Review Your Work (last day of 2015)

We are all doing this.  We are reflecting on our last year and looking forward to the next.  After all, without reflecting on the past, how can we set goals, make plans or even learn?

By taking time at the end of the year (or project or quarter or month) to review and see what you accomplished, or didn't, you have the opportunity to relive (see them again in your mind's eye, enjoy/celebrate one more time!) some moments, and put others away (get closure, finalize, remove/delete).

Here is my ReLive List for 2015:

my sons graduating to their next level of education

• new clients that asked me to join them on their journey
• trip to the Bahamas - new spot to visit
• Las Vegas with my mom & dad!
• becoming part of a virtual team 
• new wineries to visit (numerous!)
• hosting The Art of Inspiring Conversation
• watching all of How I Met Your Mother with my hubby
• birth of a new family member
• new business opportunity (more on this next)
• reading 2.75 books per month - opening my eyes and my mind to new ideas
• starting a develop-myself trek by 'reading' while running - bless the inventor of the audiobook & the authors who read their own work!

Here is my PutAway List for 2015:

• falling off my plans for posting regularly
• not hitting 2 goals for this year 
• firing a client
• realigning my time to focus on what matters most - and then not sticking to the plan  (It was the Year of Ship....every year should be the Year of Ship....)
• arguments, fights and wasted time in toxic encounters
• tears of not enough, when we are all enough
• mistakes, misunderstandings and miscommunications
• realizing I still need to forgive and grieve in order to move forward (that one hurts still!)

Writing this out, I can see that the ReLive list certainly includes more other people than the PutAway List - that tells me something right there, doesn't it?

Part of getting this out is to help us see where we can make changes & grow.  The other side is to look at what behaviours, feeling and accomplishments do we want to repeat & how do we do that.  Starting tomorrow, it's all about finding the way to enjoy more, regret less; hope more, grieve less; ask more, be present, give back & be kind.

Time to Open Your Eyes

a revised post from an old post

The same person is now in charge of the project. This happens every time.  You are not happy because you have complained numerous times about their lack of organization and inability to lead teams and the fact that every other one of their projects is either off the rails or has been put back on the rails by a rescue effort.  You wonder what colour are the glasses your boss is wearing?  What is he seeing that you do not?  What is he seeing in you, or rather, not seeing in you?
What to do?
This one is easy.  And it is a 2-parter:

• Think about when you complained, did you offer any solutions or resolutions or alternatives that would have been better, or was it simply a complaint?  If it was only complaining- like sour-grapes, then re-think that strategy immediately.  You are not contributing by whining.  Always provide a solution or an alternative. This regular choice may be the go-to choice because they are unaware there is an alternative.
•  Ask why you are not being considered.  What is it that you have to learn/do/experience before you are given these types of assignments?  Showing that you are open to learning will no doubt give your boss something else to think about.  Your initiative can open their eyes.

An Impression & Validation

In private practice and working 1:1 with business owners, there are many different ways to know if you have left an impression.  Most of the time this deals with the goals my clients set, and how I hold them accountable to the steps they create to get there.

This Summer, one of my clients was travelling in Spain and took a photo of a bar that is completely covered in post-it notes - with names and locations of everyone who has stepped into the bar.  He said he immediately thought of me.

I work with flipcharts, post it notes of all sizes and apps of post it notes of all types depending on the client and project and its needs.  I was honoured that he thought of me while on his trip....he took this photo to share with me in his next session.  It made me feel that I had left a mark...I had influenced his thinking.  Funny to call it validation - it just feels good.

The Adventurous Life

So many words to contemplate - 

Try one thing each day to step outside your comfort zone, be a little on the daring side, opening up your heart, or putting your toe in....

You can never be sure where it will take you - the risk is always worth it, even when it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

In the end, whether you land on your feet or fall flat on your face, 

at least you can say 'I did'....and that is saying a lot.

The Sweet Spot

The sweet spot is described in many ways.

The sweet spot is where every single one of us, no matter who we are or what we do, play and work at our best.

The sweet spot is the combination of work and play - it feels good to do it - you can do this all day long everyday and still feel refreshed and energized.

Here the Sweet Spot helps us differentiate from our competitors.  In the currently trending personal branding space, this is what sets us apart from everyone else.

And in this last image, it truly is where the heart is - your passion, your focus and your ability to give to others from this space makes you who you are and provides you with your purpose.

Tomorrow is Loading

Most of us are really good at making a list for tomorrow, or saying we will start that tomorrow - whether it is work related, health related or anything-else-related, tomorrow always seems like a good time to start.

Well, leaders of the universe.....we start now.
We start now to commit to ourselves that we will do what it takes to share our experiences, build great teams through inspired communication, connect with like-minded individuals who want to change the world, while being grateful that we have hearts, minds and hands that can be put to the task - whichever one we decide to tackle first - and now, not tomorrow.

STOP!

What is that one thing you have been meaning to do?  Go.  Go NOW.  GO do it.

Tomorrow is always loading....and it never really gets here does it.  What would you do if you did not have a tomorrow?

(I am currently reading Becoming Steve Jobs, this book inspired my thoughts...and now inspires my actions)

80 Days Left

If you were to leave today, you could get around the world in 80 days, just like Passepartu in the movie of the same name.

If you left today, you would be back on January 1st, 2016.
The New Year.

So get ready to pack your bags.  If you were actually going to leave today, what would be the 3 things you needed to get done so that...
...your business could operate with you mostly disconnected from it?  (Or could it?)
...your team could handle the day to day, making decisions you would be confident that would reflect the brand, protect the brand and the client and move the organization forward?
...your life could continue in a new way upon your return?

With my coaching clients in the last 20 days, we have completed work on what we called the "100 day sprint"  ...what do we each have to get done/completed/wrapped up by the end of this year to start the New Year fresh.  This took some soul-searching because in this 100 days (and now 80 days), there are weekends that are tied up with 'stuff'; holidays; days off; committed days and more.  Time gets quite limited so you need to become realistic fast about what goals you must accomplish.

We spent a few hours focusing on 'the 100 day sprint' list & then pared it down to what was realistic.  As we evaluated some of the lists, it became evident that some of the items on the list were really steps to a more major item and we could group them together.

Example:  I am focused on getting my book published by the end of the year - my list included publishing the book, completing the images, completing the final draft etc.
 - publishing is the goal
- the image creation is a step
- the drafts are a step

By grouping together, and looking at each goal on the list, we were all able to develop and set an appointment (with ourselves if needed) to complete the next 1 step.  Our commitment was to plan the next step (step 2 or 3 and so on) after completing the first one.

So far, its working.  From client feedback it's working. (We report in to each other & hold each other accountable).  You try it....see if it works.  Let me know...and reach out if you want to talk it through.