It’s a question I used to ask myself when I was sitting in a metal box, working for Dracula. If you don’t know my story, I used to work for a company whose office was a shipping container. I was a salesperson, and Dracula was my boss.
There were a few reasons that Dracula was his nickname – not least because I felt like the life was being drained out of me on a daily basis. Like most people in corporate land I was working to create someone else’s dream.
And I often used to think to myself, ‘What the hell am I doing here? Am I making a difference in the world?’ Clearly not. The only difference I was making at that time was to Diageo and Interbrew (manufacturers of Gordons Gin and Stella Artois).
You see, I KNEW I wanted to make a difference, but I didn’t know how. I had no clue about what I ‘should’ be doing with my life. I just knew time was passing me by and I felt like I was wasting my life.
And that could not be in greater contrast to where I am today.
So, literally today – I am coaching at the Public Speakers University, helping OTHER people get their message out into the world. Tomorrow I am speaking at the Life Expo at Manchester Airport. Next Thursday I am over in the North East speaking at an event organised by one of my mentees and on Saturday I am hosting a one day event – Grace The Stage – in London, aimed at female entrepreneurs.
So, now I AM making a difference in the world. I’m on a global mission to help 10 million disheartened souls, who are at a crossroads, to STOP asking ‘Why me?’ and start saying, ‘Why Not Me?’.
So how did I get there?
Well, it’s a long story. The shortened version is this. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to make the changes you know you ‘should’ be making.
I knew I wasn’t happy, and I knew I was meant to be doing something else but I didn’t know what, and I was a bit scared about changing anything – since I didn’t believe that I could. My life was shit, but it was MY life and I lived there!
I did start searching though. I started noticing self development stuff – events, videos, books. And at one particular event a little super confident guy looked at me from stage and basically told me my life had no significance.
Well to be fair, he wasn’t talking just to me, and what he actually said was something around how many people would be at your funeral and if it’s a small number, then you lived a life of small significance.
In any case, I took it to heart. It struck a cod with me and I knew he was right. I had to DO something. Life had to be about more than selling bath mats. And so I invested in myself. I did training. I learnt. I surrounded myself with inspiring positive people. And I grew. My confidence grew, as my skills grew, as my circle of influence grew.
And now I am able to live my values. I am able to spend my time getting my message out and connecting with people. Through this blog, through my social media, and most importantly for me, through speaking on stages large and small and interacting with people in groups and individually.
I am on my way to achieving my mission. Are you? If you are – brilliant – please share it with me I love being inspired by others. If not and you are where I was sitting in a metal box wondering what life is all about, then come and visit us in the WHY’s community where you can find the inspiration and support you need.