Moments that Matter

Last week I took on an entirely new project full of energy , excitement and possibility alongside anxiety and self doubt in equal measures.

Stepping into the unknown can stir excitement or anxiety, depending on how much control we feel we have. When we feel in control, change can be easier, but it still opens us up to self-doubt and uncertainty. These uncomfortable moments, though tough, are where the biggest opportunities for growth lie. It’s how we handle and reflect on them that shapes what we learn and who we become.

I’ve been thinking about how we grow most when we move from comfort to uncertainty. It’s not just about the outcome but how we frame the experience. Last week, I was reminded why we push for change—whether taking on a new role, starting a project, or starting a new chapter in life. We seek change because growth thrives in discomfort, and it’s in these uncertain moments that we make our most meaningful discoveries.

The 4,000 Weeks

We all have about 4,000 weeks in our lifetime. If you're 24, that means you have roughly 1,872 weeks until you’re 60. How many of those weeks are dedicated to having experiences that make space for us to grow? If the weeks are the soil where our life experience grows then active reflection is the water that nourishes the health and shape of how we expand.

Now, consider this: if you’re 45 years old, you likely have about 780 working weeks left until the average retirement age of 60. That’s 15 years—not much time to make every moment matter. If you stop to reflect, every single year and month in this remaining time becomes an opportunity to be intentional about how you spend it and what you want to achieve. In some instances you can be surprised on the different pathways that open up from these insights that can so quickly wash over us in the slipstream of daily life.?

Active reflection towards Development

This is the time of year where developmental conversations are spaces created in organisational systems. From my experience it is 50/50 in terms of whether they are used as they are intended, often being a paper exercise with no real care put into them.

When used properly give you a chance to reflect in action and make moments matter to you and your perspective. How many developmental conversations have you had, and what kind of difference could they make when you look back at your life? If you're in mid-career (around 40-45 years old), how many developmental cycles or "spirals" do you have left?

How can you use these weeks to make each moment truly matter or will they continue to be an "tick box" exercise?

The Jar Metaphor: Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand

Last year on Christmas break, returned from a short walk at our local beach and when I got back to the cottage I picked up one of those books gifted to me about mindfulness.?I was introduced to a powerful metaphor that has stayed with me—the idea of filling a jar with rocks, pebbles, and sand.

• Rocks are the big, important moments—your "rocks" could represent your major career milestones, significant life events, or the deep, meaningful connections that define who you are.
• Pebbles represent the daily, smaller tasks—these are the steps, processes, and decisions that move you closer to your goals.
• Sand represents the distractions and things that, in the grand scheme of things, don’t carry significant value.

So, I began to ask myself: Am I a rock, a pebble, or a piece of sand in my career and to people in my life? If my life was a jar what is it filled with?? Where do I add value, and how can I shift my focus to ensure that the right things take priority?

Reflecting on My Choices: Expanding the Pebbles

I decided to remove some of the sand that had been building up and focus on expanding my pebbles—the things that truly contribute to my personal and professional growth. Here’s what that looked like for me:

• I put my phone down and focused more on the people around me in those moments and tried to be more present.?
• I volunteered for initiatives that felt meaningful and spent time training as a crisis counsellor with The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.
• I started teaching again in university, sharing knowledge and helping others grow.
• I started to sort out if I was sand, pebble or rock to other people and prioritized my efforts accordingly.

These actions, though small in some ways, helped me expand my pebbles and start shifting my focus toward the moments that matter which has ultimately put me on a surprising path that has led me to where I am this year.

Making Every Moment Matter in Everyday Life

Making every moment matter is about being intentional. It's not just about the "rocks"—those grand successes and milestones. Often, it's about the pebbles: the daily moments, conversations, and actions that build and sustain relationships, contribute to growth, and help you create a life that feels fulfilling.

The sand—the things that don’t serve us or add value—naturally filters away over time. And that's okay. It’s about knowing what deserves your attention and where your energy will make the most difference. ?Sometimes we waste so much energy on sand that shows up as actions, conversations and reactions that we don't give any thought to and mean very little when larger perspectives are taken. When we are in the same place for a long time we can let sand slip in and forget to make space for more pebbles of experience and ultimately satisfaction, contentment and happiness that comes with being and belonging.

15 Moments That Matter in Your Career

In reflecting on what truly matters in our careers, I’ve been inspired by research from the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), which identifies 15 key moments that can have a profound impact on a person’s career. These moments are milestones, transitions, and experiences that shape our growth, learning, and sense of purpose.

Here are the 15 moments that matter according to CCL:

1. First Job – The initial step into the world of work setting the foundation for your career.
2. First Big Break – A pivotal opportunity or promotion that opens doors to new challenges.
3. First Manager Role – Moving from an individual contributor to a leadership position.
4. First Major Setback – Experiencing a failure or significant challenge that forces reassessment and learning
5. First Career Change – A shift in career focus or industry that requires learning new skills and adapting.
6. First Leadership Role – The first time you lead a team or project and are responsible for guiding others.
7. First Cross-Functional Project – Engaging in work that requires collaboration across different departments or skill sets.
8. First Mentor/Coach Relationship – Receiving guidance or insight that accelerates your personal and professional development.
9. Building Your Network – Cultivating relationships that can influence your career trajectory.
10. Navigating Office Politics – Learning to manage relationships and power dynamics within an organization.
11. Making a Career Move for Personal Growth – Taking on a role or project that may not be a promotion, but helps you develop new skills or perspectives.
12. Work-Life Balance Shift – Realizing the importance of balancing personal and professional priorities for your well-being.
13. Leadership Transition – Moving into a higher level of leadership or responsibility and adjusting to new expectations.
14. Major Life Event (Personal or Professional) – Experiencing an event that forces you to reassess your career goals (e.g., a move, family event, or health challenge).
15. Mentoring Others – Giving back by mentoring others and guiding them in their own career journey.

What Moments Matter to You?

Now, reflecting on your career, which of these moments are you currently facing or want to face in the future? It could be a moment of growth, challenge, or transition that’s on the horizon, or a stretch goal you’ve been working toward.

Consider these questions as you look ahead:

• Which of the 15 moments resonate most with where you are in your career?
• What stretch goal could you set that would push you beyond your comfort zone and accelerate your development?
• How can you use your current role or experience to create opportunities for these moments to unfold? When you start looking they are often hidden in plain site.?

In taking a few minutes to reflect on these moments and think about what developmental goals you want to pursue. If you’re looking to shape a meaningful development plan around any of these moments or if you want guidance on how to create opportunities for growth

Conclusion: Stretching Into Your Potential

As we continue to move forward in our careers and life in this tumultuous world it’s important to be mindful of the moments that matter. By setting intentional development goals and reflecting on the moments that will stretch us, we create pathways to growth that not only define our careers but shape our lives. Making every moment matter is something we can do not just in big milestones but in the small, daily steps we take.

How will you make your moments matter this week?