Yesterday I received a letter from someone that had attended BTL practices with one of my clients in 2007. I’ve taken out the names to protect the innocent…
Hi Chet,
I’m sure you won’t automatically remember my name, I was in the cross functional BTL class that did a lot of sharing. I wanted to tell you thank you. The class mad such an impact on me…I can’t even absorb it sometimes.
I was really unhappy in my job. I felt like I’d been pigeon holed into a role that was literally sapping the strength out of me. Each day I counted the hours until the end of the day-glad that I made it through another day without getting fired or told that I was not working up to par. Each day I drove to work I felt sick. In fact, the only enjoyable days were those that I spent in your class.
BTL gave me back my strength-various mind-blowing events keep flashing through my mind:
1. The 20 hour round trip that I spent literally pouring over the BTL book. Reading quotes, reading my reflections on readings and remembering with incredible clarity the times in my life when I felt strongest…
2. Reading Discover Your Strengths…and seeing with incredible clarity what was a perfect role for me.
3. Having the BELIEF in myself to reach out and open up to people that could help me get where I wanted to go next in life. And they came through!
I’ve been at my new job now for just over 6 months. Chet, everyone should feel like I do when they go to work each day. As I drive into work, I reflect on how I feel. The best description is “weightless.” I get this feeling in my heart that simply feels awe at how “not guilty” I feel.
This new job…they LOVE me! My thoughts are not different than they were at the XYZ corporation, but I feel more confident in sharing them.
I’ve started an online Masters Program…and I’m getting all A’s!! The Masters program is all about the types of discussions that I used to participate in at XYZ and was either discounted or I did not express myself because I was feeling weak. And I’m now getting A’s!!!
I often wonder if I’d ever have been able to get to this point and stay with XYZ. I felt like I tried to get things to change, but I think that I did not feel strong enough to really push to move into something different. I don’t know if you will agree with me or not, but sometimes I think it requires going somewhere and “starting a new chapter,” not taking the baggage with you…
I want to end by telling you that I talk about BTL ALL THE TIME!!
I believe it has changed how I react to people that are not performing to my expectations. I look at their strengths and at their job and try to decide if there is a mis-match. I don’t have my BTL book at the moment and I miss it terribly…I wish I had it to refer to. That might have to wait until my whole household is back together so for now I rely on my memories of BTL practice and the multiple times you brought me to tears as I re-discovered my strengths.
I hear U2’s “One” and lose myself in that song and really hear the words.
So, THANK YOU doesn’t really feel like enough. But, I think that you will understand what it really means. Know that I am watching and still learning and still striving to get to my strongest point…I recognize that I’m only starting the journey and am so grateful that you showed me how to start.
God Bless…
THANK YOU is enough.
You are awake and becoming oriented times four.
THANK YOU for taking the time to tell us your story.
You are on your builder’s journey.
We are glad to have you with us for the climb…see you around the next bend.
YOU inspire me.
Very cool.
BUILT TO LEAD 