Chapter 16

Identifying Your WHAT

Steps Two and Three

I thought I'd never accomplish anything really wonderful, that I'd have an ordinary life and it scared me.

—David Geffen

Now that you've completed Step One of the three-step process for identifying your WHAT, you should have a solid grasp of your inherent Gifts. Step Two requires you to identify your Vehicle. While your Gifts represent your innate skills and abilities, the Vehicle is the physical action or platform you'll use to share your Gifts with the world.

Examples of Vehicles include

• Speaking
• Teaching (e.g., yoga, martial arts, traditional education, coaching)
• Nursing
• Healing (e.g., Reiki, massage therapy, counseling)
• Writing
• Protecting (e.g., police officer, fire fighter)
• Creating (e.g., painting, sculpting, writing)
• Athletics
• Performing Arts (e.g., music, acting, dancing)
• Entrepreneurial endeavors
• Assembling (e.g., politics, creating a nonprofit, community organizing)

The key to identifying your Vehicle is to consider how, and when, you're most at peace.

For instance, some people love the stage. No matter where they are or who the audience is, they want to be front and center. For this group, speaking or teaching may be a perfect Vehicle, as when they're engaged in this activity they feel the most alive.

Others, however, loathe public speaking; the idea of all eyes being on them makes their skin crawl. This group might prefer communicating through blogs or books, or simply one-on-one.

Take a few minutes to consider when you achieve true inner peace and how you want to share your Gifts.

Identify Your Vehicle—Step Two

For now, choose just one Vehicle. Once you've established expertise, notoriety, and financial success by exhausting the reach of your selected Vehicle, you can expand on the ways you serve your audience. Keep in mind that many renowned experts, such as Rick Warren and Paolo Coelho, began in this exact manner: serving a particular group in one specific way first and then pursuing other Vehicles to spread their message. At a later date you may find that, as your Gifts and platform evolve, you choose an entirely different Vehicle.

Michael Strahan is a perfect example. An all-pro defensive lineman with the New York Giants, Strahan leveraged his innate physical and psychological Gifts to become one of the greatest to ever play the game. After retiring from football, though, Strahan reinvented his life by tapping into other natural talents, focusing on Entertaining as his core Gift and Media as the Vehicle he leverages to share his Gift with the world.

Strahan went on to become a spokesman for Subway restaurants, cohost of top-rated TV show FOX NFL Sunday, and cohost of LIVE! with Kelly & Michael. He probably never dreamed 20 years ago that this is where his Gifts would lead him.

As to whether Strahan's true WHAT was his Gift of Athletics and his Vehicle of Football vs. his Gift of Entertaining and his Vehicle of Media is an interesting question. Maybe his over-arching Gift is Performing, and he simply found different ways of expressing that. There's no doubt that the years he spent in front of football fans and the press were great training for his media career.

Too many people get hung up on having to choose just one Gift and one Vehicle, and ultimately never choose anything. “There's so much more to me than that!” is a statement I often hear. It's certainly true that there are many ways you're able to share your Gift with the world, but you must start somewhere before expanding to other endeavors and Vehicles.

In our instant gratification society, it's common to want to be immediately seen as being at the pinnacle of one's profession. But this is unlikely to happen.

What will happen if you're willing to work at honing both your Gifts and your chosen Vehicle is that you'll begin to manifest meaningful results. Growth is a natural byproduct of forward motion.

Conversely, organisms that don't move will eventually die. Human beings are no different.

Don't quit before you take your first step. Victory lies in claiming your position on the road, not waiting for the finish line to appear and crossing it.

That's in part because, as explained in Chapter 9, the finish line is usually an illusion. No matter when you believe you've “arrived,” the line will continue to elude you as you intentionally, or unintentionally, move it further down your path. It's simply how we're wired—we're always striving for more. That's why “The Destination Is the Road and The Journey Is the Destination.”

So get out of park, put yourself in drive, hit the gas…and start your journey.

The equation you create today might not come close to reflecting the equation you have in place five years from now. However, the equation you put in place today will absolutely empower you to move forward to where you belong.

Please choose the one Vehicle you'll leverage for the immediate future. Again, if you'd like examples, flip to the end of each chapter of this book where you'll find a Case Study of someone brilliantly living his or her WHAT.

Whenever you're ready, please write your answer below:

The Vehicle I will (initially) use to share my Gifts with the world is this:

If you're certain that multiple Vehicles are appropriate for you, look for synergies among them so you can either combine them into a single Vehicle or pursue them all in ways that enhance each other.

For instance, if your Vehicles are Cooking and Teaching, you can pursue becoming a master chef and, once you know enough, pass along what you've learned and teach aspiring chefs. You'll probably find you learn as much from your students as they do from you, so your teaching will ultimately make you an even better chef.

As another example, if your two Vehicles are Baseball and Writing, you could be a sports writer who focuses on baseball, or a baseball player who writes a blog to increase fan interest in his career.

One of my participants in The Reinvention Workshop identified Cooking, Photography, and Travel as her Vehicles. Among the ideas we brainstormed was her becoming a traveling photographer who captures images of people enjoying the foods they love. She was completely inspired by the idea and began organizing her life to achieve this goal.

If the synergy between your Vehicles isn't evident, or if you're unmoved by what you've identified, you'll have to be more creative. You might even pursue different Vehicles on parallel tracks for a while to learn which draws you in the most. Mark Twain wrote, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” To make a meaningful difference, you'll eventually need to pinpoint what stirs your soul.

What Is Your WHAT?—Step Three

The third part of the equation requires you to become clear on who you're most compelled to serve. Many have brought their WHAT into focus by identifying the specific audience who'll benefit from their Gifts.

A simple way to start this process is by reflecting on who you are and what you've experienced. This can help reveal the groups for whom you feel a natural connection.

To start, read the identifiers that follow and ask yourself what words or phrases describe you for each. For example, for the first item family role, identify your roles in your family: for example, parent, spouse, daughter, brother. Write your answer directly below the identifier, then move to the next item.

Most answers will be obvious. Some will require introspection.

When you've worked through all the items, think about other ways in which you can self-identify, and then write down the applicable attributes, beliefs, and passions in the last space shown.

Please begin:

• Family role (e.g., mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandparent)
• Survivor (e.g., illness, abuse, trauma, death of a loved one, injury, financial peril)
• Award winner (e.g., sports, business, education)
• Personal reinvention (e.g., career change, personal life overhaul)
• Physical attributes (e.g., tall, short, fat, skinny)
• Health ailments (e.g., disease, sex-related issues)
• Cultural background (e.g., African, Caucasian, Asian, American Indian)
• Social and economic inequities (e.g., poverty, education, healthy food options)
• Religion (e.g., Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist)
• Hobbies (e.g., sculpting, sewing, Sudoku, music, martial arts, reading)
• Volunteering (e.g., PTA, networking groups, Red Cross, Habitat For Humanity)
• Political views (e.g., Democratic, Republican, pro- or anti-abortion, pro- or anti-gun)

Other important facets of who I am, what I believe in, and what's most important to me:

Next, create a statement that summarizes your findings. The following are three examples of Who I Am statements.

Who I Am Example #1

I am a father, son, and uncle who lost my parents when I was very young.

A successful athlete in high school and college, I excelled in baseball and football, and was a key player on our Division III championship football team.

Two years ago, I lost the job I held for two decades and had to completely start over in a new career.

Today I'm an assistant football coach at a local high school.

During this transition, I became a practicing Buddhist, lost 20 pounds, and instituted a vegan diet.

I love to paint, volunteer at homeless shelters, and believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity to contribute to society.

Who I Am Example #2

I am a mother and daughter who spent the first 10 years of my life being transferred from foster home to foster home.

I never knew my parents but, instinctively, I am a survivor. This mentality helped me greatly when I left a physically abusive husband after 10 years of marriage, packing my belongings and two young children in the car and driving away in the middle of the night.

After divorcing and settling in a small Kansas town, I found work as a secretary at a manufacturing company, and have slowly worked my way through the ranks. My children both graduated from Ivy League schools, and I am a very well compensated executive.

While I believe in Christ, I believe in self first, and want to empower other women to tap their strength, leave abusive relationships, and help them on their journey.

Who I Am Example #3

I am a daughter and sister.

I'm in graduate school studying to be an economist. I love numbers and people, as well as the challenge of finding answers where practical solutions are non-existent.

Raised Jewish, I haven't been to synagogue since I was 14.

In my spare time I practice yoga and travel to study under many of the world's foremost yogis. I recently started an evening yoga class for graduate students and find it very fulfilling.

I also volunteer at the local Y, teaching basic fitness to seniors.

Recently, a drunk driver killed a friend, and I'm furious that more isn't done to prevent people from driving while intoxicated.

Your Own Who I Am Statement

Write your own statement in the space that follows. Refer back to your list of attributes, beliefs, and passions to do so.

Choosing Your Audience

Now think about whether a combination of your findings identifies a specific audience who'll benefit most from your Gifts. Here are a few examples to consider:

• You were born into poverty but were driven to break the generational grip of economic struggle. After excelling in high school, you financed college with grants, scholarships, and full-time jobs, eventually earning a Bachelor's degree. The idea of serving those with limited means by teaching them the required steps to earn their college degree puts fire in your soul.
• You're a 50-year-old woman with diabetes who lost 100 pounds over the past 12 months and want to share your strategies with others.
• You're an expert male gymnast who has won local and national competitions, and would like to share your knowledge with aspiring 12- to 14-year-old Level 10 Olympic hopefuls.

The more specific you can be, the easier it'll be to share your knowledge, cultivate a legion of followers, get paid exceptionally well for your expertise, and achieve peace and prosperity.

You may often find yourself drawn to serving more than one group. In “Who I Am Example #3,” the woman studying to be an economist clearly has a passion for yoga, is fired up to prevent intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel, and is in graduate school pursuing an advanced degree in Economics. It may be difficult for her to select just one group to focus on.

In such cases, I recommend turning to Kurt Lewin's Approach-Approach Theory of Conflict. This is a process for choosing between two or more equally attractive goals.

In Example #3, the woman must choose between focusing on economics, yoga, or eliminating drunk driving. Here's the process she might go through:

Economics vs. yoga: If I can only choose one, which do I select? I love yoga more, so I choose that. She then moves on to the next decision: Yoga vs. eliminating drunk driving: If I can only choose one, which do I select? I still love yoga more, so I choose that.

This simple yet highly effective process can help you identify which pursuit you'll initially undertake.

Again, you can always revisit your options in the future. For now, however, begin with one choice and pursue it with vigor until your fire has run its course, or you recognize that the choice made is incongruent with who you are.

Referring back to your statement and, if necessary, enacting the Approach-Approach Theory of Conflict, identify the subset of the population you have an affinity for and feel compelled to help, teach, empower, and/or serve. Describe your audience in the space that follows:

Congratulations! If you've done all the recommended work, you have now completed the three steps required to discover your WHAT:

Please write your findings on Figure 16.1. Enter your name above the top line. If you have a moniker to go with your WHAT (e.g., America's Reinvention Expert), include it as well. Reference the examples at the end of each chapter if necessary.

If you don't feel comfortable with your answers or haven't yet completed all the steps, revisit each section where you had difficulty. Stick with this process until you're ready to move forward.

Once everything is solidly in place, please continue to the final step—formulating your concise statement that encapsulates the three elements you've identified.

What Is Your WHAT?—The Final Step

While each element of your WHAT can stand alone as a guiding component of who you inherently are, a well-defined, cohesive statement is substantially more powerful than the sum of its parts. Creating a one-sentence summation that ties together your findings will provide an easy-to-reference mantra that keeps you focused on the core objective you've identified as your reason for being.

This statement defines the following:

• How you'll impact those you're compelled to serve
• Who they are
• Your God-given gifts
• The Vehicle you'll leverage to reach them

An example of a completed statement comes from Suzanne Evans, a renowned speaker, business coach, and creator of next-level live events such as Be The Change. Suzanne's Case Study appears at the end of this chapter. Suzanne's WHAT and summation statement are shown in Figure 16.2

Let's take a closer look at Suzanne's statement in relation to each of the elements, beginning with “How will you impact those you're compelled to serve?”

The first word of your summation statement will always be “To” followed by a verb (call to action). Typical action words for a summation statement include these:

• Empower
• Teach
• Prepare
• Engage
• Entertain
• Foster
• Encourage
• Inspire
• Alter
• Motivate
• Create
• Train
• Provide
• Lead

Reflecting on your Gifts, Vehicle, and Audience, think about what you hope to accomplish. Do you want to teach those you're most compelled to serve to achieve something specific? Do you want to entertain them? Do you want to motivate them to complete a certain action? Suzanne identified empower.

Consider your desired outcome and fill in the blank with the pertinent action:

“To _____ (action).”

Next, identify who you're most compelled to serve. This answer appears in Step Three of the three-step process for identifying your WHAT. In Suzanne's statement, she identified “women entrepreneurs, or women looking to become financially independent.” Please be specific, including as much demographic detail as possible: age, affliction, economic status, key concern, and so on. Fill in the blanks below with both of your answers:

“To _____ (action)

_____(who).”

Now identify what you'll help them achieve. What happens after they work with you or are exposed to your teachings? In other words, what's the result you want to help them accomplish? The result Suzanne seeks is “To empower women entrepreneurs, or women looking to become financially independent, to overcome shame issues or other conscious or subconscious obstacles about money.”

Fill in the blanks below with all three of your answers:

“To _____ (action)

_____(who)

to (result).”

The second to last step is to describe your expertise and how you'll help your audience attain the desired result. Refer to Step One and the Gifts you identified to do this.

It's often easiest to begin this section with “by leveraging.” For example, Suzanne's statement includes “by leveraging clear, intuitive communication.” Fill in the blanks below with all four of your answers:

“To _____ (action)

_____(who)

to _____ (result) by leveraging _____(your innate Gifts).”

The last step is to specify how you'll deliver your expertise. In other words, what Vehicle will you use to share your Gifts? Please refer to your answers from Step Two to identify how the world will receive your message.

Suzanne will help those she's compelled to serve by delivering her Gifts “via myriad speaking platforms.” Please complete your summation statement by filling in all of the blanks below.

“To _____(action)

_____(who)

to _____ (result) by leveraging (your innate Gifts) delivered via __ (method of delivery).”

With your summation statement now complete, please use the template in Figure 16.3 to enter your findings and answer life's most important question:
What Is Your WHAT?

If you're still having trouble identifying your WHAT, or understanding how to move forward with the discoveries you've made, enlist those in your closest circle. Often what's hardest for you to see is obvious to others.

Commit to this process and eventually your WHAT will become clear. When it does, life as you know it will never be the same.