Create ways to notice your impact, your milestones, your progress and your momentum. Create ways to notice what you love.
I’m writing to you from the Westin Bonaventure in LA, where I just attended the joint conference of the League of American Orchestras and the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (I am a proud board member). As I sit here waiting to depart for the Opening Concert of the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl (with Gwen Stefani), I’ll share a few reflections from this week:
Connecting to meaning must be a perpetual commitment. As hard as we may try, it is easy to find ourselves “in the weeds”, measuring our success and progress by the completion of tasks. Not only can this lead to burnout, but it literally prevents each of us from using our innate superpowers to create the impact we know how to create. Instead, find ways on a regular basis to re-connect and re-new. For me, this week it was to attend a conference. EVERY week, I seek to create ways for renewal. As a speaker shared in a session: “Renewal is the process of perpetually building meaning into our organizations and our careers/lives.“
Celebrating what WAS accomplished is harder than effortlessly knowing what was NOT. Employee retention was a hot topic. Leaders are finding creative ways to make sure their employees know they are valued, feel connected and have flexibility – in the face of flat salaries, increasing travel costs, and of course the constant uncertainty and frustration of having to create scenario upon scenario and well-laid plans having to be cancelled. I added an invitation to not overlook the importance of celebrating what HAS been accomplished, and what the IMPACT on others has been. It can be a surprisingly hard exercise in the beginning, but when this practice and awareness takes hold, it can be exhilarating.
Content is King, but an in-person experience creates context & connection that is invaluable. Many of the presentations could have been white papers or blogs, or webinars. Hearing a murmur during a presentation, sensing a shift in the room, offering a handshake, having direct eye contact, seeing legs, hearing “wow, you’re TALL!” was all so much fun, and – like live performances – creates a shared and deeper context for future virtual gatherings and interaction.
Create opportunities to take stock. Like Celebrating Impact above, Conference was a time to remember the last time we gathered together three years ago, and notice the changes in your life (or perhaps notice that you’re still stuck wanting to make changes but not knowing what to do, when or how!). Are you happy, wiser? Are you tired or frustrated? Knowing these answers, and your why’s, can gently provide some data to help hone in on getting what you (really) want.
A milestone moment. I had the honor of hosting a lunch for some of my clients attending conference. One of the beautiful comments shared was how it was noticeable not only how much impact each member of our tribe was having in the field, but that their unique purpose was clear and that their momentum seemed to be building effortlessly and authentically.
The lunch was a milestone moment to me, as I looked around at all these amazing leaders – some of who I was meeting in person for the first time. My dream has come true. I know my purpose is to help leaders and organizations at Crossroad moments find their purpose and curate integrated careers and lives at the intersection of Joy and Impact.
I am the future self that only five years ago I could barely imagine.
And you, my readers, are a part of this moment, and the movement we’re creating together. Thank you for reading, thank you for letting me KNOW how these blogs resonate with you, and thank you so much for sharing my work with those you know who are at a Crossroad Moment.
I am grateful, and I am here to help.
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To your success!
Kathryn
Next Chapter Coach
Creator of The Career (Life!) Breakthrough AcademyTM