By Denise Boudreau-Scott
I feel like I have been in hiding for months now. Not seeing family and friends like I used to. Not going on fun social outings — no dinners out, no concerts, no drinks at the bar. I’m not even at my office with my fun team!
I know you’re showing up at work every day, but you’re probably hiding out in other ways. 2020 has given us all a good reason to crawl into a hole and hide. (And thus I am now the proud owner of a new wardrobe of sweatsuits or, um, leisurewear as they call it now!)
The Wrong Time Excuse
Even before this pandemic, did you regularly make excuses as to why it wasn’t the right time to make the changes you know you should as a leader? Maybe you were waiting for your annual survey to be over. Or you needed to wait until you had enough staff. Perhaps you were waiting for a change in one of your key leaders. Or maybe it was the mother of all excuses: I don’t have enough time to deal with this!
All of these excuses add up to the kind of hiding that causes you to put off going after what you really want: your life back. A life where you don’t feel mentally exhausted and drained every day. Where you have energy left to give your family at home and your team at work.
You might be ignoring opportunities because you don’t feel “ready” or you’re waiting for the stars to align, but can you mentally afford to do that any longer?! (Here’s a hint: Instead of daydreaming about a new career, take advantage of the opportunities that exist to make the most of the one you already invested so much in!)
Self-Sabotage
This pandemic may have our extracurricular and work-life looking very different, but does that mean we need to hide from opportunity? Hide from growth? Hide from bettering ourselves?
That is self-sabotage, and I won’t stand for it, especially for someone with as much talent as you!
This year, I’m challenging you to step up too — that’s right, I am joining you. But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be all big and dramatic. And you don’t have to do it perfectly.
I’m challenging you to go after the life you want. Pandemic or not. To face the fact that you are not stuck . . . you have a choice.
And if we are honest, not choosing is A CHOICE to stay stuck.
In Case You Need Help . . . or Want Company on the Journey . . .
You can go solo on this journey but I have consistently found that when I have big changes, big projects I am working on, it’s better, easier, and more fulfilling when I take the journey with someone else. (It is why Steve Moran and I work on one or two big projects, and lots of little ones, each year.)
I have opened up a super-special offer for Fearless in the Face of Crisis that you can check out here.
Seriously, if you don’t prioritize your leadership mindset in 2021, it’s only a matter of time before you are going to burn out. Hint: wishing won’t get you very far.
You can stay stuck as a leader, spending your time being stressed out, overwhelmed, and doing way too much yourself. OR you can turn over a new leaf. And I can help.
Hugs
Denise
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