I’ve been asking myself some questions lately that I would much rather ask someone else.
(Funny how it’s easier to help other people find clarity rather than to find your own, right?)
I’ve been looking at the projects I worked on this last spring, and what’s coming up this fall, and I found myself wondering:
Is this what I actually want?
Am I headed in the right direction?
What brings me joy?
What brings in enough income to keep doing the work I love?
And are those two things balanced enough?
I do not love this part. I love asking YOU these questions. 😂
I love helping leaders, teams, and business owners step back, look at what’s working, and get clear on what’s next.
But when I have to turn those questions back on myself?
Whew. Suddenly it’s a lot less fun.
I don’t love sitting with the the fact that things that aren’t working exactly how I hoped… or admitting that something I once wanted so badly might not fit the direction I’m headed.
That’s a hard thing to say out loud… 🫣
…but I also know what happens when I avoid asking myself those questions.
I stay busy. I keep doing what I’ve always done. I mistake movement for progress.
And if I’m really honest… sometimes I keep holding onto things simply because I worked so dang hard to have them in the first place.
Here’s the truth I preach all the time, but apparently needed a reminder of:
Growth requires change.
And change almost always means we have to let something go.
Stick with me here.
When we decide to grow, we have to make room for something new.
That’s true in our personal lives, it’s true in our relationships, and it’s definitely true in business and in leadership.
And making room usually means releasing something old.
Maybe it’s a familiar routine that no longer serves you. Maybe it’s an identity you’ve outgrown. Maybe it’s a role, an opportunity, a relationship, or a way of doing things that’s really, really comfortable.
Even good change asks us to leave something behind.
And that can feel… well, uncomfortable.
Now, before we get too inspirational here, let me say this:
Not every painful season means you’re growing. Sometimes things are just hard.
BUT.
When you decide to grow, you have to expect some awkward, uncomfortable, “ugh, I don’t know if I like this” moments. That doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path.
Sometimes that discomfort is actually the evidence that you’re finally willing to look at what needs to change… and ask questions like:
What do I need to protect?
What do I need to strengthen?
What do I need to stop carrying just because I’ve been carrying it for a long time?
What would I choose if I were building from where I am now… instead of from who I was when I started?
To be honest with you, I don’t have every answer yet.
But what I am learning is that clarity doesn’t show up if we don’t make space for it.
We have to pause.
We have to step away from the noise.
We have to ask the uncomfortable questions.
And even more difficult, we have to sit with the answers long enough to hear what they’re telling us.
So here’s my challenge for you:
Take 30 minutes this week to ask yourself the questions you’ve been avoiding.
Seriously, put it on your calendar right now.
What needs to grow?
What needs to go?
What feels aligned?
What feels heavy?
Or maybe you’re like me and you know that doing this kind of reflection alone is… well… not your favorite thing. 😂
Maybe you’ve already been feeling that little nudge to step back and evaluate.
Maybe nothing is technically wrong… but something just doesn’t feel quite right anymore.
That’s a big part of why I created the SOS Strategic Planning Retreat.
Because sometimes we don’t need another podcast episode, another course, or another thing to add to the to-do list.
Sometimes we just need space to step away from the noise. Space to stop reacting and start thinking. Space to ask the questions we’ve been avoiding… and get really honest about what we want next. (And yes… space that does not involve sitting at your desk staring blankly at your laptop screen 😂)
We’ll use my S.O.S. framework: Self. Others. Strategy. (Because your confidence, your relationships, your leadership, and your strategy are all connected.)
Spots range from $750–$1,500 depending on your sleeping accommodations, and every option includes a strategic planning workbook, plus dedicated time to work through the S.O.S. strategy for yourself, your leadership, or your business.
If something in this newsletter has made you think, “Okay… maybe I need this,” send me a message. Seriously. I’d love to talk through it with you and see if it feels like the right fit.
