[blockquote author=”Socrates”]The unexamined life is a life not worth living.[/blockquote]

4925267732_8b4a2cf887In a world filled with quick fixes and instant gratifications, it is easy to get lost amongst the jargon of effective leadership. I cannot tell you how many blog posts I have come across that are titled: Six Steps to Improve Your Leadership, Ten Bullet Points to a Better Life or Three Habits for Effective Leadership.

Amidst the superficial recipes for effective leadership, it is essential for any leader to examine who they are on a very deep and intrinsic level before they can lead others.

Before I ever became an entrepreneur, I discovered that it was easy to lose myself in the day-to-day tasks of my professional life. For this reason, I developed what I call the TOUCH Principle. The TOUCH Principle is a philosophical premise that is rooted in building, growing and intrinsically seeking personal growth through self-discovery. It is not a quick fix, but rather an axiomatic approach to discovering your true self. The TOUCH Principle is an acronym that stands for, Tell your story, be Optimistic, have Unconditional relationships, Care for each other and Help others.

The TOUCH Principle is a daily reminder to continue to develop and strengthen my relationships. Yet, the most important aspect of the TOUCH Principle is that it is different for every individual. The acronym TOUCH can be tailored to any individual and have a variety of meanings. For example, an individual may have their TOUCH stand for, Trust others, Own your mistakes, seek to Understand, show Courtesy and Help other people grow.

No matter what your TOUCH principle is, it must come from the heart. William Butler Yates once said, “it takes more courage to examine the darkest corner of your soul than it does for a soldier to fight on the battlefield.”

I challenge you today to seek a deeper understanding of yourself. What is it that is important to you? Why do you want to lead? Who do you want to be? As you answer these vital questions, you will slowly begin to formulate your own TOUCH Principle, creating a lasting effect on not only yourself, but also those around you…