Someone might do it differently to you.
And that’s okay.
They may get the same result (or better) with a different method.
And that’s okay.
We don’t necessarily all approach a task in the same way.
And that’s okay.
Because isn’t it more about the result?
(Inspired by my current work trip to Mozambique, Africa. Where things get done differently.)
There is too much to do.
It is piling up in front of you.
Everything is a priority.
There is stress and overwhelm.
It is not clear what to do next.
But when there is too much to do.
You can only do one thing at a time.
So pick one thing and start there.
It’s never the right time…
…to go on a trip.
…to be away.
…for work to do that.
…for family to do this.
…to start a project.
…to leave the project.
…for people to come over.
…to go out.
…to finish later.
…to leave early.
…to start.
…to stop.
So don’t wait.
It will never be the right time.
You can learn from experience.
Sure.
You will make mistakes.
Work it out eventually.
Find out what not to do.
Incrementally get better.
Or you can learn from the experience of others.
Experience that has gone before you.
They have made the mistakes.
They know what to point out.
They can pass on the knacks.
Learning can be accelerated.
Sure, you can learn from experience…or…you can learn from the experienced!
“Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?” – Voltaire
Okay…so you failed.
What can you take away from the failure?
Where is the success within the failure?
The learning of something new.
The creation of a new process.
The expansion of your network.
The accumulation of knowledge.
The development of a new skill.
The refinement of an existing skill.
The stepping out of your comfort zone.
The gaining of expertise.
The building of resilience.
The inspiration for another idea.
You may not have achieved the result you were after.
But you can still achieve a positive result.
Dissect the failure for successes within.
Your decisions have got you to here.
The various dots and connections.
Your dots connect to create the current picture that is you.
The decisions made.
The actions taken.
The choices.
The behaviours.
Be they good or bad.
These all form a picture.
A picture of you.
If you’re not liking how the dots connect to form your picture…
…then start creating different dots.
Are you waiting for someone to give you permission?
Permission to enjoy life?
Permission to slow down?
To start something?
To study something you love?
To stop studying something you hate?
To be happy?
To go on an adventure?
Are you waiting for your boss to say “yes”?
Your family?
Friends?
Are you waiting for permission to go after “it”?
Whatever “it” is for you.
Stop waiting.
The only person you ever need permission from is yourself.
To give yourself permission to do whatever you want to do.
To be whatever you want to be.
Go on…give yourself permission.
The blank sheet.
A blank canvas.
The fresh start.
A clean slate.
The new job.
A new challenge.
The new year.
A new day.
How daunting!
Intimidating.
Overwhelming.
Or…
How exciting!
Stimulating.
Motivating.
How you view it…all depends on you.
What you did 10 years ago will be having an impact now.
The work you were doing.
The relationships you built.
The decisions made.
The skills mastered.
The projects delivered.
The plans developed.
The opportunities taken.
The opportunities created.
Leading you to where you are now and the impact you’re having.
So what impact would you like to have 10 years from now…?
You’ve achieved your goal.
It has finally come to fruition.
It took a lot of hard work.
So why doesn’t it feel better?
Why is the accomplishment not meaningful?
Maybe it was something your did for someone else.
Worse…it was someone else’s goal.
Or it was an old goal that is now no longer relevant.
Perhaps it was just the wrong goal.
Perhaps the ladder was against the wrong wall.
“People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.” – Thomas Merton