You are your superpower: win at life by being you

SpeakingPersonal Development
Written By Liam Sandford
win at life by being you

In the early parts of my career I was labeled ‘a man of few words’. While that might be true this was seen as a negative thing. But actually it was my greatest strength.

Introverts get a bad wrap and are labelled for being antisocial, lacking confidence and often, somebody who is not a good public speaker. These are all myths.

Would you say active listening, self-awareness and reading the room are negative traits? I would guess not.

Now, this email is not about introverts, its about using your core strengths to maximize your outputs. But the myth busting is important. ‘Introvert’ is not a negative label. Neither is ‘extrovert’.

They are just different.

And whichever side you fall on can be used to win at life. How?

Steer into what gives you energy: Introverts gain their energy from low stimulus environments. Extroverts gain their energy from high stimulus environments. Plan your time around the big moments in your life to be where you get your energy.

Stay clear of what drains your battery: Most people fit into systems that are already in place, or their time is dictated by others. If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will. Actively stay clear of your battery drainers and create systems that work for you.

Showcase who you are: Being you is something that nobody does better. Bring your core strengths to the table. Use them to get the best out of yourself. Showcasing who you are to the world is a good thing. It helps you build your brand authentically and enables you to tell stories that resonate with others.

With the book launch imminent I have been thinking about public speaking a lot. One of the keys to making public speaking effortless is to be you. If you are an introvert, use active listening to gain insight from your audience. If you are an extrovert, use your energy to drive audience attention to you. Both can be great public speakers and have skills to work on to optimize their speaking performance.

Ultimately, living life on your terms makes it easier. So whether you are speaking, writing or doing something else creative, bring you to the table — it will make your life a lot more effortless.

Actionable takeaway’s

  • Drop one activity in your calendar over the next week that drains your battery.

  • Stop using introversion and extroversion as boundaries. Instead use them as enablers to get the best out of yourself.

  • Create systems that work for you, rather than fitting into systems that are created by others.

More from me

Liam Sandford
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