The best is yet to come

I forgot that Day Light Savings began last Sunday. I woke up feeling extra hungry and tired but did not know why. It was only halfway through lunch in the afternoon that I realized what had happened.

With all the clocks we rely on being digital and automatically updated, I forgot. Or perhaps the real reason I forgot was that I felt so busy and overwhelmed to notice.

How often have we let ourselves be busy and overwhelmed and we brush it off as it being just the cost of what it means to lead… without wondering ‘what if’?

What does success mean to you?

I was asked this question at an event I was mentoring recently and I loved it. It made me reflect and reminded me how my answer to this question evolved. In business, I was informed that it’s important to have tangible goals. What’s the number of products you want to sell? What’s the revenue goal you want to make?

Business aside, it starts much earlier in life. What grades are you getting? What schools are you getting into? What salaries are you earning?

The question is: Is this the way I want to measure myself and my life? Yes, growth is important but are we perhaps limiting our framing by looking just at that one number?

How do you measure becoming a better person?

Why do I care?

Especially when I feel stuck or stressed, I like to do the “5 WHY” activity. I speak about this in my book Rethink Creativity too. It helps us get to the root of why we feel what we feel. Why do I want to meet that revenue goal? Why do I feel excited about this project? Why do I feel upset about this situation? And as I start going down these questions, I find more clarity and the answer always surprises me.

Asking more ‘why’ questions seems timely especially in the wake of the accelerated Great Resignation where 4.4 million Americans are leaving jobs. We’re good at keeping ourselves busy. How can I be mindful of not just running without intentionally reflecting where I’m heading? Sometimes I may not know the answer to the questions I reflect. And that’s ok. Impacts are created over time. The best is yet to come so don’t run for the sprint, run for the marathon. Remember your why.