Introduction
- Take a look at the word: power. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you read it? You probably are not thinking about yourself.
- We think power makes us look greedy, narcissistic.
- Let’s talk about power. Power is not a dirty word.
- Power is the ability to influence the events around you.
- Power is not the problem. It’s the infatuation with power. It’s a common misconception.
Chart Your Own Course
- I got invited to interview for a CEO of a publicly traded company. I had an image of a CEO who was white, male, 60 years old. The typical Hollywood stereotype.
- I met with the director of the search firm. “But why me?” He replied, “Why not you?”
- Finding the you-shaped hole in the world.
- I didn’t get that job. But a year later I became the CEO of Ancestry.
- Chuck Swindoll, “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I respond to it.”
- When you hear no, it opens up the opportunity for someone else to say yes.
Seek Out Allies
- Sometimes the opportunity of a lifetime comes down to a single person willing to take a risk on you.
- Mike observed me in a Facebook leadership meeting. He asked why I didn’t speak. He noticed when I did, people
- Ecclesiastes 4 – one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves, a chord of three strands is not easily broken.
- Mentor – give you advice
- Sponsors – opens doors for you. Provides access to opportunities. They’ll put their reputation on the line for you to be successful.
- Team – make a join vision a reality. Skills compliment together.
- Circle – their lives intersect with yours
Learn to Forgive.
- Mike was going to resign and I would have to report to Boz. I thought I would have to resign as well. When I opened up to him, he apologized and I forgave him.
- Forgiveness does not always lead to reconciliation. Forgiveness is freedom.
- They call it holding a grudge for a reason. You are the one holding it. You are the one bearing the weight.
- You are not weak for letting go.
Find Your Voice
- Going to premarital counseling and was told that going to graduate school was wrong. My fiancee told me that my name was Deborah. He reminded me of the Proverbs 31 woman. He taught me that my voice mattered.
- What would you do if you were not afraid?
- Who does God want you to be? Who is your true authentic self? Who did God create you to be?
Make Your Mark
- At Stanford, my first assignment was to write their own obituary.
- The truth is that we have such a limited time to make our mark on the world.
- What would you like to be remembered for? Whatever legacy you want to leave behind, start forging it today.
- I want to leave people better for having met me.
- When I changed roles in 2021, over 1000 people reached out to me. I didn’t remember the things I had said, but they remembered.
- Power is not just having influence. It means making a lasting impact on the world.