5 Things: Issue 01

A weekly dose of inspiration

A Reflection

I’ve just returned from a week in Mexico with my family. It was a lovely holiday and the first time my kids had visited a country other than the US or Canada. I’m proud that I didn’t engage in any work while away. I did bring my laptop, but only opened it once for a logistical task.

Being on holiday and visiting other cultures continues to reinforce the desire I have to spend extended periods of time outside of my normal environment. There is so much to learn and see and do when you travel. I love that travel keeps me grounded and grateful for what I have. It encourages me to be more generous. To live with less.

One of my goals is to work remotely from another location for a month or more at a time. To more fully immerse myself in another culture and become fluent in another language. This is a long-term goal of mine, as up to now, my priority has been to support and raise my children. I do see that goal as becoming a real possibility soon, given that they are getting older and are more independent.

My annual year-end reflection retreat and annual goal-setting have been very helpful.

Two of my focus areas for 2024 are to continue to increase my rainy day funds and to invest in language classes to help get me closer to realizing this long-term goal.

One Piece of Business Advice

Develop a strategic plan. For your business. For your team or department. For whatever you’re in charge of.

Making informed decisions is easier when you've got a plan. Plus, it helps you figure out how to deal with potential obstacles. Having a plan gives you direction and motivates you to keep going.

Your strategic plan might include setting specific goals, creating a timeline to achieve them, and establishing milestones to measure progress. I can't count how many times I hear my clients come up with new ideas to test out in their businesses or with their teams.

I often ask them, "How does this idea help you meet the goals you have for your business?" If they can't answer that question, then maybe it's not the best thing to pursue.

While having a plan can be helpful, it is also important to be flexible and open to changing course if necessary. It will come as no surprise to you that the best-laid plans don't always unfold as expected. So, we have to be flexible.

One Mastery Tip

Get curious.

I've been thinking a lot about my tendency to jump to conclusions or make assumptions based on my own biases lately. One mastery tip to counteract this tendency is to get curious and start asking the right questions. By actively seeking out different perspectives and gathering more information, you can challenge your assumptions and make more informed decisions.

In his book, The Coaching Habit, Michael Bungay Stanier introduces us to seven essential types of questions to ask. There is the kickstart question, the AWE question, the focus question, the foundation question, the lazy question, the strategic question and finally, the learning question.

Each of these questions serves a different purpose, and all are equally valuable and important. These questions can be used by anyone, regardless of their profession, to help them think more critically, make better decisions, and increase their self-awareness.

One of my favourite questions to ask is an AWE question. After someone has shared something with me, I try to add "And What Else?" to give the speaker an opportunity to go deeper and share more. It helps to slow my "advice monster" down and gives me pause to ask better questions.

Not listed in his book is another favourite question I've been using with my kids and partner. "Would you like to be heard, helped or hugged?" Oftentimes they just want to be heard.

Ultimately, getting curious can help us gain insight into how we think and give us tools to make better decisions.

Today's Quote

"I think that little by little I'll be able to solve my problems and survive."

Frida Kahlo

One Resource

While not a business or mindset resource, HomeExchange.com is a resource I’ve been using for the last four years. This is one of the ways I’ve been able to travel more cost-effectively with my family. This service allows me to find places to stay for free or at very low rates. It's also given us the opportunity to experience different cultures and lifestyles, as we tend to prefer living like the locals.

We've even met furry (and not so furry!) friends along the way. Like Goose and Mr. Pickles - two sphinx cats we met in Burbank back in 2022.

Have a great week! Until next time.

Sue