If you don’t know where you are going…
Are you unclear about where you are heading?
Or wondering why you are doing what you are doing?
If so, are you hoping that you will suddenly find “your mission in life or greater purpose”?
You may be waiting a long time…
I don’t believe in a sudden enlightenment, but rather – that it’s a discovery process and a journey.
But all journeys must have a clear direction and we need to make sure that direction makes sense for us.
To set a direction that will stimulate you, motivate you and enable you to grow, consider the following questions:
What gives You Energy?
What are the activities that fuel you? What are those that drain you?
For example, it may be selling that fuels, administrative tasks that drain. Or, planning fuels you vs. reviewing progress that drains.
How do these compete for time in your day-to-day?
You need more fuelling than draining!
What drives You?
This can be closely tied to energy. But it’s the longer-term perspective.
For instance, I know that I am driven by building new things and have spent a significant part of my career as an intrapreneur and subsequently started my own company. Put me in a role to cost control and minimise investments and I’ll be miserable.
You may be driven by organisational transformation and drained by the day-to-day business operation.
What gets you going?
How do You grow?
In my view, growth is fundamental to sustain our energy and drive in the longer term.
“When you stop growing, it’s time for retirement.” says a Fiona Wood, a famous Australian doctor.
You can grow in a vast number of ways. Consider skills, changing organisations, culture, scope of responsibility. Growing doesn’t necessarily translate to climbing the ladder.
Ask yourself what would stimulate your growth and development and “put a toe in the water”.
Give it a try. If it feels right, build on that.
What do others say you are really good at?
We’re not always be the best judge of what we’re good at. Or we may be blind to some qualities that others see in us.
To find out we must ask others how they perceive us, take stock of that, and seize opportunities to do more of it!
With answers to these questions, you have the key ingredients to define a direction that will resonate for you.
Keen to hear your thoughts!
Jakob
PS. If you’re interested to explore the above questions with a coach, please DM me.
PPS. If you found this of value, feel free to SHARE.
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