New Year. A natural time for reflection and evaluation.
Am I where I should be in my life and work?
What can I do to change or improve my circumstance?
How do I get to the place I really want to be?
I’ve always kinda been a junkie for self-improvement and change, and 2013 was no exception. It’s now been a little more than a year since I started my own marketing communications business, and the New Year seems like the perfect time to look back and celebrate the journey that has brought me to where I am today.
It has been an amazing year of opportunities to learn from others and inch my way closer to the work I really want to be doing. While I’ve always been one to ruminate on what more I can do to grow in my work, becoming my own boss has made me realize that to move forward, I need to get out of my own head and gain some fresh perspective. To that end, I recently set on a course to take a more thoughtful approach to my work.
A couple of months ago, I engaged a business coach to facilitate my very own strategic process – to clarify my sense of purpose, develop my story, and identify my business priorities. It has been a great experience, helping me understand why I do what I do, how I can achieve my purpose, and what I have to offer.
Through this process, I now realize that the seemingly diverse work experience I’ve gained by following my heart has added up to something of real value. I’ve always been fascinated by how we connect to one another through stories. I love helping people and groups see their potential and articulate that potential to others in a compelling way. I want to grasp how people think to foster understanding, and nurture authentic relationships.
I have really enjoyed this process of discovery, and I now know that I am where I should be right in this moment. I have a direction and a new sense of purpose, and the action plans in place to make the necessary changes to get there. Bring on 2014!
Of course, my destination may change, and the road may take some funny turns along the way, but I’m excited about the journey ahead.
To gain perspective, and get you thinking about your own ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘what’, view Simon Sinek’s inspirational TED talk.
So, where will you go this year?