Are You A Rebel?

Are You A Rebel?
by Pegine Echevarria

Are you a rebel? Do you fight against the rules? Do you want to do things your way? Do you discount others advice? Maybe you know someone who is a rebel?  

Movies have glamorised the bad boy image, the rebel among us. For those of us who have embraced the rebel attitude, myself included, we have to acknowledge that our thoughts and behaviours have not resulted in the kind of life we wanted. The problem with being a rebel is that we too often are fighting the rules, just because. There is no real plan of what we want to achieve. We just do not want to follow the rules.

I’ve met so many talented, skilled, phenomenal people (many of you read this newsletter) who have rebelled against rules, protocol, processes and the natural laws of success, wealth and love. The result of all this was stress, anger, resentment, loneliness, and lack (of abundance, appreciation, and opportunities).

Enough, I say, It is time for all of us rebels to get over ourselves. We need to take charge of our careers, our businesses, our teams and our lives by letting the “rebel factor” go. In fact, after years of introspection and having a few a-ha’s along the way, I’ve come to realise that rebel really stands for:

R – Resisting
E – Excellence
B – By Not
E – Engaging
L – Leverage

When people are rebels they RESIST following the rules. There are umpteen reasons why they (me?) don’t want to follow the rules. Perhaps it is the belief that “they” are out to get me. Or the ego “I know better,” or “maybe that’s true for you but not me!” Perhaps it is a person’s sense of not being good enough “I can not, therefore I will not.” When someone is a rebel they are resisting against what they perceive as conforming, giving in or succumbing. Everyone has been a rebel at one time or another.

What are we resisting — EXCELLENCE . . .

Excellence is achieved when one takes action and does the best they possibly can. When there is resistance to following the steps, protocol or natural laws it is impossible to achieve excellence. Yes, I hear you — some rules are limiting and stifling. You can take action and change them by following the rules of change, but by resisting the rules you are setting yourself up to encounter stress, anger, resentment, loneliness and a lack. You lose power to change the rule or improve the process of implementation.

BY NOT — Rebelliousness is a negative form of action. There is a philosophy that you get what you give. If you resist what you get is resistance. In my own life I know that I have had to work harder and take a longer route towards my success, because I fought the rules. I fought the rules of money, the rules of receiving an education, the rules of successful relationships and the rules of life. My resistance, my willingness to NOT play by the rules resulted in many moments of frustration, anger, stress and resentment, as well as being lonely and being in lack.

ENGAGING — To engage is to connect, to be a part of, to be a piece of a bigger puzzle — life. In order to engage you must break away from the rebel factor by reaching out to others and being vulnerable. You do this by letting others know that you do not have to know how to do everything. You do not have to have the answers to everything to engage others.

LEVERAGE is using outside resources to assist you in following the rules and learning the rules. This includes reaching out to others for support, building an effective network where you can offer your expertise and gain the expertise of others and being willing to accept the help from others who have been there before you (mentors, guides and teachers). It includes using the specialised knowledge that can be found in libraries and support centres specifically created for you success (Small Business Administration centres, Chambers of Commerce, professional associations and universities).

Being a rebel creates a persona of a loner, someone who has chosen to stand apart, aloof and indifferent. Being a rebel insinuates that you want to cause trouble and create chaos. Is that what you really want to do?

Try-it:


Reformed Rebel tips:

1 – Be in the day. Just for today follow the rules. Keep to the speed limit. Mind your manners. Follow your office protocol, just for today. I learned that I can follow rules for a day . . . that’s it; I can’t guarantee that I will follow them tomorrow, but today I can.

2 – Pick two rules that you can keep in business. Make 10 phone calls, fill in your expense report exactly as requested. Return all phone calls before you leave the office. If your team is experiencing a morale problem decide that your rule for today and the next five days is to personally greet every member with a smile — no matter what, or to meet with each member to listen to their suggestions about improving morale (not listen to whining but to hear their suggestions).

3 – Call two colleagues and ask for advice (easier to write this rule than follow it . . . I admit).

Kick-butt action:
Transforming the Rebel Inside

1- Write your response to: “My rebelliousness has caused . . .” 

2- Review your response.

3- Decide what you will change about your perceptions, thoughts and beliefs.

4- Create a plan of action to change.

5- Take the actions described in your plan.

 

Thought of the Month:
“If you haven’t turned rebel by twenty you’ve got no heart; if you haven’t turned establishment by thirty you’ve got no brains!” — Kevin Spacey 

 

Magazines describe Pegine as one of the top motivational success and leadership experts with business and team building experience! Her teambuilding and motivational programs are experiential, fun and filled with content. Companies use her to motivate people, develop strong leaders & teams, and increase productivity. For more success, leadership and team building information visit her website at www.pegine.com.