You’re the CEO of your own life, and maybe even of your own business, so you often have to deal with power. As we go through life and meet people, we learn about power—who has it and who doesn’t. You’ll always be dealing with people who have power over you, to some extent, but I want you to be able to have power too—to know where it starts and where it stops, and to exercise it responsibly and compassionately over others. But how do you get it? And what, exactly, is it? Is it money? It is position? Is it the ability to influence? I learned most about it by seeking out, and hanging out, with powerful people.

Many of us fall into a familiar trap: we choose power/money/self-esteem-by-association because we don’t think we can create our own. We think we’ll get a “contact high” from being close to power instead of by wielding it ourselves. Then we’re left powerless when the relationship goes south, the association withers, or the bank balance plunges. What kind of power do you want in your life and over your life? Do you want power by association–with someone or some place? Or do you want to build your own power? We can’t rock in business and life until we untangle that relationship, claim our power, and start creating with it. Make the choice now to have your own power, money, self-esteem. Then no one can take it away.

People do this with companies and job titles, too. They rely on the power and prestige of these external items to give them value. But they’re borrowing power, not necessarily building it.

When you give your power to your company or your title, you define yourself by the work you do rather than your innate self-worth. If the job goes b’bye, so does your self-worth. I’ve been there. It’s not pretty. So the question to ask yourself becomes: Are you borrowing power or building it? Here’s how to tell: if you feel challenged, if you feel like you’re growing, learning, and stretching each day, if you are acquiring new skills, trying to be the best you possible, you’re building power. If you were to lose your job tomorrow, you know you’d find a new, better gig. You’re not wasting time kissing up and playing office politics, you’re investing time building your skill set.

And THAT is where the REAL power is.

Christine Comaford, Business Accelerator
CEO of Mighty Ventures, Inc.
NY Times Best Selling Author
http://www.MightyVentures.com

PS: If you’re ready to create and claim YOUR power as a business builder, consider attending my weekend-long BAI mentoring session. Twenty lucky participants will get to work with me personally. If you think you’re up to the challenge and are ready to make the commitment of both the time and the funds to attend ($1,997 early bird special), email sales@mightyventures.com to save your spot.