Last week we discussed a framework to keep you motivated to achieve your goals. But what if you don't have any goals yet? How do you get started? To figure out where you want to go, reflect on where you've been.
I belong to an amazing group called Alexandria Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). This group is full of accomplished and thoughtful businesswomen who come together to share experiences and lift each other up. Last week our leader, Jill Erber, proprietor and cheese lady of Cheesetique, led us through an exercise where we reflected on 2016 and envisioned 2017. The questions were so compelling I asked her if I could share them with you.
I invite you to read through them now, then schedule some time to reflect and answer these for yourself. You can go through once focused on your career then another focused on your personal life. Or go even deeper and answer in each of these categories: health, spiritual, career, relationships and hobbies.
Reflections on 2016*
- Three words that describe me in 2016:
- My greatest victory in 2016:
- My greatest challenge in 2016:
- The most painful lesson I learned in 2016:
- I wish I had spent less time doing the following:
- I wish I had taken more time to do the following:
Looking forward to 2017*
- What are three things only I can do?
- What is a brand new thing I will try in 2017?
- What age-old thing will I eliminate (or drastically re-work) in 2017?
- Doing this makes me feel less productive:
- Doing this would make me more productive:
- I plan to achieve the following goals in 2017:
*These reflections are modified slightly from Jill's original questions to apply to a broad audience.
As you reflect, give yourself some mad props. You had victories! You overcame challenges! You learned lessons! What an amazing person you are for everything you did. As you envision, think big. Maria Abromovic, Serbian performance artist who exhibited at MoMa, says, "I am only interested in the ideas that become obsessive and make me feel uneasy. The ideas that I'm afraid of." When you answer the question, "What is a brand new thing I will try in 2017," make it scary. Push yourself. Feel the thrill and awe of living big!
Are You Really Ready to Grow?
Does 2017 feel like it's time to get real clarity about who you are, what you stand for and how you want to show up in the world? If you're looking for the answers to these questions so you can live big, I invite you to join me at one of my Flourishing workshops. With feedback like this, how can you not click through?
"The program was life changing. It was the best thing I did for my business last year." –Amy Rutherford, Red Barn Mercantile
"Your workshop helped me see through the fog of the day-to-day and focus in on who I am and how that translates to my company. I am changing my approach to everything. DeZEN has evolved and grown because of you and this class: social media, handling of clients, it all goes through our value filter now. I love it and feel a deeper sense of joy towards what deZEN is accomplishing. Thank you!" –Maria Elizabeth, Salon de ZEN
"RESET (Flourishing for Veterans) takes a unique, introspective approach which is powerful. It creates a safe place for us to explore more deeply what makes us tick and what our true values are." - John Sims
"You made me fierce!" –Sue Hoppin, National Military Spouse Network
"The process helped me discover what I really enjoy. Coming out of RESET, I took a pretty bold move: I handed my notice in to my civil service job. Now I'm loving what I do. I wouldn't have made the leap if it hadn't been for RESET." –Sean McBride
Courses start in February, so sign up today!
Flourishing for Veterans is operated under the brand name RESET and is sponsored by Capitol Post. Capitol Post, home of the DC veteran business community, hosts our four-part workshop series.
RESET is for veterans and their spouses looking to take the next step in their careers, start a business, explore a different path, or even just wanting to ignite a sense of passion in life. In a four-part series, we'll uncover your life storyline, values, inspired purpose and ways to bring those to life in resumes, interviews and every-day living.
Learn more and register.
Are you at a cross-roads about how to move forward in life? Some people call this a midlife crisis, but we call it a midlife calling! If you feel like there's more to life and you're ready to live with more fulfillment and meaning, this is the workshop for you.
Many of us advance through stages of life that have us see the world with new eyes. Suddenly, what was perfectly acceptable years ago suddenly feels empty and meaningless. If you're wondering, "Is there more to my story?" this workshop is for you. Learn more and register.
Been in business for a while, but feeling a little flat about how you describe your company? Think there's more to your brand than what you see now, but not sure how to express it? Want to inspire your employees, customers and prospects with a brand built around your "special something" as a leader?
This one-day intensive workshop is exactly what you need to boost your brand. The full-day session will identify your archetypes, or storylines, that connect with people on the deepest level. It will examine your values and how they can be used to align employees and build brand ambassadors. And it will leave you with a messaging map that can be used as the foundation for all communications. Learn more and register.
Not into the group thing? Schedule a series of four one-on-one coaching sessions with me. I'll guide you through my process to help you define who you are, what you stand for and how you want to show up in the world.
Think this would be a great exercise for a team? You're right! I'll design a customized retreat to help align and inspire your team. E-mail me for more info.