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Is your calendar packed to the gills? Are you constantly double or triple-booked? Do you feel like you have to choose who you are going to fail today? You don’t have to face the doubts alone. I write this blog to help executive leaders move from overwhelm to action. As Dan Martell says, “A problem well defined is a problem half-solved.”
Celebrate Your Wins
Pause for a moment:
What’s one thing you accomplished this week—big or small?
Did you organize your closet?
Go to the gym?
Got out of bed?
This week, I completed a one-pager and scheduled a LinkedIn Live. I also updated this website.
Drop your win in the comments or share it with a friend! Now, let’s proactively plan for the week ahead to set ourselves up for success and reduce overwhelm. This week is for my job seekers or people trying to reinvent themselves. We draw inspiration from Affirmators! At Work by Suzi Barrett and some random songs.
“You gotta have Faith” – George Michael
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines faith as a “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” This was a hard week for me. I was struggling to stay positive. Do you remember a time when you just knew? You didn’t know how it was going to happen, but it was going to happen? I knew someone who wanted to replace their vehicle. They had faith that they would do this. Within a month, they were driving a much safer vehicle. For those of you who can’t envision your new life, the first step is believing that you can change your circumstances.
Challenge: Envision your new life. You can write it in a journal, sketch it, or record a voice note of what you want to accomplish. Get specific including all your senses. Who or what do you see? Does it have a smell? What does it feel like?
“Who’s zooming who?” – Aretha Franklin
Discernment is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.” Is this a scam? You need to be able to distinguish and differentiate what is right for you. You may have some false starts. Maybe you were looking for work in a particular field, and you realized that you have transferable skills. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing as well. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Anchor yourself with a clear vision and understanding of who you are.
Mini-exercise: Check your gut. Think about something that makes you happy and lights you up inside. Note how that feels. Now think about a time that you made a wrong decision, and “something” felt off. What did that feel like? Start with a small decision like what you want to eat for dinner. Notice how each option feels to your gut.
“Money, money, money, money, money” – The O’Jays
Money is a tool. We need money in our current system. I don’t know where the quote came from but “exposure doesn’t pay the bills.” I am not advocating for a transactional world. Part of that discernment is understanding the true cost of that opportunity. Is the offer worth your peace? According to my friend the dictionary, money is “something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment.” Time is money. We need to discern where we spend our energy and resources.
Waste not, want not. Pay attention to where you spend your time and money. Do you need another kitchen device that you aren’t going to use? Are you going to implement that course or workbook?
“I watched you change” – The Deftones
We may not be able to change external situations, but we can respond differently. What are the stories you tell yourself? Monday, I said that I was a loser and no one would ever want to work with me. I discerned how unhelpful that thinking was and changed the narrative. I may not be able to see my future, but if I give up, I absolutely will fail. How does future me behave? Like Cardi B rapped, “I make money moves.” I’ve always said that a comfort zone is a desert. Very little grows there. It’s time for us to transform our minds. Like Bob Marley sang, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”
“If you make sure your connected” – Stereo MCs
I hate networking. If there is a party, you will find me in the kitchen watching dishes or being a wallflower. Is this true? I have been the person introducing all the new people and helping them make connections. What if it isn’t that I hate networking, but I am unskilled at it, and it makes me uncomfortable? There’s that discernment again. What do I need to change?
I got to spend time with a former colleague and friend and the advice they shared was to network, network, network. Who are your influences? Are you surrounded by people who despair and are waiting for the other shoe to drop? Do you know people who are succeeding despite the odds? They decided to succeed. Tony Robbins said, “It’s not the lack of resources, it’s your lack of resourcefulness that stops you.” Look. I know that a very simple way to end poverty is to give people money. The money fairy unfortunately is not answering their phone right now, so it’s up to us to figure it out. Expand your circle with discernment.
To recap:
• Are you ready to change?
• Do you know what needs to change?
• What is your relationship with money?
• Do you understand why you need to change?
• Who are you surrounded by?
Need a Little Extra Support?
If you’re finding it tough to carve out time for yourself or need a reset, I offer Calm Down Sessions designed to help you get the headspace you deserve. Sometimes, a quick chat is all it takes to get back on track.
Ready to tackle your overwhelm? Let me know what’s happening, and we can schedule a brief call to brainstorm solutions together. Book Now: https://calendly.com/thingstothinkabout/calm-down
What did you learn this week? What is one thing you need to release? Drop your thoughts in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to cheer you on!
