Shifting Focus: From Impressing to Impactful Actions
The other day, I was practicing my pitch with my mentor, and I thought it went pretty well. After I finished, he asked for my thoughts on my performance. I expressed satisfaction, noting that it felt natural and I didn’t even stumble!
He smiled back and said, “Akki, your story had words, but it lacked feeling, and most importantly, your energy seemed to be missing. What are you trying to achieve through this pitch?” he asked.
Feeling a bit disappointed, I replied, “Well, this pitch is to seek potential collaborations with corporates through my services.”
“That’s fine, Akki,” he said. “But I sensed that you were more focused on impressing the person on the other side than considering the core outcome of your pitch. You were aiming to make an impression, but that’s not what the world is looking for.”
His words struck a chord with me. I realized he was right—I had been trying to impress people with what I had to offer, without thinking about my larger goal or purpose.
Doesn’t this happen all the time with us? Whether it’s a sales pitch for a client or an internal presentation to founders and stakeholders, most of us are trying to create an impression about ourselves.
There is nothing wrong with that, but what are we trying to achieve through this? Nothing. We try to impress people because we want them to acknowledge us as individuals and speak about our capabilities—this is another way of seeking external validation from the world.
We need to shift our focus from impressing to creating impactful actions. When you are aware of your core being, have a decent understanding of your life’s purpose, and know why you exist, you start moving away from impressing people because everything revolves around creating a meaningful impact through your purpose.
So, the next time you find yourself making a presentation or a speech, remind yourself of your intent—you intend to create a meaningful impact for the world around you, not to impress them! By creating impactful actions, you move towards becoming inspiring!
Keep inspiring and keep growing!
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