Life Stories featuring: Michelle R. Obama

Becoming is a memoir published in 2018 and now available as a documentary on Netflix with the same title. It has been a delight to revive my reading hobby (due to the Covid-19 lockdown) starting with this book by Michelle Obama. I never thought her story would speak to me personally at this phase in my life and that the book will also confirm the reasons why YourLeadershipValue.com was started. Her story reads like a friend's story, her fight to fit in using education and articulation is inspiring, her strength and dedication to her family is praiseworthy, and her ability to communicate well and connect with people across all spectrum is unparalleled. But more than anything, her conviction to stay true to who she is = powerful. I would quote the whole book if that was possible at all. So as my mind and heart are still sifting through the reflective thoughts, let me just share a three points that stood out for me especially most related to self discovery.

She was confident of her thoughts and knew that her voice mattered.

Numerous times in the book, she had spoken up or took the lead for change in her life, in her family's, in the organisations she worked for, and of course for the country she served. Her parents' trust in her making the right decision even at an early age had greatly helped set up this foundation. The interactions she had with her extended family strengthened this. Her early reading lessons from her mother gave her the confidence for clear articulation, since kindergarten.

She was not afraid. And she knew who she was and what she wanted even when she started dating Barack Obama and could see he was really different.

I must be honest and say that I am still finding my voice and my 'brand' (read here on how you can find your 'brand'). One thing I know is certain: your voice matters. It does make me wonder how you can become confident with your voice even if your childhood looked different from hers. And I would like to find that out.

She was a strong overcomer.

I was surprised to know that she also struggled with thoughts of being 'not good enough'. But she was able to fight those thoughts down through hard work, practice, and preparation; especially for being well organised which happens to be also my thing.

She harnessed her contrasted background and status and combined with her grit attitude, she then went after positions or opportunities that were perceived to be exclusive and out of reach. Resulting in not just the position and title but also merits and recognition of her value.

I can relate to this personally since I started my life here in the UK as an undergraduate student and went on to build my career in global firms and in various industries and also paying my way through and completing my MBA. While I still need to further develop my assertiveness and not let the fear of in acceptance from people get in the way of my resolve, I was still able to have a stable career that has given me opportunities to travel, own my house, and pay for my own MBA fees. And I know the hard work that my parents ingrained in me plus my inherent skill for planning and project managing have made that all possible.

She followed her heart.

Her career shift from a high paying lawyer position to a normal paying civil servant role was a very brave move. But it was worth the risk for her to pursue what she wanted to do most which was to help her community. She learned to check her heart for each succeeding role she took, building a very impressive portfolio of outstanding results of growth and development in those organisations.

She is very admirable for able to 'pivot' her focus and emotions so that she can carry out programmes that have benefited her nation and women globally, such as advocating for girls' education. All this despite her being open about the awkwardness she feels living a public life as the wife or a politician, who is none other than the President of the USA.

I connected with this the most as I also went through a soul searching journey of finding my 'why' and my purpose. After reading this part of her journey I was more emboldened to invest in the mission to help women discover their potential and develop their leadership potential drawing from their strengths.

---

Your journey so far may not have been like Mrs. Obama's; perhaps you may have even experienced trauma or underdevelopment. But allow me to say this to you: Your journey so far is part of your growth…and your story is still yet to be finished.

Be brave to continue writing your story, to find and exercise your unique voice, because it matters.

Becoming by Michelle Obama