It’s Over – Now What
I heard people say they couldn’t wait for 2020 to be over. Sometimes I felt the same way. But it’s pathetic.
2020 is over. Things that were true last year are still true today. Are you going to plug your ears and cover your eyes until 2021 passes?
Now is your moment.
We miss opportunities for personal growth, acts of service, and relationship development when we wait for storms to pass with a thumb in our mouth.
Leadership is most relevant in turbulence.
Now what:
Peter Drucker said, “You cannot predict the future, but you can create it.”
Act now if you hope to influence the future.
#1. Turbulence is inevitable.
Instability drags on. In fact, you always face unpredictability and volatility.
Don’t stick your thumb in your mouth every time the wind howls and lightening crashes. Rise to challenges with confidence and optimism.
Aim to make something better.
You may not solve everything, but you can solve something.
#2. Your leadership reflects you.
Leaders who blame others/circumstances for the quality of their leadership are big people in baby diapers.
“You become an adult the moment you take responsibility for your life.” Brian Tracy
You’re doomed to stagnation, frustration, and excuse-making when you blame your actions on circumstances or people.
Successful leaders live in and beyond circumstances.
“The best way to improve the team is to improve myself.” Coach John Wooden
#3. Attend to things you control.
2020 reminds control freaks that we don’t control everything.
Control freaks tell everyone they aren’t good enough.*
7 things you control:
- Responses to emotion.
- Responses to memories.
- Responses to events.
- Responses to people.
- Actions toward goals.
- Where you focus attention.
- Your attitude toward yourself, others, and life.
You do well to let go of things you can’t control.
You never flourish if all you do is wait for something to be over.
What do you suggest now that 2020 is over?
*Inspired by Christine Carter.
Visit Brian Tracy
A great way to start 2021. Self reflection is a great starting point for the beginning of the year and no better time than now to hit it head on. Thank You for the gentle nudge to kick things off!
Thanks Scott. Here’s to a great year. The nudge is first for me. 🙂 Cheers.
Some body had shared this on twitter— “2021. Everything is the same as it was yesterday and last week, but it can be different. Up to you.”
Thanks Purti. That’s brilliant and challenging.
We are comfortable with the known (even if its negative, its known!) yet called to create the new. Those who create will be difference makers.. lets get to it! 🙂
I’m looking forward to another year of freakish morning day-starters, thanks for keeping the wheels turning and offering great thoughts.
Thanks Ken. I want to be a difference maker. You explain how in one word, create!
I look forward to another year of service. Cheers
Thanks, Dan. This is a great message to start the New Year off right!
Best wishes, Bob.
There are always two sides of the things and it’s the positivity that always prevails. Scary views, passimistic predictions started adding to the miseries of the people right from the beginning of the year 2020. But It was a great optimistic leader within you who guided you with gut feeling and ultimately prevailed by seeing through the most turbulent year in ones life. Hopefully the day is not far when the face masks and social distancing will be replaced by beautiful smiles and warm hugs
Thanks Parveen. Nothing wrong with seeing what’s wrong. Just don’t focus there. Cheers
Add value–in small ways, big way, and anyway you can.
Focus on what you can do–avoid locking on to what you can’t do!
I would add——Victims are big people in baby diapers.
Thanks Paul. I think of a dog locked onto a bone. If we aren’t careful we lock on to a negative approach. Instead, as you say, add value. Today, I’m showing up to ask, “How can I help?”
I love having clarity on things that I can control and am going to think more on Dan’s list of 7. I’ve come up with 6 – what I say and what I do; how I say it and how I do it; and most importantly, what I see and how I choose to see it.
These daily posts have really helped with the last two! Thanks, Dan!!
Thanks Edgar. It’s surprising and true that we choose how we see. Powerful expression.
Dan,
“The year has past we can’t change it” as you say. Concentrate on what we have control over is big, if we had to change anything learn by the past as today is a new day. Live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Thanks Tim. I’m with you. Focus on today. I don’t want to sacrifice the future so I have some long-term goals. But, the focus is on today because I can control things today. I can’t control things in the future.