Leadership means motivating yourself and others to make the world a better place. That’s how I define what it means to be a leader, and that’s how I kicked off my author talk last week at Northwestern University.
I was honored that Stephanie Lawson, who I met though my work with the NU Council of 100, recommended my book, Become the Fire, and grateful that the Leadership Development Committee of the women’s staff group at Northwestern University (ANUW) selected it as the first pick of its new Summer Book Club program. As part of the Book Club, members read the book and had informal chats about it in person and virtually over the course of the summer.
ANUW then partnered with Kellogg IGNITE, another women’s networking group on campus, to host an in-person and livestreamed discussion with me about leadership themes from Become the Fire at the incredible Kellogg Global Hub, a stunning space on the NU campus with awe-inspiring views of Lake Michigan. There, I got to engage in a thought-provoking discussion with these two groups of leadership-minded women about turning the next page in their careers.
With the temperature outside soaring to 100 degrees, it was the hottest day in a decade – which somehow seemed appropriate for a discussion on how to become the fire!
Here are the eight leadership concepts we covered in my presentation and the subsequent Q&A interview:
– Leadership enables you to bring out the best in yourself and in others so you can effect positive change, solve problems and make life better.
– When you look at the world through a lens of making it better, you will see opportunities all around you. Turn your problems into possibilities.
– Leaders are not just born; they are made. The chaos we overcome and the fires we battle forge the inner strength it takes to lead and inspire.
– Anyone can lead, if motivated. Leadership happens in everyday moments by everyday people doing everyday things. Discover what moves you, then act.
– Using empathy, identify what matters to you, what you’d like to solve. This helps find your authentic purpose. Inspire yourself with mindful activities and “white space.”
– Engage in a give-and-take of inspiration with others to transform ideas into realities. Create a culture, build a team, listen and empower others.
– You may be thinking: “Who, me? I can’t do it!” My answer: “Why not you? You can do it!” Prepare. Take one step. Then another. Each step forward builds confidence.
– If the women featured in my book can do it, you can, too! How? Ask, connect, join, grow your network, build community, mentor, be mentored. Take the first step!
It’s by having these types of insightful conversations that we can support and empower each other and help us all move forward. Thank you, Northwestern women, for the opportunity to inspire and be inspired. My mind is still humming with all the possibilities!
For a deeper dive into each of these leadership concepts, please grab your copy of Become the Fire: Transform Life’s Chaos into Business and Personal Success.
You can visit my author website at ElisaSchmitz.com, and learn more about my book on achieving career and life success at BecomeTheFire.com. Inspire and be inspired at 30Seconds.com.
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Leadership means motivating yourself and others to make the world a better place. That’s how I define what it means to be a leader, and that’s how I kicked off my author talk last week at Northwestern University.
I was honored that Stephanie Lawson, who I met though my work with the NU Council of 100, recommended my book, Become the Fire, and grateful that the Leadership Development Committee of the women’s staff group at Northwestern University (ANUW) selected it as the first pick of its new Summer Book Club program. As part of the Book Club, members read the book and had informal chats about it in person and virtually over the course of the summer.
ANUW then partnered with Kellogg IGNITE, another women’s networking group on campus, to host an in-person and livestreamed discussion with me about leadership themes from Become the Fire at the incredible Kellogg Global Hub, a stunning space on the NU campus with awe-inspiring views of Lake Michigan. There, I got to engage in a thought-provoking discussion with these two groups of leadership-minded women about turning the next page in their careers.
With the temperature outside soaring to 100 degrees, it was the hottest day in a decade – which somehow seemed appropriate for a discussion on how to become the fire!
Here are the eight leadership concepts we covered in my presentation and the subsequent Q&A interview:
– Leadership enables you to bring out the best in yourself and in others so you can effect positive change, solve problems and make life better.
– When you look at the world through a lens of making it better, you will see opportunities all around you. Turn your problems into possibilities.
– Leaders are not just born; they are made. The chaos we overcome and the fires we battle forge the inner strength it takes to lead and inspire.
– Anyone can lead, if motivated. Leadership happens in everyday moments by everyday people doing everyday things. Discover what moves you, then act.
– Using empathy, identify what matters to you, what you’d like to solve. This helps find your authentic purpose. Inspire yourself with mindful activities and “white space.”
– Engage in a give-and-take of inspiration with others to transform ideas into realities. Create a culture, build a team, listen and empower others.
– You may be thinking: “Who, me? I can’t do it!” My answer: “Why not you? You can do it!” Prepare. Take one step. Then another. Each step forward builds confidence.
– If the women featured in my book can do it, you can, too! How? Ask, connect, join, grow your network, build community, mentor, be mentored. Take the first step!
It’s by having these types of insightful conversations that we can support and empower each other and help us all move forward. Thank you, Northwestern women, for the opportunity to inspire and be inspired. My mind is still humming with all the possibilities!
For a deeper dive into each of these leadership concepts, please grab your copy of Become the Fire: Transform Life’s Chaos into Business and Personal Success.
You can visit my author website at ElisaSchmitz.com, and learn more about my book on achieving career and life success at BecomeTheFire.com. Inspire and be inspired at 30Seconds.com.