To go beyond yourself, you must first be yourself’ - Guy Finley
I am a passionate person. If I care about something, it seeps out of me, and I care deeply about the amazing people who work at Jacksons and the journey we are on together, both for ourselves and for our clients.
I want to share something with you that I believe has given us a deeper connection as a team and stronger foundations as a company. More than that, it has added depth and layers to who we are, creating longevity and sustainability for the future.
Beyond Self.
To explain what Beyond Self really means, how it was created, and the impact it is already having on our team, our clients, and Jacksons, I need to start at the beginning. Emotions, actions, and behaviours all come from somewhere; they need context. Without it, we are left to create our own version of the story.
So let me share my version of Beyond Self, and then we can explore together what it means for the team.
I’m 48 and I love where I am at in life. I have lived and learnt and continue to do so daily. I like to let life feed me; I always have but not always recognised that that’s my kryptonite!
Around 5 years ago I spoke to a friend, an ex-colleague that I had known and worked with for many years. Lots of time had passed between catching up but as soon as we got back together the mutual respect and trust for each other remained, a connection built a long time ago from working in a very intense environment. That meeting led to another, and eventually having a call with Pete Matthew, the most inspiring person I had spoken to in financial planning. I was at a point in my career where I didn’t feel heard, valued or empowered, but Pete instantly provided everything I needed to take a massive step into what has become both the most joyful and challenging role I have ever undertaken.
Around the same time, something really small became a big moment, something that really challenged and changed me. One day we were out and about in the car, my partner Carm and daughter Rosie. Rosie asked me if I was a feminist, at the time I said no, quite firmly, but I said I quietly support the cause in my own way. She challenged me then, and that challenge has sat with me ever since. For days I questioned why I had said no, and fast forward 10 years, I now know that it was because of the environment I was in for most of my career. I had to quietly accept things as they were in fear of being less respected, of being ‘that’ female - the one that is a task master and that demands things - when all I actually wanted to do was my job exceptionally well. It still happens, but I no longer shy away from who I am and I go beyond me to help others. So, thank you Rosie and listen to your kids, they are insightful and are ready to be heard.
So where am I at? I had a family that empowered me to do anything I’ll wanted, a daughter challenging me to do better and a partner who has always given me unconditional support to evolve.
Time to challenge myself and move to a company where I really could help reshape the industry.
I go back to the beginning, ‘To go beyond yourself, you must first be yourself.’
I knew who I was and what I wanted from life. I wanted to grow, to feel valued, and in turn help others experience the joy of that same feeling.
Throughout my working life, I’ve observed many things, but the most powerful is what happens when people feel part of something bigger than themselves — when they feel valued and truly seen by their colleagues.
This is the magic.
One day, whilst out for a run (where I do all my thinking) I was working through the things I am grateful for. From a work perspective, the feeling that overwhelmed me most was being understood. I had been given the space to be exactly who I am, without having to compensate or fit a mould. That feeling is empowering.
My next thought was: how do I pay this forward? How can I help others in our team, feel seen, heard, valued and recognised as more than just the job they do?
So, I wrote a list of every team member: their role, their interests, their passions, and the characteristics that make them who they are. I then looked at Jacksons, the path we are on and how we need to evolve to become the company we want to be.
From there, I identified areas where different skills and passions were needed and aligned those with people in the team in a way I hoped would ignite something in them beyond their role.
Beyond Self. And that’s how it was born.
Creativity is important in our workspace; it will play a pivotal role in the success and growth of JMFP. I hope by giving the team something beyond their role, it will fuel innovation by encouraging fresh perspectives and unconventional thinking. This is how we differentiate ourselves from those around us to stay ahead of the curve.
We began to integrate Beyond Self 12 months ago and it has already had a massive impact within our team. It shapes how work is done, not just what is done. It means that when we come to our day at Jacksons, we are fully present, motivated to make a difference and care deeply about the journey for our colleagues and for our clients. This is what creates connection, and from that, trust. Beyond this, we understand how environment shapes behaviour, confidence, and voice.
It’s powerful, isn’t it, to feel that each day you are making a difference, having an impact?
I often say to the team that we are really good, but we are on a constant journey to become great and we will never stop challenging ourselves to evolve into a better team.
So, how does this actually work? More to come...
This article was written by Sharon Bray, Empowerment and Impact Lead.
Learn more about Sharon here.