Three Questions I Answer That Can Help You Achieve Your Goals
What can you do, what can you read, and who could you ask?
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” — Matt 7:7
“You need to work on this skill to help you grow in your career,” I told a colleague recently. He acknowledged my advice but said, in a resigned tone, — “I cannot be good in all areas.”
He was right. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.
What would be your approach? Would you focus on amplifying your strengths to overshadow your weaknesses? Or would you work on improving your weak areas?
The answer depends on what your goal is. I am a strong cyclist, an average runner and a weak swimmer. I would have to improve my swimming to compete in a triathlon event (swimming, cycling and running). But, I focus on building my cycling strength if my goal is to compete in cycling races only.
We face this dilemma in our careers as well.
My colleague continued, “I am good at solving technical problems and directing my team. But, when I am in meetings, I cannot communicate my ideas how I would like. So, I should focus on building my technical skills.”
Then he asked, “What is your advise?” To best illustrate my advice, I explained how I answered these three questions to help me map my path towards becoming a CFO.
1) What skills do I need to improve or learn to achieve my goal?
I first research what it takes to become a great CFO. What is the expertise of a great CFO, and how does a great CFO lead? What are the critical soft skills of the most successful CFO? Then, I formulated my development plan by looking at the gap between where I was and where I wanted to be.
With my solid accounting skills, I started learning about supply chain management, revenue assurance, and other “hard” skills to become a finance expert. And I identified communications and people management skills as my top two “soft” skills to improve.
I saw how my grandma taught herself until she knew enough to get a job at a printing press, where she worked for many years. So, I knew I could educate myself to be the CFO I dreamt of.
Do you know what you need to learn to get you to where you want to be?
2) What skills, knowledge or resources do I have now that can help me get to my goal?
I am a chartered accountant with extensive experience in telecoms accounting and finance roles. I could build on a few years of acting CFO experience. I am a fast learner, and the Internet is a treasure trove of learning resources I can use for my development journey.
I had what it takes to become an average CFO. But I wanted to be a great CFO, so I sought help.
What do you have that can serve as the foundation you can build your dream on?
3) Where do I need help, and who can help me?
When I changed jobs in 2014, I set out to find a CFO coach, even if I had to pay one. Luckily, my new CFO boss was the ideal avatar of the CFO I dream of becoming. And he agreed to coach me. Through my coach, I developed my communication skills, became a better presenter, learned stakeholder management and honed my leadership skills.
My coach became my mentor. And within a year of his mentorship, I landed my first CFO role.
I knew the areas I needed help with and found the right person to help.
Do you know in which areas you need help to reach your goals and who can help you?
Focusing on amplifying your strength or overcoming your weakness alone is a means to an end. And when you know the end, you can build a development plan, harness what you have and seek help where you need it.
It is not your strengths or weaknesses that matter; it is having a clear goal and finding the answers to the three questions that have helped me and can help you too.
Two (2) Book recommendations
The answers to the above three questions lie in how much time and resources you commit to your development. Here are two books to help on your personal development journey.
a) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. by Stephen R Covey
This book is my all-time favourite for personal growth and development. It is timeless. It is my reference manual. Please read, and reread it.
b) Limitless: Upgrade your brain, learn anything faster, and unlock your exceptional life. by Jim Kwik
Jim Kwik will show you how to get the most out of yourself. Limitless is a master learners’ guide. Unleash your mind, unstuck yourself and let go of beliefs that are limiting you. I love this book!
Three (3) Citations
I can listen to Jim Rohn’s talks for hours on end. Here are three of his classic quotes.
“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
“It isn’t what the book costs; it’s what it will cost you if you don’t read it.”
