Are you the leader of your life?

The other day someone said to me, You’ve got it all figured out.

While I appreciated the generosity of the thought, I was uncomfortable at the same time. My anti-guru warning light went on.

I most certainly don’t have it all figured out. I don’t have all the answers. No one does. In fact, a life where it’s “all figured out” sounds a bit dull to me.

But here’s what I do know: You benefit from being the leader of your life. If you too frequently look to others to fill that role, you lose in the end with a life half lived. A life less than your potential. A best life squandered.

Being the leader of your life means:

• Establishing a clear and compelling vision for your future that inspires
• Believing in the possibility of achieving that vision
• Strategizing and goal setting in ways that motivate you to take and sustain action
• Finding the resources you need to realize your vision
• Getting support in the form of encouragement and accountability
• Thinking and acting creatively
• Empowering yourself by leveraging your strengths and opportunities
• Overcoming obstacles and course correcting
• Embracing perpetual renewal and reinvention