* If you're wondering why this post appears here on Weebly (as opposed to my regular Wordpress account) you can find out more, here:
notesfromthescribe.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/notice-regarding-upcoming-posts/
So anyway-
I like browsing channels of entrepreneurs who are several steps ahead of me when it comes to their business size, life experience etc. Watching these videos is how I stay connected to those who've gone before me- and continue to learn...
Then just recently, this video came up in my feed- and it couldn't have been more timely:
notesfromthescribe.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/notice-regarding-upcoming-posts/
So anyway-
I like browsing channels of entrepreneurs who are several steps ahead of me when it comes to their business size, life experience etc. Watching these videos is how I stay connected to those who've gone before me- and continue to learn...
Then just recently, this video came up in my feed- and it couldn't have been more timely:
I added it to my 'Watch Later' list because of the title. Why?
I'll admit something now... over the past few months, I found myself wondering 'Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze?'
You see, just last week I clicked over another year. Another birthday. If you've been reading my posts a while now, you know that for me, celebrating another year also means something else:
Yearly Planner Time!
I have outcomes listed for the week and outcomes listed for each season. Both of these line up with the yearly goals I set for myself each time September comes around. I take a look at what outcomes I reached in the past 12 months, what outcomes I changed or didn't quite reach- and then I envision what I want to achieve over the coming 12 months. It's such an important occasion that I take the day off. I unplug from social media, get outdoors, reflect and strategise. It'd always leave me pumped for the year ahead and full of anticipation for the new outcomes I'd listed and committed to...
But this time around?
I'd been thinking about the sacrifices I've made: The time I spend working solo. The pressure I put on myself to do so many things that nobody notices if I leave them unfinished. The amount of things solely up to me to organise and complete, every single day. I did all this with the destination in mind. Yet...
I'd cross off these outcomes and there'd be no welling up of pride...
No rush as I celebrated another "Mission ACCOMPLISHED!" So I'd begun wondering:
"Is the juice worth the squeeze?"
On Monday morning, having freshly clicked over another year, I took my bike with me and boarded a city-bound train, iPad and helmet stuffed into my backpack. For hours I rode through the parks and along the beach-suburbs on a beautiful Spring day, and pondered...
I'll admit something now... over the past few months, I found myself wondering 'Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze?'
You see, just last week I clicked over another year. Another birthday. If you've been reading my posts a while now, you know that for me, celebrating another year also means something else:
Yearly Planner Time!
I have outcomes listed for the week and outcomes listed for each season. Both of these line up with the yearly goals I set for myself each time September comes around. I take a look at what outcomes I reached in the past 12 months, what outcomes I changed or didn't quite reach- and then I envision what I want to achieve over the coming 12 months. It's such an important occasion that I take the day off. I unplug from social media, get outdoors, reflect and strategise. It'd always leave me pumped for the year ahead and full of anticipation for the new outcomes I'd listed and committed to...
But this time around?
I'd been thinking about the sacrifices I've made: The time I spend working solo. The pressure I put on myself to do so many things that nobody notices if I leave them unfinished. The amount of things solely up to me to organise and complete, every single day. I did all this with the destination in mind. Yet...
I'd cross off these outcomes and there'd be no welling up of pride...
No rush as I celebrated another "Mission ACCOMPLISHED!" So I'd begun wondering:
"Is the juice worth the squeeze?"
On Monday morning, having freshly clicked over another year, I took my bike with me and boarded a city-bound train, iPad and helmet stuffed into my backpack. For hours I rode through the parks and along the beach-suburbs on a beautiful Spring day, and pondered...
"What exactly do I want to achieve in the next 12 months?"
Then through the course of the day, it dawned on me-
I felt unsatisfied because I'd come to define success more by what I did, than who I became.
I'd been too concerned with a cross-it-out, paint-by-numbers, legalistic view of achievement. It's all well and good to look at a list of action items and see that I did a, I did b, I also did c...
But-
More than anything, I needed to pay more attention to my attitude.
Instead of defining the next 12 months by a list of achievements, I had to scale that list down to just a few, simple mostly intangible things. I realised that before anything I undertake this coming year or any decisions I make, these 3 questions have to underpin them:
- What do I enjoy doing?
- What attitude do I want to have?
- Who would I be proud of, as a person?
I realised that provided I follow these three questions, the results come of their own accord. From there, it was quite easy for me to plot out what I want from the next 12 months. There are fewer items listed than years previous, and most of them can't be measured or itemised- but that's fine with me.
Attitude is the fuel that drives us.
It's one thing to do what needs to be done and feel as if you're going through the motions...
But it's something else to become somebody who does more than just ticking a box, to take pride in what you do and who you become in the process.
Succeeding is an event. But being a success is a mindset.
Succeeding is temporary. But being a success is permanent.
Succeeding shows you stretch the limits. But success shows you persisted.
Succeeding gives you the chance to learn. But success continues learning.
I share this not to stand on a platform and boast of "enlightenment". I share this because a couple of weeks ago? I felt burnt-out. Inspiration was like a memory of romance gone cool. I wondered if the juice would really be that sweet or abundant and I kept thinking "What's the point?"
But now? My outlook and my attitude feel notably different- and I'm looking forward to what manifests with this as my driving force...
I wanted to share my account for those of you who may privately be struggling for enthusiasm, and have a sense of guilt for not feeling passionate about what you're doing. Maybe when you strategise, you've found yourself short on inspiration even as you imagine the fulfilment of your plans?
If this is you, I encourage you to ask yourself just three questions:
#1- What do you enjoy doing?
#2- What attitude do you want to embody?
#3- Who would you be proud of, as a person?
Get clear on these. Base your vision and your goals on them. Then go forward!
I wish you a greater sense of inspiration, achievement, fulfilment and contentment in the year to come...
Then through the course of the day, it dawned on me-
I felt unsatisfied because I'd come to define success more by what I did, than who I became.
I'd been too concerned with a cross-it-out, paint-by-numbers, legalistic view of achievement. It's all well and good to look at a list of action items and see that I did a, I did b, I also did c...
But-
More than anything, I needed to pay more attention to my attitude.
Instead of defining the next 12 months by a list of achievements, I had to scale that list down to just a few, simple mostly intangible things. I realised that before anything I undertake this coming year or any decisions I make, these 3 questions have to underpin them:
- What do I enjoy doing?
- What attitude do I want to have?
- Who would I be proud of, as a person?
I realised that provided I follow these three questions, the results come of their own accord. From there, it was quite easy for me to plot out what I want from the next 12 months. There are fewer items listed than years previous, and most of them can't be measured or itemised- but that's fine with me.
Attitude is the fuel that drives us.
It's one thing to do what needs to be done and feel as if you're going through the motions...
But it's something else to become somebody who does more than just ticking a box, to take pride in what you do and who you become in the process.
Succeeding is an event. But being a success is a mindset.
Succeeding is temporary. But being a success is permanent.
Succeeding shows you stretch the limits. But success shows you persisted.
Succeeding gives you the chance to learn. But success continues learning.
I share this not to stand on a platform and boast of "enlightenment". I share this because a couple of weeks ago? I felt burnt-out. Inspiration was like a memory of romance gone cool. I wondered if the juice would really be that sweet or abundant and I kept thinking "What's the point?"
But now? My outlook and my attitude feel notably different- and I'm looking forward to what manifests with this as my driving force...
I wanted to share my account for those of you who may privately be struggling for enthusiasm, and have a sense of guilt for not feeling passionate about what you're doing. Maybe when you strategise, you've found yourself short on inspiration even as you imagine the fulfilment of your plans?
If this is you, I encourage you to ask yourself just three questions:
#1- What do you enjoy doing?
#2- What attitude do you want to embody?
#3- Who would you be proud of, as a person?
Get clear on these. Base your vision and your goals on them. Then go forward!
I wish you a greater sense of inspiration, achievement, fulfilment and contentment in the year to come...