I hear the word competent used often when someone is describing occupation-related tasks or skills. Is he or she competent at operating that machine? Are they competent at translating the text from one language to another? Competence relates to everything that we do from brushing our teeth after meals to mowing the lawn and cleaning the lawn mower afterwards
Competence also relates to completion and completion gives us closure. The more closure we have in our daily tasks, the better we feel about getting things done and hence, the more confident and the more self assured we feel. When we feel a sense of accomplishment, we also feel that we can take on greater challenges.
If we start at the very beginning, you learned how to crawl, then stand unassisted, then walk, run…etc. It was and is your self assurance that helped you become competent in one skill before you take on another. You are competent at a skill or a strategy when you perform it correctly and completely. You cannot be complete unless you are correct.
How much achievement does it take to get to completion?
I am still asking myself that question today. While in High School and college I was a Cross Country runner and ran the one and two miles on the track. I ran and completed the first NYC Marathon in 1970. When I was twenty three years old I had completed three years of college and I was without direction. My good friend Rich Carmona (former U.S Surgeon General) had just returned from Vietnam as a Medic and inspired me to enlist with the option of U.S. Army Special Forces.
I was slowly and deliberately becoming an over-achiever. I figured three years of service then back to college with the education benefits. I saw this as an opportunity for adventure and to help me gain direction for a career afterwards. I volunteered for every interesting and hazardous training, duty, and assignment.
I volunteered and completed Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces, HALO, Combat Diver, French Commando training…etc. It seemed that I was a competence junkie. As soon as I completed one and I heard of another school or assignment, I wanted to complete or serve in that one as well.
If you read the “About” page on my web site, you will see that my experiences are varied and diverse. I have also been blessed to have some very inspiring mentors in my life, beginning with my grandparents and parents.
After many trials, experiences and many mistakes, I believe that I am now doing what I am here for. I hope to make a difference in your life by sharing my insight, experience, and that of other people. I do not have all of the answers, but I seek other people with wisdom as well as searching for the answers myself.
My challenge to you is to seek opportunities to learn new skills and get way outside of the box. The more varied experiences you have, the more self assurance you will have. You will feel that there isn’t anything that you cannot do. And this is true. With the miracle of your advanced brain, you have unlimited potential and can make a difference in the lives of many people. Here are some ideas to ponder:
- Seek a mentor, someone who is wise and can help guide you – listen to them and apply what they tell you.
- Read. Read anything that will leave a positive image on your mind. I don’t mean just personal development material, but also read fiction, drama, and especially read about the arts-music, literature, dance…etc.
- Volunteer to help civic or non-profit organization and become and organizer. You must learn to be a good follower before you can be a good leader.
- Learn how to write effectively by hand. Writing letters is slowly becoming a lost art. You can make a greater impact by writing someone a letter instead of sending them an email.
- Become a mentor for someone else. You are never too young. My daughters were mentors for Kindergarten kids when they were in Middle School.
- Learn a new skill that you’ve never studied before.
This is the short list that we will expand. Send me your comments on what to add to this list.