Reflect on Your Priorities and See What Is Right for You
It is time to look at the future and decide where you want to go.
Photo by Polina Zimmerman
Are you happy? Be honest with yourself, as no one else is around.
I spent a few days in the hospital last week and had time to think. I realized that while I had been dealing with the difficulties of running my solopreneur business, I had lost joy in the process.
But it was the building process that excited me in the first place. How could I lose it?
You do not have to wait for such a moment. Today, I want you to reflect on your career, relationships, satisfaction, and general well-being.
No one is here to judge you. Release your frustrations, tiredness, or boredom.
Where are you now?
Chasing your dreams
What are you chasing right now? Is it:
A fancy job title that earns you respect and helps you climb the ladder up?
Tight deadlines and work on weekends as you cannot manage?
Working while you are battling illness?
Getting the partner of your dreams?
Starting your own business?
A higher salary?
You are in a race. You picked it up some time ago. Is it still valid? Or are you doing it out of routine?
When I started my first serious job, I thought I had to climb up to feel successful. So, I did. Junior - Experienced - Senior - Manager - Director. The only promotion that mattered to me was getting a senior position. The others were much less exciting.
How about you? Are you in an exciting career race? Or are you in a bland boring culture in which email signatures mean more than actual skills?
Was it your dream to work long hours and not have time for your family when you started the job? People often feel they have no other choice than to perform.
When you lose sight of your dreams, it goes beyond the absurd. They are there somewhere. But are they still top of mind?
When you realize there is a choice
Days are passing. You are hustling around.
Which choice would you make if you faced one?
The rabbit hole is deep. Likewise, your journey to happiness. As Buddha said:
“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”
Do not expect changing your job to save you from your misery. It can. But it does not have to. The grass is not greener elsewhere.
So, if you struggle with:
Finding a purpose you want to follow
Being a good partner/family member
Getting the next promotion
Making your business run
Being a good boss
Refuse to accept such struggles and stand up for yourself because you have what it takes.
You have you.
You can improve in any area you choose. Keep your mind fresh and hydrated, and think about your priorities.
Priorities are your choice.
Where do you find the key to happiness?
“I don’t know what I want.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
“I have too much responsibility.”
It is common for people to hide behind impossible circumstances that prevent them from taking steps toward their priorities. It is a great shame, as without knowing where you want to go, you will just drift around without really achieving anything.
I call for immediate help.
Who else is better at that than Stephan R. Covey himself?
This masterpiece will help you prioritize.
Think about this for a moment:
The way we see a problem is a problem.
I notice more and more leaders miss a long-term view and vision. They put out fires without really understanding their own motives, values, and beliefs. That is why so many people have quit over the past two years. Work does not make you happy or give you satisfaction.
Reflect on your priorities so far:
Do you look into the future?
Do you find yourself significant?
Do you tend to please others?
Do you understand that you are in charge?
Do you often feel like a victim?
Now you may see something you have not thought about yet. Let me push you further using Stephen’s proactive principle:
Surprise surprise!
You are given a choice between any stimulus and response.
It comes down to how you perceive yourself and how vivid your imagination is. Also, your sense of right and wrong, or the fact that you are independent.
You know what is best for you now. No one else.
What is it?
Set the right priorities
First of all, you need to find your center. When you focus on the right priorities, you work on building a solid foundation for your happiness.
Do you find your priorities here?
Source: Stephen R. Covey: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
What resonates with you? Keep in mind that you are independent and capable of responding. Make such a decision consciously, not because others expect it.
Alert! Whatever priority you decide on, be happy about it and enjoy it! If you don't feel tickled by the thought of it, then it might not be engaging enough to make it a priority.
Now:
Write down your center and next to it answer these two questions:
What is really important?
Why am I doing what I am doing?
Visualize yourself in 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. For each of the areas you chose, what do you see?
Out of many wild ideas, there might be a few you like. That is it. That is all you really need.
I too reflected on my vision last week. Work is one of the things I value most. My priorities stayed unchanged, though. I want to help you grow your leadership skills.
Yet, I have decided to refresh the joy of the process and start building a community that supports your leadership journey.
I would appreciate it if you joined other leaders and subscribed to this newsletter.
What is coming next? A new leadership community will have:
Regular live workshops and classes
Case studies and interactions
Podcast
QAs
Stay tuned, and thank you for your support! Ivona