Ah, beauty pageants! From Miss America to Miss Universe, we’re all familiar with these annual contests aimed at capturing the ever-changing face of beauty and intelligence. Yes, intelligence. Least we forget, despite the heavy emphasis on physical beauty, there is the interview wherein finalists get to answer questions that show they’re more than just a pretty face.
While there are actually lots of questions with the actual ones varying from contestant to contestant and from year to year, most of us tend to think of the Miss America/Universe question as some version of: If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
Fundamentally, this is not a frivolous question, and answering it for ourselves can be pivotal in giving direction to our careers and lives. Indeed, in my roles as a facilitator and coach of personal branding and of life planning, one of the central exercises I ask clients to do is to develop their vision for the world. The questions I use may vary slightly, but the aim is the same: articulate a meaningful change you would make to create a better world.
For most people, as soon as they can articulate a genuine vision for the world, they’re able to develop greater clarity about their purpose and how their values and passions come together to give direction to their careers and lives. Yes, working with a coach adds to this discovery process.
Still…
…don’t wait for coaching. You’d be surprised at the clarity you can develop by asking this seemingly simple question of yourself.
Cross-posted at The Personal Branding Blog
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