Early Career
I joined the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Program in Feb 2006.
There are 7 ranks in the army cadet program. Private, Corporal, Master Corporal, Sergeant, Warrant Officer, Master Warrant Officer, and Chief Warrant Officer.
Each unit in cadets has one RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major).
It often takes about 5-6 years for a cadet to be promoted up the ranks to become the RSM. And that’s if they even get selected for the position.
I was a young cadet in 2006 (age 12), and I had aspirations of becoming the RSM by the time I would age out of the Army Cadet program.
In 2006 I was a private who had a dream of being one of the best cadets ever.
The goal of becoming the Chief Warrant Officer in my unit was far away, and I would have to be excellent each and every year to have that chance.
My first lesson in Cadets was about rank-structure, and we learned the 7 ranks in the program and the organizational chart.
I was right away set on reaching the top of the organization. My goal was to dedicate myself to being the most excellent cadet I could possibly be.
Naturally I was visualizing my goal, I would draw pictures of my future self as the Sergeant Major of my unit.
I was reading the cadet instructional manual inside out to learn everything I possibly could about the cadet program.
Early in my career I was acing all the exams and getting promoted ahead of what I would have expected.
Acting as If
I would wear my uniform every week and it would look immaculate.
It was important to make sure my boots were shined to the best of my ability and that the rest of my uniform also looked immaculate.
My goal was to be the standard that other cadets follow.
Leadership skill is about influence, and I was expecting to set the example as a leader.
I acted as if I was the top cadet in my unit long before I actually was.
I would imagine myself racking up accolades for having a great week to week performance.
The law of attraction will work when you start acting as if.
I would think of myself as the CWO in my unit long before I ended up getting that promotion.
Visualization is meant to instill belief that your dream is reachable.
In visualization you want to imagine yourself being the person you want to be. Doing the things you want to do, and having the things you want to have.
Having a presence about yourself that you are important is another thing. The self-belief you need to manifest is key. Telling yourself stories about yourself that line up with your long-term vision.
To manifest your goal, its key to act as if.
What would you be doing if you already had it?
In 2012, I was appointed as the Sergeant Major of my unit and promoted to Chief Warrant Officer.
When you reach a big goal, you’ll wonder what’s next. This is because success doesn’t stop, and I was wondering what my next goal would be after that.
I left my Army Cadet unit as someone who truly cared about the success of those around me. I was also the leader of my unit long before I was in charge of it.
The thing that distinguished me from most was that I truly cared about making those around me better. The example I set as a leader was why I was an effective leader, I didn’t have to speak much to inspire the cadets I was leading.
I also saw it as paramount to grow the leadership potential of those I was in charge of.
When you have a giver’s mindset, the universe will work overtime to actually help you.
Takers on the other hand face a lot of resistance from the universe.
The more you help the universe, the more the universe will want to help you. The universe alredy knows exactly what you want.
You don’t have to try to tell the universe what you want, the universe is already bringing you closer to your desire.
The stronger the desire, the easier it will be to manifest it.
To your success,
Angus