What do you strive for?
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

What do you strive for?

Is there something that you really really want for your professional life? Have you ever told anyone about it or written it down?

A few years ago I hosted an Executive Leadership Master Class series for alumni at my institution. One of the sessions featured a fireside chat with a very successful, impressive, and approachable CEO and business owner. Among the many nuggets of wisdom that he shared with the group, there is one that has stuck with me to this day-- the practice of setting and writing lofty goals.

He explained that he doesn't set New Years Resolutions. Instead, beginning in November, he starts to write down goals that he hopes to accomplish in the next year. He writes 10-15. He doesn't hold himself back. He's honest about what he wants and he sets big goals. Want to know the most remarkable thing about this? He accomplishes all of them.

He introduced this practice to his son by showing him the lists of goals that he's set for himself over the years. His son was amazed to see how his father's goals turned into big wins for his father's career, business and life. By putting his goals on paper, sharing them with others and keeping them top of mind, they served as guideposts to help him make decisions. They went from abstract ideas to concrete actions and strategies. They became reality.

For me, this practice showcases the power of putting thoughts into action. The power of investing in yourself. The power of including others in your life plan.

I took the chance to voice one of my big goals in my annual performance review last spring. It felt lofty and uncomfortable to write down, but I told myself to do it anyway. Lo and behold, the power of sharing my goal started to grow. I started to think about it differently-- maybe this isn't so farfetched? Maybe I can take small steps to accomplish it? Maybe there's new research that I can conduct that can help me move forward?

The more that I thought, researched and shared my idea, the more possible it became. To my surprise and delight, I discovered a way to make this goal a reality. As a result, I'll be working hard this year to ensure that my goal is achieved.

I share this story as a gift for you, too. This week I encourage you to reflect on the big goals that you have for your life and career. Own them. Share them. Write them down. What do you have to lose? They might just become your reality.

Self-reflection:

What do you strive for?

What does it mean to you?

Who have you told about it?

How can you begin to make it a reality?

Robert Murray, CIA, CRMA, CPA

Passionate Audit and Finance Leader

2 年

Thank you Maura, have added a calendar appointment to update my goals next week!

Roseann Fitzgerald

Strategic Advancement Researcher and Fundraiser

2 年

Very wise words, Maura. Thanks for getting the ball rolling with sharing!

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Maura Sweeney的更多文章

  • How do you react to a change in your environment?

    How do you react to a change in your environment?

    Yesterday morning I drove to work in the snow. It was the first snowstorm of the season, but I didn't think much of it.

    2 条评论
  • How is today different from yesterday?

    How is today different from yesterday?

    At first glance, this is kind of a silly question. Of course, today is different from yesterday.

    2 条评论
  • What is the story you tell yourself?

    What is the story you tell yourself?

    I hear a lot about storytelling. People love hearing stories and relate well to stories.

    10 条评论
  • How can you lead the way?

    How can you lead the way?

    It's natural to look to others for examples or models to follow. We're wired for connection, and our modern world…

    2 条评论
  • What are you afraid to try?

    What are you afraid to try?

    Yesterday was Halloween. One of the few days of the year when people celebrate and seek out being afraid.

  • What are you proud of today?

    What are you proud of today?

    One of the best ways to grow is to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Thankfully, you don't have to take huge…

  • How often do you make others smile?

    How often do you make others smile?

    Today, October 4, is World Smile Today. I learned about it thanks to my child's school, where they are handing out…

    7 条评论
  • How have you changed?

    How have you changed?

    It's common to set 5-year goals. We're often encouraged to look to the future and imagine what we'd like to do, be, and…

    2 条评论
  • What are your throughlines?

    What are your throughlines?

    We are who we are. While life's experiences will cause us to change and evolve, some aspects of ourselves remain the…

    3 条评论
  • What if your typical way isn't possible?

    What if your typical way isn't possible?

    It's been hot this week. If you're in the U.

    4 条评论

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了