Few people make it to the finish line. They quit before they get a breakthrough. 

The goal could be: a business reset, a career change, a new hobby/undertaking, an improved relationship, or new lifestyle goal. 

Before you quit, give yourself a real time to think about what you learned along the way, increase your self-care, and give yourself the permission to think hard about what do you really want to achieve. 

There are many steps along the way. Depending on your mileage, you could just be starting, in the middle part, or almost there, but not quite.







​



What's your mileage? How long are you doing the things you are doing?

What are you learning versus what you are doing with the new learning?

What you should be unlearning?

​What could accelerate your progress?

Who should be seeking out for help?

What can you do to move from point A to B?

What time frame are you setting yourself for each stage?

When do you need to pause to learn and pick up the valuable lessons along the way?

What kinds of breakthroughs are you experiencing?

What stories are you telling yourself about each step?

Who are your role models? Did they achieve what you want to achieve?

There is no such thing as having arrived. It's an ongoing journey with key milestones along the way.

Rest when you have to but go on to the next, knowing that there's equal measure of challenges and opportunities that await. 

Do me a favor, will you?



Stop talking about yourself when what I only asked is, 'how are you?'

Cut to the chase, and tell it straight.

Beauty is in the eye and ears of the beholder.  It can't be generalized.

If you can't encourage, don't discourage.

​There is no way that others can influence how you think, unless you allow it.

The law of reciprocity prevails- you give and give, then you get.  

If you can't help, don't obstruct.

If nothing happens, be grateful for the things that you have.

Don't edit yourself. Editing is good when you are done with the thought, the idea, the action.

Close the loop, always.

Keep the most important, the most important.

Ask for help. Ask, ask, ask.

Woody Woodpecker asked, "What's the big idea?"  

To which the other fellow replied, "You and your milk!" 


Big ideas grab headlines.

Big ideas move mountains and people.

Visionaries toggle between one big idea and on to the next.

The BHAG mindset gives us the excuse to think big and leave the mundane to others.  

People love big ideas. They like being entertained with the fact that these big ideas are being funded by OPM-other people's monies and OPM-other people's machineries.

It's good to see the view at 20,000 feet altitude but going down: the view changes drastically. 

Leaders cannot toy with big ideas without being unscathed by the realities of implementation.

The major fright comes from the fact that there are many hats to be worn and handshakes to make. There are investments to be made from resources that seem to deplete the moment the ink has dried. There are gazillion things to do to even get at basecamp. 

Instead of coming with big ideas, why not start with the next-level ideas.

There are studies supporting that change isn't scary when presented with the next logical step-an easy implementable blueprint where followers are not asked a 360% transformation, but a gradual shift over the course of time. 

Focusing on goals that you can realistically accomplish will ensure that there is enough fuel that keeps you motivated but also enough oxygen to get you through each day.

Overwhelm is a by-product of too much, too soon, too many -all at once.

Lastly, are you a delayer or early satisfier?

Delayer waits at the last minute to accomplish the big ideas by creating layers of complex rituals and processes that are not necessary or essential while satisfiers are good at completing the task in front them and slaying the proverbial dragon, one by one.

Creating impact is not after 5-10 years of hard work and sweat. It's right now.  

What's your big idea?

How do you turn that 'big idea' into everyday wins and giant outcomes? 

I asked my daughter to finish her food and she responded by saying, Mama, I'm done with the food because I just pressed the DONE button.

The DONE button is something that is in our heads when and only when, we are confident that the product is good. But how do we know that it's good enough and ready to be let go? 

The quest for perfection is the number 1 cause for leader's ambivalence and general uncertainty. This is the inability, when presented with options and alternatives, to buckle down under the weight of false pressures, mostly the fear of failure and the insidious 'what will other people say.' 

​The DONE button is always there and should be taken as the first option so that things are cleared off your plate and you can get down to juicier projects or roles.

It is up to us to make sure there is a DONE button when we are 60% almost complete. Rewriting, rewiring, rehashing, reimagining many ifs and buts do not translate to meaningful use of time and energy. 

We can always go back and check what we have done, in light of new data or new appetite for reconsideration. 

The rest is just icing on the cake.

There should be no shame in being successful in this post-pandemic time.

A lot of people and businesses are suffering, that is a fact.

Au contraire, there are also a lot of organizations and leaders who are thriving as we speak.

They may not be dancing in the streets but they cannot be silenced as well. 

​
Today, I was talking to a representative of the fast growing company in their industry. We were talking about COVID-19 impacts on the business and how fast things are completed and she said that they are actually doing well.

You cannot doubt success and should never be ashamed to say that you are thriving.

This means that you have done something that have kept you afloat or even so, completely inured from the ravages of the crisis.

This means that you have certain best practice that you can share and help others learn from.

This means that you can serve as an inspiration to those who are struggling and unable to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

This means that there are specific processes and long-term thinking that enable your organization to be where it is today.

So, don't be ashamed or bashful to say, "we are doing well." It is not an anomaly or a departure from the norm which is failure. If failure is the norm, we are in big trouble.

We need successful organizations to lead the way for others, shine a light, and exemplify the best and excellent in complex situations. 

Where are you succeeding right now? And yes, let the world know!


​

Half of the battle is won by just showing up.

Showing up for your employees and staff when they need an ally and a champion for workplace effectiveness.

Showing up for community causes that are no longer optional or good-to-have but are essential for collective rejuvenation.

Showing up for suppliers who are hurting in this pandemic and needed measures to ease their financial and logistical difficulties.

Showing up for your customers to say that you care and offer help when it's not being expected.

Showing up for your stakeholders and generate collective voices so that those that are not on the table can be represented.

Showing up despite the fear and uncertainty of the new environment where we live in.

Showing up and owning the co-responsibility of charting the new future in your sector. 

When you show up, the world opens up for you. 

​Own the space and hold the space for others too!