So this is it. Last day of 2014. Its been a crazy year—I quit my job, got an MBA and started a business. Those are pretty incredible achievements for a guy who was on track to be a serial employee. If I had asked myself two years ago where Id be at the end of 2014, none of those wouldve been on the list. I made some drastic and difficult life choices around the middle of 2013. I didn’t like the direction I was headed in. Sure, I was rising in my organization, but there were incongruities between the work I did and my overarching values. I’d rewritten my personal mission statement, and I realized that in order for me to accomplish the things I wanted to do I had to make some changes. And here we are, just about 18 months later, and I’m more aligned with that mission than ever. Every day I make progress towards my goals, and every day my vision of success gets clearer. That mid-2013 inflection point clarified a few ideas that helped shape that vision, and I’d like to share those with you so that you can begin your journey towards success: 1. Don’t settle for mediocrity. If you convince yourself that it’s okay to settle for less than you deserve, then you’ll never break through your perceived barriers. Strive for excellence, always. 2. Never stop learning. I didn’t get an MBA because I wanted to flaunt the credential. I got it because I needed to challenge myself, to re-engage my brain and fire up those flickering neurons. Going back to school was my choice—you can gain the same benefits (without the investment) by making a commitment to learning. Read books, take online courses, etc. The idea is to challenge yourself to grow. 3. The process is more important than the end result. The only was you’re going to grow is through doing. And while you shouldn’t lose focus of your goals, all of your growth and your achievement is earned during your journey. I encourage you to spend some time researching the idea of the “growth mindset.” One of the best books I’ve come across on the subject is Carol Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. 4. Find a mentor or coach. I can’t stress enough how strongly I believe in the power of coaching and mentorship. I made more gains, got more clarity and learned way more about myself through my coach and mentors than I could have possibly realized on my own. Find a mentor whom you respect and that has experience in the areas you’re interested in. A word of caution: a mentor/mentee relationship is bi-directional. Don’t expect to just take or absorb the value your mentor gives. Put effort into applying the lessons learned and reflecting your experiences back to your mentor. If you do this I promise you’ll get so much more from the relationship. And finally, 5. Make a promise to yourself. You’re on this journey for a reason, whether it’s to enrich your life, enhance your career or make an impact on the world. Be honest to yourself about your motivations and make a commitment to action. If you do just one thing each day—take one action that aligns with your motivation—you’ll keep that momentum going consistently. Have a happy and healthy New Year! I wish you the best for 2015 and beyond!
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:31:57 +0000
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