Activate your compass
Christina Teo - Speaker, Podcaster, Community builder
Executive Connector clubchiefX | Soundingboard | Board Advisor | C-suite angel syndicate | Linkedin Top Voice | Launched world's 1st Windows smartphone | Leadership Workshop Facilitator / The Executive Edge podcast
Do you have a compass?
Who needs one?
What good does it do?
1. Get Centred
The compass is not just a tool where you pick up and then pray it would take you somewhere. Finding your bearing is required to get you started. A compass consists of an external dial which comprises the 4 directions N, S, E, W and another dial of degrees. As you turn the dial, a red arrow turns with it but the red needle of the compass stays in position. Right at the top is the "tab". Turn the dial to align the direction (N, S, E, W) you are seeking, with the tab. Then move the whole compass slowly till the red needle fits into the red arrow. Some call it "red in the shed". That is how you will know which way to follow to walk to your desired direction.
Getting centred before you know which way to head forward is like finding your groove - at a certain point in time. Take a little introspection. Figure out your inbalance. Know yourself.
2. Get focused
Once you have a sense of the direction, it may be good to lock in a landmark. See it as setting a milestone. The first landmark you pick could be something more visible, something that is within your comfort to ideate or visualise. After getting a sense of your bearing or what are some of the things you enjoy doing or can do effortlessly, get focused to challenge yourself to make it happen by when.
Rather than making up excuses with what you can't do, get ready for your trip. Work out :
3. Get advice
A compass works well on its own if you are just looking for a sense of direction but if you are in for a real adventure, a map could be the compass' best friend. If you would want to tap on the wisdom of others who have been on this path or unchartered territory, reach out to someone who has been there or done that or have the subject matter expertise.
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It is your choice what areas of interest you wish to explore - rivers, mountains, wild life, forests, etc. We live in such a connected world today that a sincere outreach with a clear purpose over Linkedin could save you a lot of unnecessary time and risks.
Find your support ally:
Some like it a little slower to smell the roses so a compass and/or a map could simply be a good contingency when you do get lost.
4. Get adventurous
Using a compass is navigating life. You are in control of your own journey because you dictate where you want to go. How you get there could bring you very different experiences, builds your character and show you things you never thought existed.
Be adventurous by getting out of your comfort zone. You are still staying on course with the help of your compass but you could try some detours and keep your eyes open to discover more along your journey. If those detours don't work out, your compass can bring you back to the main track. Grow that curiosity.
5. Get ambitious
It's not about making the next 10 million but more about finding that authentic ambition, your true north. It is your internal compass, unique to you, representing who you are at your deepest level. Dare to dream and follow your north star. Knowing the why (the purpose) will make you more authentic and be that powerful magnet to possibilities and others.
I hope the above stimulates some food for reflection. In such challenging pandemic times for ourselves and the people around us, we need a more advanced compass more than ever. At the most basic level, it could be simply serve as a sanity check. In the advanced mode, we seek creative ways to elevate ourselves and those we care for. Your internal compass is as helpful as you use it. Reaping its benefits comes with practice and experience. You are the master of your compass so you control your agility of how you empower it. Getting your compass out there is the best way to discover what you don't know you don't know which often includes what you did not know about your potential. We are not born to know where our North star is so activate your compass to find it. It's a moving target.
Freelance HCP ACD
3 年Great advice! Finding that compass inside us changes everything!
APAC Director @ SEEK | Talent Management, Leadership Development
3 年Love this! Very timely too as I start in a new role. Thanks for sharing.
Investibility specialist and digital entrepreneur || Co-Founder & Director at The Biz Lab || Founder & CEO at Kwik Look || Angel Investor
3 年Great article Christina Teo ????