5 Things: Issue 08
5 Things: Issue 08
A Reflection
I’m writing this week’s post in my bed in the dark while everyone sleeps. I’m awake far earlier than I’d like to be, which seems an increasingly common theme as I move into a different stage of life.
I’ve reflected on many things this past week that have made it challenging to narrow down. I’ve reflected on the helplessness I feel at times as my kids navigate puberty and all the uncomfortable emotions that go along with that life stage. I’ve realized that I’m more conflict-avoidant in some areas of my life and not others. And I’ve spent time reflecting on personal mastery (a regular pastime) and other inspiring women in my life.
These reflections led me to think revisit the type of person I want to be.
To gain inspiration, I decided to take a trip down memory lane and see what type of emails I’ve sent my subscribers in the past. That led me to an email I sent in February last year. In it, I talk about the concept of Be, Do, Have. I’ll share a bit of the email here, as it’s a great reminder for us all to connect with our greater purpose and ask ourselves who we need to be in order to have the things we want in life.
“…I am a firm believer that we don’t take action until the pain or frustration is great enough that the desire for something different catapults us into effort. That, or until we reconnect with our Why and quiet the voices inside that want to keep us in our rut story. Today, I was able to tame my inner voice and DO something different.
And finally, I revisited what I want to HAVE in my life. More travel. Less pain. More financial security. More energy for my myself, my kids and my circle. Less inactivity. More job satisfaction. More impact.
Thanks to the 25 minutes on the treadmill today, the writers block I’ve been experiencing for a long time started to lift and out poured this email to you all.
It’s a start and I know there will be more uphill days to come. Regardless, I’m grateful for today and all the days to come that I get to show up and BE the person I want to be. And from that comes the clarity around what I need to DO in order to HAVE more of the things I’ve listed above. #progressnotperfection
What I love about re-reading this excerpt is the reminder of how powerful the practice of writing is to create focus and help us achieve our goals.
A year ago, I wanted to experience less pain, be more financially secure, travel more and feel more energetic, among other things. Looking back, I can honestly say all of those goals have come true. Every. Single. One.
I haven’t looked at that email since I hit send on it back on February 2, 2023. But the practice of writing it down and setting that energy out into the world, along with the mental work of writing new scripts and beliefs for myself and continually checking in with who I want to be in various areas of my life, have led me to where I am today.
This reflection leaves me feeling grateful to all the people who have supported me along the way. People in my immediate circles, authors and thinkers who have inspired me and I am grateful for my kids, who always teach me new things.
One Piece of Business Advice
I wrote about the importance of having a strategic plan in my first issue this year, and want to focus on the research part of it this week. I’ve spent the past week and a bit leading strategic planning retreats for two of my clients and writing up draft strategic plans for their teams to review.
I can’t stress enough the value of looking at your external environment - what’s happening in your industry outside your business.
Whether you are a solopreneur, a leader within an existing organization, or a small to medium-sized business owner, conducting an environmental scan helps you understand and assess the external factors influencing your organization or business decision-making process.
It involves gathering and analyzing relevant information from multiple sources to identify potential risks, opportunities, trends, and changes in the external environment that can impact your organization's success.
You can use various tools to help identify potential threats and opportunities sections of your SWOT analysis, and they are essential for any organization that wants to stay ahead of the competition. I find that many people develop SWOT analyses' that lack a ton of information (I used to do this, too!)
Three of my favourite tools to use are a PESTEL analysis, Porters 5 Forces and a strategic group map. I recommend picking just one tool to try and see what insights you glean from the process to help come up with new insights that will help your business unit or organization.
One Mastery Tip
I’ll be in Arizona when this is published, and I am excited to explore new terrain and connect with nature. I love spending time in nature, and it always reminds me that:
Nature is a stress reliever. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, spending time outdoors guides me back to a grounded state.
Nature sparks creativity. When I feel stuck, spending time with her unleashes a flood of ideas and insights into the challenges I've been experiencing.
Nature brings out my playful side. I'm usually pretty serious, but being in nature helps me loosen up, find joy, and reconnect with my lighter side.
Nature is a social hub. Whether spending time with familiar faces or forging connections with new friends, nature facilitates a sense of togetherness that extends beyond human interactions.
If it's been a while since you hung out in nature, maybe it's time to reconnect.
Today's Quote
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
~ James Clear, Atomic Habits
One Resource
If you want to get out of a rut, you’ll find some insights in The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain. According to the author, Annie Murphy Paul, the best thing we can do is think outside the box. We can focus better, comprehend better, and create more effectively if we use a host of "extra-neural" resources—our bodies, our workspaces, and other's minds.
I loved reading this book. It was further proof that getting outside, moving your body and tapping into your social networks is so important to our well-being. Here is a handy explainer video I found on YouTube for those time-strapped folks (it’s 17 minutes long - quicker than reading the book!)
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Until next week!
~ Sue
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