone, I began to see glimpses of the confident, capable professional I aspired to be.

I delivered presentations with poise and pursued ambitious projects with a newfound sense of boldness.

With each success, my confidence grew, thus fueling my desire to reach even greater heights.

Today, as I reflect on this experience, I am humbled by the power of confidence.

It has not only elevated my career but has also enabled me to inspire and uplift those around me.

I encourage you to confront your fears and unleash the unstoppable confidence that lies within.

For it is only when we believe in ourselves that we truly become unstoppable.

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Here’s 1 soft skill employers hire the most for

And employees who lack it get fired because of;

↳ Emotional intelligence

It’s also the reason why some teams work better than others.

That’s why more employers are adopting this model of EI training in their institutional framework,

to ensure that their staff know how to tolerate and manage each other.

Use these techniques to increase your emotional intelligence;

1. Practice recognising emotions
– Read emotions through body language and tone of voice.
– Use empathy to respond intentionally.
– Analyse your daily interactions.
– Journal your emotions.

2. Enhance self-awareness
– Acknowledge your limitations.
– Identify and name your emotions.
– Have confidence in your capabilities.
– Seek feedback on the impact of your behavior.

3. Develop self-regulation
– Develop coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.
– Practice delaying gratification and impulse control.
– Set clear boundaries for yourself.

4. Social awareness
– Empathize with others.
– Support others’ growth.
– Learn to read social dynamics.
– Actively listen to others’ perspective.
– Pay attention to non-verbal cues and emotions.

5. Strengthen your self-motivation
– Don’t allow setbacks to hold you down.
– Demonstrate emotional self-control.
– Set SMART goals for yourself.
– Keep calm under pressure.

6. Improve social skills
– Build rapport with others
– Practice effective communication
– Find win-win solutions to resolve conflicts.

Everyone needs emotional intelligence to navigate life effectively.

The benefits are far-reaching, especially when applied in the workplace.

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When making changes in our lives and working toward larger goals, there are 2 common things that lead us to stop.

First, we get distracted with life. We get busy and encounter roadblocks.

Second, we feel uncomfortable with the new change and go back to what we know.

Why do these things happen? Because we didn’t have a big enough WHY.

We don’t have a strong enough DRIVE or MOTIVE.

Our ability to follow through on implementing lasting change depends on having strong enough reasons to keep us focused and committed through the hard times.

Focus on Outcomes:
Look at the goals you’ve chosen and ask yourself the following questions (for each goal):

– Why do you want to achieve this goal?
– What is the outcome you believe you will receive by achieving this goal?
– What does this mean to you?

Feel It (The Pain/Pleasure Principle):
Now that you’ve identified why you want to achieve your goals, it’s time to TURN IT UP A NOTCH.

The key to having a strong enough “why” to push through obstacles and fear is FEELING it very strongly.

The key to this is the Pain/Pleasure Principle.

Everything we do in life is because we’re either avoiding pain or moving toward pleasure.

Chances are your goals are not new to you.

You’ve probably wanted to do this before and you DIDN’T.

If there’s something you’re not doing that you want to do, it’s because you link more pain to doing it than not doing it.

And, if you’re continuing a pattern, habit or behavior that you don’t like, it’s because you’re linking more pain to stopping it than you are to continuing it.

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Are you looking for a vibrant speaker to transform your next event?
📩 Do Contact me. I am available for Virtual Speaking Sessions.

You can’t be yourself until you know who you are.

A lot of people wear masks so often that

it becomes hard for them to distinguish between their true selves and who they pretend to be

Because;
→ they want to fit in
→ they want to protect themselves from rejection and hurt
→ they’re not confident people will like who they actually are.

In a world where many are celebrated for being something other than themselves,

I believe being yourself is key to personal fulfillment and growth

even if it means facing criticism for not conforming to societal expectations.

Here are 5 ways you can live authentically and fearlessly;

1. Increase your self-awareness
Reflect on who you are, who you want to become and what you don’t want to be, to align your actions with your true self.

2. Recognise the mask you wear
Identifying the personas you adopt allows you to shed them.

3. Embrace vulnerability
Be open about your insecurities and imperfections to build genuine connections and for personal growth.

4. Don’t filter, just be
Authenticity comes from expressing yourself genuinely without censoring or conforming to others’ expectations. Trust your instincts, embrace improvisation, explore the unfiltered version of yourself.

5. Accept feedback as a gift
You attract what you are. Those around you are mirrors that reflect your blindspots so listen to them, and observe how they behave in your presence.

Don’t be afraid to let the world know who you are, at whatever level you are.

Being authentic doesn’t mean you should stay static.

Allow yourself to grow and embrace new interests.

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Like, Share and Follow Nicholas Owusu-Appiah for advice and lessons to help you transform to where you want to be.

Are you looking for a vibrant speaker to transform your next event?
📩 Do contact me. I am available for virtual speaking sessions.

Curiosity is often the spark that ignites our greatest adventures and accomplishments.

Personally, I have always been driven by a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity to understand what makes individuals thrive in their professional lives.

I recall an encounter with a client who was feeling stuck in his career.

Despite my expertise, I realized that I couldn’t rely solely on conventional wisdom or predefined solutions.

Instead, I needed to approach the situation with an open mind and a curious spirit.

Upon asking questions and actively listening to my client’s story, I uncovered hidden talents and passions he hadn’t even realized he possessed.

Through this experience and many others like it, I have come to appreciate the hidden power of curiosity.

I have witnessed the impact that curiosity can have on individuals’ lives by encouraging them to delve deep within themselves, celebrating questions as pathways to growth, and instilling the value of continuous self-improvement.

As I continue on this journey, I am committed to empowering others to embrace curiosity as a tool for personal growth.

What experiences have sparked your curiosity and led to transformative moments in your personal or professional life?

P.S. Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.