- Mary Foley
[Be Bold + Thrive] Don't Ask These Questions at Your Own Risk
Maybe you didn’t get the virus, but you have caught something because of the pandemic. You have changed. And you’re at risk.
Because if you don’t consider how the pandemic has changed you, then at best you risk the opportunity for growth.
And at worst you risk adopting behaviors and beliefs that could negatively impact you for YEARS to come. Like a slow growing debilitating disease that robs you of life and joy.
Ack, that doesn’t sound good!
Instead, turn all this crisis into your greatest contribution and success yet!
Start with a bold, honest review of the good, the bad, and the ugly of your 2020 with 3 key questions.
Imagine 2020 as a movie that you replay. Yeah, like right now.
Close your eyes and take yourself back to January. Now press play and recall the major events of this year and how you felt about them. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.
Still need more time? Yeah, I get it, 2020 is like one really long action series!
Let me give you the 3 key questions to ask yourself after you’ve watched the whole movie:
What are 3 things that happened personally or in your business that were GOOD? I bet you weren’t lazy. Because of this year, did you launch a new product or service, learn a new skill, rediscover a hobby, finally clean out the garage, or deepen a personal or business relationship? All was not lost. Yay YOU! For example, 3 things I feel really good about this year is I helped over a dozen women entrepreneurs successfully pivot through this year. I collaborated with a fractional CFO Ellen McIlhenny to add a cash flow confidence series to the REV UP Society. And third, I started cycling like crazy which, ironically, helped me stay sane.
What are 3 things that happened that were really HARD? This might be the easier list! With a lot more than 3 things. Write them ALL down. Once you get them out and onto real paper or a digital doc, you start to take air out of the balloon of hurt and hopped up emotions. Otherwise, you leave them there to fester and cause all kinds of problems. I gotta say, one of my biggest joys is exploring a new country and culture. It’s been frustrating not having the ease and freedom to do that. It’s also been hard figuring out if, when and how to see my elderly parents. And it’s been hard to regain my energy and not feel exhausted from, well, everything. I’ve managed each of these challenges, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel hard.
What are 3 things you learned about yourself or your business that are worth carrying forward? Here’s where the magic happens. YOU get to decide how you the good, the bad and the ugly of 2020 made you stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Those are insights you want to take forward and LET GO of the rest. One insight I gained: A focus and purpose can stave off a lot of fear. I feel productive and don’t have much time for “false evidence appearing real.” I hope these 3 questions have helped you jump start how to bold and thrive in 2021.
By the way, these questions and space to capture your thoughts are all in the Be Bold + Thrive 2021 Guide.