Most parents have heard the advice given on airplanes before each flight. “In the event of an emergency, please secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” While the instructions may counter our natural instincts, the logic is sound; if you pass out, [Read more…] about Where’s Your Oxygen Mask?
Archives for July 2013
Mark My Words: How Business Professionals Track Writing Progress
If measuring progress is an essential part of working toward goals, how does a writer know if she is on track? Do writers count words or time or both? Which approach works best for which types of writing?
In Stephen King’s On Writing, King shares that he starts writing in the early morning and writes at least 2,000 words each day. Sometimes he can reach his goal in a few hours; other days he is still writing in the early afternoon. He writes until he has written [Read more…] about Mark My Words: How Business Professionals Track Writing Progress
Take Time to Celebrate
One of my clients experienced a notable milestone this week. Weeks of hard work and intentional preparation culminated in a successful event that unfolded nearly exactly like his envisioned ‘optimal’ outcome. During a quick check-in call after the event, he identified for me the many pieces of both the process and the outcome that had gone well. Then he shared that he was not sure yet where to focus next.
“Take a moment to celebrate,” I offered. “Stand in the place you are and capture everything there is to notice about this moment. Write down what went well and what you want to change for next time. Bring as much intention to your process of celebration and reflection as you did to your preparation.”
This client is up to big things in the world. His recent event was an entry point to the greater goals he has and larger contributions he will likely make on his path. By capturing the clarity he has at this moment in time, he creates a reference point to review when he prepares for another event in a month or a year from now.
The next time you reach a milestone, consider savoring and celebrating the moment with the same level of intentionality you invested in preparation. Before looking to see what is next, honor the value of celebration as an act of completion. Allow yourself time to reflect and record all that comes through. In taking the time to complete through celebration, you effectively clear space to allow the next new adventure to emerge with clarity and alignment. Enjoy!
Mixing Business and Pleasure: Writing a Mission Statement
Writing a mission statement for your life or business is an adventure. Whether you are revisiting the language and form of your current mission, or preparing to write your first mission statement, the process of working with your mission can become an expression of who you are as well. While writing a mission statement can feel like a serious undertaking, surprising results may come through if you are willing to shift your approach.
First and foremost, give yourself permission to PLAY. Your mission is who you are at the core. It has always been who you are, it reflects who you are now, and it will be who you are ten years from now. Through play, we tap into the earliest and purest expressions of ourselves when our spirit emerges stronger than our inhibitions and insecurities.
The first time I wrote a mission statement, I did not appreciate the value of play as part of the process. Instead, I worked very hard to intellectually figure out my mission statement within the context of a course assignment. I crafted the language carefully, memorized it, and practiced delivering it out loud to the group. It was ‘accurate’ in the sense that all the pieces were authentic and true to who I was, but I struggled to memorize it, and I lacked confidence when I shared it with others. (Hint: A great mission statement [Read more…] about Mixing Business and Pleasure: Writing a Mission Statement