I have craved recognition since childhood. A pat on the back, a warm hug or a thumbs up was all that I needed for a job well done. But, these essential elements of value were missing during my growing up years. Self motivation was the only force that kept me going. Any form of motivation has a finite shelf life; the shortest of which is that of self motivation. Extrinsic sources of motivation such as awards serve as solid reminders of these cherished moments and keep the motivation battery charged all the time. I have been conditioned to listen to comments of criticism and demotivation more often, than words of praise. The awkwardness that I exhibit when someone offers me a compliment, can be attributed to this seasoning, over the years. I have become incapable of handling praise. I smile, shift in my seat, twiddle my thumbs and impress upon the party that, it was success by chance and that I had nothing to do with the achievement. I have lost many an opportunity in my career, due to this seemingly modest behavior. Modesty is an evil at the workplace.
Awards have a place in our lives. There are special spots that I have reserved in my living room, for mementos and awards that I hope to receive some day. There are such chambers carved in the interiors of my heart too, for the intangible and invaluable citations that I dream of receiving. Visibility is the biggest award in the professional sphere. I dream of speaking opportunities at prestigious conferences and being part of expert panels in my domain of expertise. Being seen as a thought leader, an influential speaker, an expert orator and a well known writer are the stately awards that I look forward to.
One of these dreams took flight in the recent times, through the business school where I am pursuing my executive MBA. An opportunity to be a panelist on the topic of mid career transition to leadership roles, knocked at my door. I welcomed it with outstretched arms. Being in the spotlight, speaking in a room full of experienced professionals and leaders, was an enthralling experience! I shared my thoughts and snapshots from my professional journey. Handling unexpected questions from the audience on the spot and alleviating their doubts was fulfilling, to say the least. It was customary for participants to network with the panelists post an event. I too have had the experience of walking up to renowned speakers and engaging in conversations that were stimulating and thought provoking. These interactions often culminated in sending LinkedIn connection requests to the panelists and hoping that they will remember us from the event. I have been there and done that.
This event enabled a complete role reversal. I was the celebrity speaker everyone was striving to network with. People thronged me in groups and bombarded me with questions. Some of them tried to exhibit their smartness and knowledge, by answering the questions posed by their fellow participants. A few from the audience sent me connection requests on the spot, while others made a note of my LinkedIn ID. I was in seventh heaven!
This was my debut appreciation for my “thought leadership”. This memory was sweetened by a personalized memento from the organizers. It was a wooden plaque with my name and photo carved on it. I received this priced tribute with immense pride and gratitude. This token of appreciation now decorates my living room. Every time I set eyes on it, my heart swells with pride. This award has expanded my professional network and earned me the visibility I was craving for. People started noticing me. I was appearing constantly in their feeds. Senior leaders approached me for coffee chats and meetups. Entrepreneurs took interest in me. This opportunity has given me a taste of success. It has opened the doors and shown me a path to my dream destination. Moving ahead in this path, unhindered, and landing in the destination, marks rest of the story; of my life.
This story is inspired by the 100 day storytelling initiative by Your Story Bag. This is my story for day 25/100 of #2023TheStoriedWay
