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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Goals

January 3, 2024 Seeing the forest…

Image by Joe from Pixabay

The beginning of the year is one of those rare times that is conducive to raising our heads and taking a bird’s-eye view of the year ahead. Normally, many of us tend to keep our heads down and march forward, one foot in front of the other, doing whatever daily work and tasks come our way. This way of living may seem a bit passive (or can even seem like “survival mode”), but many of us are too busy–or think we’re too busy–to do anything else.

However, focusing on the trees instead of the forest can get us into trouble and may actually be costing us valuable time and resources. We might not be working efficiently, for instance, or we may be heading down the wrong path entirely. Additionally, we may miss opportunities for creativity and innovation if we’re so focused on the daily “grind.”

I suggest taking a step back and thinking about the forest.

“Forest thinking” means seeing the big picture and considering all the many options that lay at your feet. This type of thinking inevitably involves reflection, which may not seem terribly appealing to some. Reflection, however, can be whatever you want it to be. It can involve journaling, talking out your ideas with a good listener, or taking a long walk and thinking about your options. It could also involve creating a vision board or a Pinterest board (if you’re a more visual person), or drawing a mind map.

The goal of forest thinking is really twofold:

  1. It helps you identify where you are. What are you current struggles? What’s going well? What would you like to change?
  2. It helps you identify where you’d like to go. What options are available to you? (and are you sure you’re not thinking too small?) What would your ideal year look like? How can you make that happen? Does a major change or changes need to happen? What are your personal goals? What are your dreams/aspirations?

As you consider these questions, do not put limits on yourself. Dare to dream! You deserve a great year ahead, and it’s okay to think big or consider making a major change (such as a career shift). This month, I challenge you to take a step back, reflect in whatever way suits you, and start seeing the forest ahead.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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December 27, 2023 Holiday Reflection

We’ve done it, friends. We’ve reached the end of another holidays season and another year, and we’re marching forward into the next year. If you’re like many people I know, this year has been filled with ups and downs, peaks and valleys. You’ve learned some tough life lessons, but you have also had moments of joy, satisfaction, and victory. The trick is, clinging to those “peak” moments and letting the valley moments slide away.

You might call this “selective reflection.” Make an effort to sit down (perhaps with a favorite warm beverage!) and spend some time quietly thinking about your accomplishments and positive moments. You could also choose to do this with a journal, jotting down your thoughts about the year. If you go the journaling route, remember this is just for YOU, so there’s no need for perfect grammar or even full sentences. Just write whatever comes to mind.

For me, this last year has had its challenges, but it has also contained several bright and shining moments. I welcomed a little grandson into the world this year, I had a chance to spend quality time with loved ones, I traveled to Iceland with friends, I spent time with family on both the east and west coasts. The list goes on.

When I focus on all the positive, uplifting, and joyful events that occurred this past year, the bad “stuff” seems to melt away. And that’s powerful. When you choose to concentrate on blessings, the difficult moments seem bearable (even if you’re grappling with difficulties right now).

I challenge you to set a positive tone for the New Year. Infuse yourself with positivity and gratitude, and march boldly forward. Don’t forget, you probably had plenty of support and love this past year, and it is always a good idea to reach out to your loved ones and thank them for their positive presence. Demonstrate your gratitude through a phone call, a hand-written card, a meaningful gift—however you see fit to recognize the special individuals in your life.

What will the New Year bring for you? What changes—large or small—do you anticipate in the year ahead? I would love to hear from you.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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December 6, 2023 Why to “Ramp Up” Your Resolutions

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we feel a sense of renewal, a fresh start. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions and pledge to begin our new healthy habits as soon as the year begins. Although the energy of a new year can help us along for a while, it can be very difficult to sustain a new habit if we aren’t used to doing it. Making the switch from a junk food diet to a healthy one, going from the couch to the gym, cutting ourselves off from social media, or any big lifestyle change can rock our routines and make us feel a bit off balance. And this discomfort might be enough for many people to eventually give up and say, “Well, there’s always next year…”

How can we avoid making short-lived resolutions? How can we make healthy changes that last? The answer might be “ramping up” your resolutions.

It is difficult for most people to make a major change at the drop of a hat. Instead, it can be helpful to make incremental changes—minor tweaks to your usual routine that are relatively painless to implement. Small changes can add up, especially when you make a conscious effort to ramp up those changes day after day, and week after week.

If you haven’t been jogging lately, it would be exceedingly difficult (if not impossible!) to run a marathon. That’s why there are marathon training regimens in place. These programs help people build up speed and stamina over the course of several months, so by the time the marathon rolls around, they’re well prepared.

The same idea can be applied to ramping up your resolutions. A month or two before the new year, you might start building toward your resolution. Let’s say you’d like to read two books every month next year. You can start by committing to reading a minimum of three pages a day for a few days. Then, you can increase that amount to five pages, then ten pages, then an entire chapter. By New Year’s Eve, you will have developed the beginning of a reading habit and will be ready to tackle your resolution in earnest.

Another example is eating a healthier diet. To prepare for this resolution, you can start small. Try swapping a daily junk food snack for a healthier option (swap potato chips for sliced veggies or an apple; swap a cookie for a piece of low-sugar dark chocolate). Or, you could modify one of your daily meals to be healthier (eating a salad for lunch instead of a pre-packaged sandwich or mac ‘n’ cheese).

To ramp up to your resolution, it’s a good idea to keep a few things in mind:

  • It pays to plan! Set a starting point and map out how you will slowly ramp up your behavior.
  • Use a calendar and set alerts. This will help remind you of your next “ramp up.”
  • Don’t stress the start date. You can start making incremental changes at any time of year, not just before the new year. Just make sure you have a clear direction and have mapped out how you will ramp up.
  • Celebrate wins! Don’t forget to recognize the progress you’re making.
  • Get others on board. It can be very helpful to include others on your journey of self-improvement. Ask a friend to check in from time to time to help you reach your goals (and don’t forget to offer to do the same for them).

The end of the year is fast approaching, and it’s not too late to start thinking about the changes you’d like to make for yourself. No matter your goals, it can be hugely helpful to tackle them slowly, one small change at a time. You’ve got this, and I’m cheering you on!

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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