As we plan for our next home, one of my criteria is a fire pit on a patio close to the house, ideally a gas one that I can easily turn on whenever I want that experience.

I did virtually no camping as a child. Still, as an adult, I enjoy the energy I get from sitting around a fire with friends and family, listening to music, eating s'mores, drinking a glass of wine, and enjoying the energy that comes from the experience. If I'm 100% honest, I don't do it much at home right now because it requires a real fire, is away from the house a bit, and too often, I'm ready for bed early…yes, a bit lame.

This may sound like an easy question to answer, but I think it's one of the harder ones if we think beyond the immediate moment.

🤔 What do I want from my life?

🤔 What do I want from my job/career?

 🤔 What do I want from my relationships with family and friends?

Change often happens slowly, so we don’t notice that we have made progress. If we think about our kids, we may not realize how much they've grown until we're away for a week, or we look back at pictures from six months ago and recognize that they have changed. Or we think about the time we're putting in at the gym, and suddenly, we notice that we have more arm definition when we decide to wear a sleeveless top.

We are often triggered to shrink back to who and what we think we should be. 

Are you fading into the fabric or standing out?

Are you a connector naturally, or is it something you want to work on?  We can be better at being a connector by listening to the people around us and consciously looking for opportunities of who or what we can connect them with.  It requires us to be intentional in our desire to help someone else find what they’re looking for, maybe even before they recognize it.

What would this actually look like?

✔️No mistakes.

✔️No emotional reactions to stressful situations.

✔️Sufficient time allotted to coach every team member in their own unique way.

Is there a balloon it's time for you to let go of? To give yourself the time and space to figure out the next leg of your career or life journey can be a powerful gift.

Leading ourselves is the foundation for being able to lead others. And, sometimes, the right next step in that leadership is letting go and finding the next balloon when the right one comes along.

As leaders of organizations, we often think about how to deliver feedback to the people on our teams. We've learned various strategies on what to do, what not to do, how to prepare. Yet, it still often feels hard and uncomfortable.

Think about the flip side. Are you getting feedback from your teams, your clients, your colleagues, or your board members? Do you have someone who is providing you with the tough love or "radical candor" that you need so you can lead effectively?

When you hear a similar message three times in short succession, it's time to listen.

When you think about the idea of making one bold ask each week or one bold move a day, what's your first reaction?

Do you run your calendar or are you letting it just happen?

🤔Does your calendar look like overlapping meetings from the time you start your day until it's time to stop working?

🤔Are there important things that aren't showing up on your calendar - upcoming days off, times to plan and reflect, time to eat lunch?

🤔Can you clearly see if your priorities (assuming you know what they are) are showing up on your calendar in the right proportions?