An Introduction to a More Reflective Life

People often ask me how I am able to write on such a wide variety of topics in my blog posts and books. I think it’s because I have a lot of interests and never really set out to write anything brand-new, but instead try to pause and reflect on my life and work experiences as often as I can. Life is plenty interesting with lots of variety if we slow down and thoughtfully ponder successes and failures, lessons learned, and the meaningful encounters we have with the people who cross our path each day. In my experience, the greatest contributor to my personal growth has typically been derived from gazing into the past with a desire to learn and apply the lessons I glean versus peering into the future and seeking what’s next.

The busy professionals I know, spanning all generations in the workforce, tend to focus the vast majority of their attention and time during the workday on racing from task to task and meeting to meeting in a frantic rush to complete ever growing to-do lists and simply getting their jobs done. The typical workday is often about coping and surviving instead of growing and thriving. This is largely understandable and part of modern business, although I think many of us would change our approach to work and our careers if we knew how.

My 2021 book, Essential Wisdom for Leaders of Every Generation, was a practical collection of actionable ideas and best practices to equip leaders and aspiring leaders to thrive in work and life. My ninth and newest book, Upon Reflection: Helpful Insights and Timeless Lessons for the Busy Professional, also offers an eclectic mix of actionable and practical ideas on a number of relevant business topics . . . and something very different. In this work, you will observe that each chapter is written through the lens of reflection. I share authentic experiences, lessons, triumphs, and failures on various business and life topics to provide useful and practical tips you can use, but also to demonstrate the power of thoughtful consideration and contemplation in a way that I hope will help you model this helpful practice in your own life.

The book is divided into three parts and covers a wide range of topics, as you will observe in the Table of Contents. In Part One: Learning from the Past, we undertake a journey together to examine pivotal moments and profound lessons from my life and the lives of others to share valuable insights that will benefit professionals at any stage of their career. In Part Two: Practical Lessons for the Busy Leader, we tackle several thought-provoking topics relevant for today’s busy professionals and offer actionable best practices on these topics you can immediately put to good use. In Part Three: Being Good Humans, we explore true stories, powerful lessons, and practical concepts to help us show up as better humans in today’s world and counter the negativity, anger, and divisiveness that has become so prevalent. This section has clear relevancy for business people, but it is also 100 percent relevant for all of us who journey together as fellow travelers in this world, regardless of our occupation or stage of life. As is my typical writing style, all of the chapters in Upon Reflection are relatively short, practical, actionable, and designed to open wider the aperture of your thinking.

I wrote Upon Reflection through my lens as an executive coach, leadership consultant, husband, father, and community servant. Before I became an executive coach and consultant, I spent more than twenty-five years in executive roles, including senior operations leadership for a national retailer, vice president of people for a $2 billion national restaurant company, and later as the managing partner of a well-respected executive search firm. I have also been fortunate to serve on a number of nonprofit boards and give my time to a variety of wonderful causes. The rich experiences I am grateful to have had during my life as well as my daily engagement with professionals from around the world often informs my writing, and that is certainly the case with this new book.

My hope for the readers of this book is that you will more frequently pause, reflect, and think. I encourage you to block distractions that make you lose focus and improve at both living in the moment as well as reflecting more on the past. Practically speaking, try to pause between meetings and reflect on what has happened since your day began.

• Who have you met?
• How can you help others around you?
• Where can you make a positive difference at home,?work, or in the community?
• Are you on track with your work goals or do you need to course-correct?
• As you reflect on yesterday, last week, and even ten?years ago, how does the past inform and influence your present?
• What are the valuable lessons you have learned and how do you apply them to your daily life?

Of course, almost everything you will glean from Upon Reflection applies to helping you in your personal life as well as your business life.

How do you become more reflective? It takes patience, practice, intentionally, self-discipline, and possibly years to perfect. Stay with it and don’t give up. Get started now and know that reflection is for everyone, regardless of age or occupation.

What are some tools and ideas to help you become more reflective? Here are four suggestions:

1. Develop the habit of journaling. I have used a journal for over two decades to capture my random thoughts, observations, and reflections and always have one with me. I have filled up twenty-three journals since I began the practice.
2. Schedule a window of quiet time on your calendar every day when you are sharpest and will have the fewest distractions. My preferred window is 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. over a cup of coffee.
3. Integrate reflection with exercise. I find my daily workout and two-mile walks at the end of the day are ideal times to practice reflection.
4. Practice being more present. Proper reflection is stimulated by memories created from time when you are truly present with friends, family, colleagues at work, alone with nature, or doing anything healthy, productive, and meaningful.

My newest book is the useful fruit of my own ongoing commitment to reflection. As I grow older, I can share without a doubt that my life is richer and fuller because I make time for this. I truly hope you find Upon Reflection helpful and the catalyst for a newfound focus on reflection in your own life.

*This post is adapted from the Introduction to Randy Hain's newest book, Upon Reflection: Helpful Insights and Timeless Lessons for the Busy Professional

Check out Randy Hain's brand new book, Upon Reflection: Helpful Insights and Timeless Lessons for the Busy Professional. Learn more and order the book from Amazon here.

Randy Hain is the president of Serviam Partners, the award-winning author of nine books, an executive coach, leadership consultant and thought leader on business relationships. He is also the co-founder of The Leadership Foundry