Are you really happiness? Or just be happy you....

I was intrigued by this line in the acknowledgements: “..in helping to divine the secret to achieving the 5th (highest) level of performance.”
Success has always fascinated me – how each of us defines it, how those that have achieved it did so, how those that teach it do so..  In fact, I’ve dedicated most of my life to studying it.
What becomes really clear after studying it for many years, is that success is defined differently by everyone. So when Jay Niblick wrote what he did – it caught my attention.
His book is amazing, and to save the suspense, yes he has divined the secret to top level performance, or in simple terms, true success. Can I present it within a few paragraphs? Well, I’ll try!
We all define success differently, but most people agree that true success is more like fulfilment and happiness. And what makes us happy and fulfilled is different for everyone.
What brings us the experience of happiness and fulfilment, is the combination of two things:

1. We first need to know what makes us happy – we need a clear understanding of what happiness and fulfilment looks like for us.
2. We then need to be succeeding in fulfilling that definition, achieving those goals.

What does that mean in practical terms?
Well, point 1 – we need to know what makes us happy. This really comes from self-awareness. Self awareness is not simply being aware of ourself, it is being aware of who we really, and perhaps more importantly – who we are not. And in the three main areas:

1. Behavioural and communication. How we naturally like to interact and communicate – and how we don’t. This relates to being aware of the type of environment we flourish in, and what environment stresses us.
2. Drivers and motivators. What we value, what our passion is. What motivates and drives us, and what de-motivates and drains us.
3. Our talents and strengths. What comes naturally and easily to us – is effortless, and what we have to work hard at, takes energy and effort.

When we create a rich picture of those three areas; the how (1), the why (2) and the what (3); where they all overlap – this is the place of happiness and fulfilment. This is where success comes from for us.
And point 2 – we need to be succeeding in reaching that place. This comes from being authentic to what we discovered in point 1 – making sure that we remain true to ourselves and what we enjoy the most, what we are best at doing, and where/how we like to do it.
When point 1 and point 2 overlap – we are in our element, and we typically perform at much higher levels – genius levels when we really unleash our true potential.
Jay’s book “What’s Your Genius” takes you through this whole program. It’s a book that in the right hands, can be life-changing.
Here’s to you finding and working your own genius.
Paul.