i rock. so do you.

Whatever it is you’re aiming for in this world, it’s so hard to get there sometimes. You’re headed in the right direction, making progress, when BAM! obstacles start popping up.

For me, it’s finding a job. When I’m browsing through the listings, it’s easy to focus on everything I don’t have. I don’t have 10 years of experience. I don’t have extra certifications. I start to feel beholden to anyone who actually calls me back, which leads to me considering jobs with hours and pay I never would have been okay with before. (“Why yes, I’d love to work all week and every weekend for $7/hour.”) It’s a slippery slope.

So I’m starting something new. A trend, if you’d care to join me. It’s called the “I Rock” list. It’s not about the past and your accomplishments. It’s about the future and the skills that are going to take you there. It’s a way to remind yourself that you are worth something. And you can contribute to this world in a way no one else can.

Here’s my “I Rock” list:

  • I’m a fantastic public speaker. While most people find public speaking rather terrifying, I get dorkishly excited about it. The ability to look out at a group of people and connect with them in some way thrills me. I smile. They smile back. They nod. They interact. Sometimes they even laugh. I like being able to do that for other people.
  • I have an eye for design. Colors and styles have always thrilled me, whether in the realm of fashion or interior design. I have a sense of style that people seem to appreciate—including my husband, who has started getting compliments on his work attire (which I pick out for him the night before just to make his life easier). 🙂
  • I’m a creative thinker and problem-solver. For years, I wondered why I didn’t think like other people. I figured it was something I needed to work on. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started to see it as a good thing. You know when you can look at a problem and see a simple solution? I don’t see that solution. Not at first, anyway. I see the random, creative, outside-the-box solution. But to me it doesn’t feel creative. It feels normal, even typical. I’m still learning to accept the way I think.
  • I’m great with details. You know those tiny little details that most people find annoying to deal with? Um, I love them, whether I’m formatting/editing a manuscript or developing a new work-related system or even laying out my pennies by date. (Did that once when I was a kid. I was bored – and I knew better than to tell my mother I was bored…) I don’t get overwhelmed by details. I love them and they love me.
  • I’m freakishly responsible. I’ve never missed a deadline in my life. The thought of letting someone else down terrifies me. It gets overwhelming sometimes, but it also makes me someone you can count on.
All right. That’s probably enough for now. You get the idea. Now it’s your turn. What’s going on your “I Rock” list?

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