What's My NEXT?

When we ask for what we want, we're more likely to get it. It's just that many of us don't know what we want, so we wait for clarity.

The thing is, clarity emerges from action, not inertia.

We need to follow the example of the thought leaders I saw in action at the United Nations NOVUS Summit. Every single one of the presenters - from X Prize's Anousheh Ansouri to David Katz of Plastic Bank and event organizer Kunal Sood - were walking-talking examples of what happens when we act on an idea.

They saw a problem, need, opportunity and said, "SOMEBODY should do something about that." They thought, "I'M as much a somebody as anybody, I'LL do something about it."

Did they have college degrees in this? Often not. Did they have funding? Often not. Had they done this before and were bringing experience and expertise to the table? Often not. Were there any guarantees this would be a success? Always not.

What they had was clarity that this mattered, clarity they were going to do something about it, and clarity they'd figure it out along the way. What they had was a moonshot.

What is a moonshot? Well, John F. Kennedy is famous for standing before Congress on May 25, 1961, and proposing that the US "should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a?man on the Moon?and returning him safely to the Earth."

A moonshot is a longshot.

A moonshot is a visionary goal that stretches you, calls to you, challenges you.

A moonshot gives you something purposeful to work towards, to look forward to.

What would get you up in the morning? What is something that would give your life meaning and momentum, that would turn status quo into status grow?

I presented a workshop on how to do this for National Speakers Association, and promised participants share what we discussed so they could review it and run with it.

Hope this kick-starts your clarity on a meaningful next that adds value to the world, leaves a lasting legacy and that lights you up just thinking about it.

1.???????What is a a MOONSHOT that would put the light on in my eyes?

"You've got to have a dream for a dream to come true." - Walt Disney

Many people tell me they don't dream anymore - it's too painful.?As one exhausted young woman told me, “I’m a single mom with two kids, one with special needs.?It's all I can do to get through the day.. Dreaming isn’t an option. I just don’t have the time or energy.”

I told her, “That’s exactly why it deserves to be an option.?You need something that gives you hope, impetus and forward momentum. Otherwise, one week looks like the next and before you know it, years pass by and you’re left wondering, 'What happened?!”

Pick something, a person you want to re-connect with, a class you can take once a month, an arts and crafts project you would genuinely enjoy. This Happiness Box from my SOMEDAY is Not a Day in the Week book can help you identify ONE THING you can do - even in the midst of a busy life - that helps you make the most of your life.

2.??????How Can I Talk Myself INTO My Moonshot Instead of OUT of It?

“May our choices reflects our hopes, not our fears.” - Nelson Mandela

A college student saw an announcement for her dream job but it required a business degree, which she didn't have yet. She almost talked herself out of applying, but then saw Nelson Mandela's quote and realized her fears were holding her back from what she wanted.

She submitted her resume and explained she was working her way through college and was in charge of an on-campus community service club. She got the job, and is so grateful she went for what she wanted instead of letting her doubts talk her out of even applying.

Are you indulging in doubts? Are you telling yourself, "This will never happen?" That's called failure-forecasting. Follow her example and talk yourself INTO pursuing your dream instead of OUT of even trying.??Want more ways to hack your fears? Check out this story of a woman who overcame her fear of the ocean (and sharks!) by making the dauting do-able.

3.??????What is a launch date I will put on my calendar for my Moonshot?

"At the moment of truth, there are either reasons or results." - Chuck Yeager

Are you promising yourself you’ll write that book, get away for that vacation, start that podcast, take your business on the road, join the Chamber of Commerce … when you’re not so busy? There will ALWAYS be reasons to wait, but waiting is a path to regrets.?

Please understand, you’ll never have more time than you have right now. Pick a launch date that is significant for you - a birthday? an anniversary? - and circle it on your calendar. Then POST a picture of your Moonshot (a draft cover of your book? you finishing a 10K race?) where it’s in-sight, in-mind so it doesn't drift out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

4.??????How Can I Create a Moonshot that Combines My Passion and Profession?

"To do what you love and feel that it matters; how could anything be more fun." - Katherine Graham

Integrating our work and recreation is having the best of both worlds. After sharing this suggestion at a program I was doing for Nationwide, our event photographer came up and said, “THAT’S ME! I've worked here in IT for twenty years. I pretty much came in, did my job, and went home. I was on automatic pilot, just going through the motions.

Last year, a coworker asked me to take pictures of a fashion show for the women’s professional development network.?I did a good job, word got around, and now I'm the go-to photographer for retirement parties, birthday parties and the Leadership Speaker Series.?

This place has turned into my own private Cheers. Everyone knows my name. I look forward coming to work now because every week is different. I get to meet new people, do what I love AND get paid for it. Does it get better than that?"

How about you? Instead of seeing your passion and profession as separate, could you combine them? Could you blend your work and recreation to have the best of both worlds?

5.??????How Can I Win Buy-In to My NEXT So It Adds Value for All Involved?

"If you don't ask, the answer is always NO." - Nora Roberts

If you want people to support your IKIGAI goal, figure out why it's to their advantage to do so. The best way to get a YES is to ask yourself, “Why will they say NO?” Anticipate their objections ("We don't have the money," "You've already got too much on your plate,") and then address how you’ve already factored that in so it's a non-issue.?

For example, an employee wanted a promotion but there was a “hiring freeze” so her chances of advancing were next to nothing.?Instead of being a waiter, she became an initiator. She was active in Toastmasters and thought hosting a club for their company would add value and give executives an opportunity to witness her leadership abilities first hand.

She did her research before pitching.?She identified a conference room that wasn’t being used so they had a cost-free, accessible location.?She cited studies that showed that learning to be a better public speaker would help employees' career AND the company by improving their ability to speak clearly and confidently with customers and co-workers. She volunteered to organize and host the meetings.?She got that promotion because she took responsibility for creating a "rising tide" activity that elevated all involved.

6.???????How can I go it together on my Moonshot instead of going it alone?

“People can't jump on your bandwagon if it's parked in the garage." - Sam Horn

Captain Ray Ashley had a dream of building a replica ship, the San Salvador, as a project for the San Diego Maritime Museum.?He made a brilliant decision to build it in PUBLIC (right by a busy freeway near the airport) instead of in PRIVATE (where it'd be out-of-sight-out-of-mind). Thousands of people streamed by every day and were so inspired by the sight of this ship they volunteered to help. Over the next few years, those volunteers averted disaster because of their six degrees of separation. For example, the cost of lead (needed for the hull) skyrocketed and they could no longer afford it. They launched a “Get the lead out” campaign and a volunteer connected them with a contractor who DONATED the exact amount of lead needed. Never would have happened if there hadn’t been a community of people who had this project’s back and front.

Please understand it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help; it's a sign of strength. Who is an expert in this area who has "been there, run that" you can ask for advice? What is a support group you can join so you can be infused with their energy?

7.??????Launch your MOONSHOT now, not later.

"The future is already here and we're already late." - John Legend

Do you know how precious is defined? “Too valuable to waste or treat carelessly.”?Many of us say we value our life, health, freedom and loved ones, but we're treating them carelessly.

Glenna Salsbury, former President of National Speakers Association, says there are four things we can do when we're unhappy with a situation.?We can AVOID it, ACCEPT it, get ANGRY about it, or ALTER it. The first three reactions don't do anyone any good.

If you want a more meaningful life, choose to ALTER your current mindset. Quit waiting, start initiating. The future doesn't start tomorrow, it starts today.