We’re into week 3 of our Sprint to Spring challenge. Having kicked off the year with an energetic Jumpstart January, we’re focusing on keeping the momentum going.
So far this month we’ve encouraged you to ask:
- What skills do I need to drive me forward?
- What is holding me back?
This week we’re going to work your responses into a vision for the future – to make them relevant, tangible and empowering.
How far into the distance are you looking when thinking of your skill set development? Remember that most people overestimate what they can do in a year but underestimate what they can do in a lifetime.
Here’s your question for week 3:
Where do you want to be at the end of the year? Five years or ten years from now?
We’ve been through a process of expansive thinking over the past few weeks. It’s time to bring it down to earth and make it a reality.
So your two tasks for the week are:
- How old will you be by then? Write it on the page. Rather than thinking about what you will be doing then, concentrate on how you’ll be feeling. How do you want to feel?
- What’s the next first step? Keep it simple and manageable and concentrate on one thing. Keep it where you can see it, don’t keep it hidden in a diary. Then do it.
Keep an open mind. Write what you’d like to have achieved by your year, five-year and ten-year markers. Don’t censor yourself, note down all your thoughts as they come to you and keep going until you’ve exhausted them. When you’ve finished, ask ‘what else?’
Sit back and quietly think about:
What have you noticed?
What have you learned?
What is your next step?
Make it work for you
So often we’re so busy with the day-to-day that we don’t stop to take stock of where we’re going or what we want for the future. We end up prioritising what’s urgent over what’s important and when there’s so much to do, it can seem indulgent to pause, dream and strategise.
But our future starts now. Make a date with yourself in your diary this week and get thinking about where you want to go. Hard work alone won’t get you there without a vision to keep you motivated and on track.
That said, it isn’t all about the arrival point. It’s about enjoying the journey. Sometimes living in the moment is also rather wonderful. The key is finding a balance between enjoying the now and investing in the future.
We’re in this with you
Check back again with us on LinkedIn later in the week to find out how we fared.
If you’re enjoying the challenge and you’ve got some feedback you’d like to share, please feel free to drop us a message or reply to this email.
It’s impossible to see the label from inside the jar so if you’re struggling to identify what’s holding you back (or you can’t push past it) then help’s at hand. Just drop us a note.