419. Finding Authentic Self-Confidence

“I’ve always been a geek. I love gadgets, Star Wars, Star Trek and all of that.  I got into technology really young and had my first computer by 1992 or ’93 in my teens.  I was into the bulletin board systems back then, before the internet was out on a large scale. That led me into a career in information technology (I.T.), where my bosses spotted natural leadership abilities in me that I didn’t even know I had. Soon, I was in management.”

“As a kid, I figured out ways to get things done, using my intelligence. But I didn’t know until this past year just how hard I would push, push, push to get things done. I could definitely make things happen, and that’s great. But that came at the huge cost of not really being present to the people around me, or to myself. I came to the realization well into my career that I had pushed really hard throughout my career, but that it just wasn’t enjoyable.” After that epiphany, events unfolded that led Brad into his new career of helping others through life coaching.

Living in a custom-built home in Austin, Texas, driving a BMW and owning lots of gadgets and things, Brad admitted to himself he was not happy. He reached out to a life coach. “We had a good two-hour conversation. She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘You’ve been buying your confidence with things and experiences, but that’s not where confidence comes from.’ That was my epiphany. It was as if she had given me a gut punch with the reality that I was just buying things to mask my lack of confidence.”

1. Slow down and learn how to “be present” to your life and loved ones.

2. Be open to what the Universe is trying to tell you. Pay attention to your restlessness.

3. Getting into the service of others helps you get out of yourself.

4. Invest in your own personal development.

5. Cultivate a sense of humor and bring laughter to your world.

The Mindset Shift: Stop the Corporate Rat Race, Make a Difference and Achieve Personal Freedom!, by Bradley Thomas Finkeldei

YouTube: https://youtu.be/vjwK814EhOg – Kyle Cease, a comedian turned motivational speaker, talks about “Transformative Standup Comedy: The Power of Being Unlimited.”