As we approach the start of a new year we will once again begin hearing about goal setting and ways to ensure you achieve your 2023 goals. I’ve written that post previously. This year I want you to focus on answering one question: What do you want?
No, really, what do you want?
I regularly ask this question in our coaching program. There are two things that surprise me. The first is that one of the most common answers I get is freedom. The next question I ask is, what does freedom look like? For some, it’s the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. For some, it’s the freedom to spend winters somewhere warm. For others, it’s workplace optionality; getting to a place where they’re working not because they have to, but because they choose to.
The second thing that surprises me, is that many have no idea how to answer the question. That’s because they don’t know what they want. Everyone needs to be able to say what they want. It sounds simple, but stating your wants isn’t easy, mostly because it involves making choices. You can’t have it all. You must learn to get very clear about what you truly want. You must learn to separate the many things you think you want, which often includes many indulgences from those that you truly want.
The Roman philosopher Seneca said, “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favourable.” If you want to own 2023, you’ll have to know which winds are favourable, and that starts with clearly identifying what you want.
Once you’ve seriously tackled the question, you can begin to take action to achieve what you truly want. Until such time, you’re sailing haphazardly under the power of unknown winds.
If you want to learn more about how you can effectively uncover the areas of greatest potential in growing your business, head to our blog Business Plan: Defining Your Opportunity.
