Or how to step into 2021 on purpose.
Saying goodbye to this year means we have to embrace another… but is it just another number in a sequence of years? If we have failed to execute what we had committed to achieve this year we need to do something to break the cycle.
It’s not always possible to move forward with our past neatly reconciled. Sometimes it’s a case of having to move on regardless. You might move on with applause ringing in your ears or it might be without control over what is said about you. However, to move forward you have to make a choice. Our past, in terms of what was done or not done to us, does not have to prevent us from controlling the controllable.
So… before Big Ben strikes twelve it’s time to deal with the things that stop us from stepping freely into a new year.
The door to 2021 is open. There is an opportunity to step into purpose…but we can’t if we are saying internally ‘BUT FIRST…’
When an opportunity presents itself and we say ‘BUT FIRST’… the excuses start to kick in. Now, they might be perfectly valid excuses but they need to be dealt with if we want to make the most of the opportunity.
When we encounter a ‘BUT FIRST’ we need to recognise it as a nudge to action. It highlights what needs to be addressed now, in the moment, to obtain momentum. Then trepidation can turn into confidence.
Everybody’s ‘BUT FIRSTs’ are different. You’re reading this and you already know what yours are. What you need to do is turn the ‘BUT FIRST’ into a ‘BE the FIRST’. Companies that gain an advantage move quickly. They free themselves to focus on the future. We need to make sure that in these times of future uncertainty we deal with the certainties. Let me give you a few examples:
We stay committed rather than seeking comfort:
You’ve got this far and you can keep going. Fear is a result of an unknown. So dealing in knowns gives you confidence for the unknowns. You can take hold of today’s opportunities and stop going through yesterday’s news. Naturally, we look for a more comfortable life and even in the midst of COVID trauma want to surround ourselves with comfort. In essence we need to do what needs to be done to embrace a fresh opportunity. Use the time don’t just spend it.
Ensure you have clarity as your compass:
Clarity comes from knowing your planned route! Are you clear on what you need to do and where you need to head?
You have to make small clear steps in the right direction. Sometimes we try to follow the road that others have taken, when in reality everyone’s quest is different. We can pick up knowledge along the way but having someone else’s compass means that you’ll end up at the same destination. Your route starts where you are and your destination is dictated by whose compass you are using. *
BE who you need to be to live out your CAUSE:
Human beings aren’t just human doings. Who do you need to BE? Now add that to your CAUSE and you have your BECAUSE… I’m on this planet… BECAUSE. This is at the centre of who you are. Don’t let your identity get lost in a task alone. Our BE is made up of our character and talent. You can get so far with talent but your character is the thing that gives longevity. Fulfil your BECAUSE by BEing you!
Get ready to take opportunities by doing what’s necessary and avoid the ‘BUT FIRST’ response. This moment is an opportunity and rather than be the one who finds it easier to point the finger from the sidelines, why not point the thumb back at you and deal with the things that you can deal with today.
There’s an audience out there waiting for you to shine. BE the FIRST and show them the way!
The door of 2021 is open, so get ready to walk through it. What you’re leaving is second to where you’re going.
*If you need help to outline your future plan and identify clear steps forward try Cre8ion’s brand Workshop.