Be Fully Present.

In my last journal entry, I shared the first of three concepts that have had a major impact on my life. That concept: People Come First. If you haven’t read or listened to it yet, you may want to do so before proceeding with this journal entry.

Listen to me share The Principle, read it below, or both!

A few years ago, I was facilitating a discussion series in a lecture auditorium at a university. I was setting the stage to dive into the often-overlooked skills that accelerate entrepreneurial success by sharing the three concepts I’m sharing with you in this three-part journal entry series.

I had finished my brief comments on putting people first in every consideration and had proceeded to introduce some thoughts on being fully present by sharing a solemn — even sacred — experience I had that had cemented the importance of the concept for me.

Just as I shared my crowning point on the topic — the room dead silent as everyone absorbed the account of the experience I had shared — three students entered the room (some five minutes into the scheduled class time) through the main entry door on my left, effectively placing them on the podium of the auditorium in front of the entire audience. They were talking loudly with each other — completely oblivious to the fact that they had just illustrated the antithesis of the very topic they had interrupted.

I stopped talking and watched them. For some 20 or 30 seconds, their antics continued as they made their way to their seats — every eye in the entire auditorium on them; the room completely silent aside from their boisterous interactions. Finally, one of them tuned in to his surroundings. He looked around the room, then at me. I stood quietly, looking directly at him. He attempted to pull his friends into the moment, a task that took him several tries. At last, all three of them sat, big-eyed, looking at me.

I glanced around the room. Some in the audience were looking at these three in disbelief. Many were looking at me, obviously wondering what my reaction would be.

With everyone’s attention ultimately on me, I remained motionless and silent, my face displaying what I assume sent a message of contemplation. Then I continued where I had left off, addressing the damage we do to our reputations and the opportunities we miss when we fail to be fully present. The disruption could not have occurred at a more perfectly timed moment to bring those points to life. (In fact, after class, one person asked me if I had arranged the entire scene. It was impactful to him, and he couldn’t imagine that it had occurred by chance.)

Although it took them much longer than one would have hoped, these three students eventually became aware of their lack of presence as they entered that room that day. I couldn’t have asked for a better teaching moment. I can only imagine their well-timed and disruptive entrance is etched in the minds of the many other students in the auditorium who were feeling the depth of the message being shared and the distinct shattering effect these students’ thoughtless entry imposed on the moment.

• There have been plenty of situations in my life in which I’ve become aware of my lack of presence and corrected my mindless behavior; but how often have I failed to be present and not been afforded the luxury of becoming aware of my lack of presence?

• What damage to my reputation have my actions caused in those situations?

• What opportunities have I missed out on because of my lack of presence?

I’m sure if I had a way of knowing the answers to these questions, it would make me cringe.

Being present doesn’t only mean not being disruptive. It goes much deeper and broader than that.

Being present is what allows us to pick up on the nuances of situations and environments.

It tunes us in to fine details missed by those who are not fully present.

It unveils opportunities, reveals truth, connects dots, and much more.

The benefits of learning how to live in a state of presence are truly endless.

You’ll discover a unique application of combining the concepts of putting people first and being fully present in my next journal entry — one I can say, with full confidence, that you’ve not considered before (unless you’ve followed my work). For now, however, let’s look at how to put the principle of presence into practice with a simple starting point that can change your performance, relationships, and opportunities virtually overnight.

Just as the benefits of being fully present have no boundaries, the practices that help us consistently show up and interact in a state of presence are many. In this journal entry, I will share one simple, powerful practice you can begin employing immediately that has the power to polish your reputation as a connector and aware leader while illuminating opportunities you might otherwise miss.

You can listen to me share The Practice, read it, or both!