"There's Nothing Wrong With You"

Thank you Steve Chandler for writing one of the best business books ever! The first book I ever read by Mr. Chandler was, "Re-inventing Yourself" and I remember arguing with my boss about it. My manager was a firm believer in the idea that people fundamentally can not change. He conceded that with determination and effort people can learn new skills, change their attitudes, and become better people, but a person's "personality" can not be willfully changed. His strength based management philosophy was based on this premise and he coached that it is better to identify and magnify your strengths to render your weaknesses irrelevant. He understood that who you are is not something negotiable but is to be understood and managed so you can effectively use what you been given to get what you want out of life. He once told me that knowledge is powerful, but self-knowledge is empowering. The man is a genius.

I wondered why I argued my point so aggressively. Now years latter I get it. At the time I was tired of being me and wanted to re-invent myself so badly it hurt. Since then I earned an MBA and have read over a hundred books and the more I learn the more I realize he was right. The more I have tried to change who I am the more I realize I am who I am. No matter where I go there I am. More knowledgeable, more accomplished, more experienced, but still the same old me.

Then I read another book by Mr. Chandler and it turns out to be one of the best business books ever, "The Seventeen Lies That Are Holding You Back and The Truth That Will Set You Free!" I don't recall all of the lies, but one of them nailed me. There hasn't been a day go by since I read it that I don't repeat this truth to repel the lie that has held me back my entire life. "There is nothing wrong with me!" I did suffer too many concussions, I do have memory problems, I do have ADD, I do have dyslexia, I do have asthma, I do have pain, I don't have a thyroid, I don't have a lot of things, but one of the most important things I have ever learned in my life is THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME.

 No matter where I go there I am. And that's OK!

Thank you Steve Chandler.