In this final installment of my recent series called Be a Taker, we’re looking at an underused set of tools that, although they come at the end, can be useful at any point in the process as you navigate transition.
Notice: Back at the start of this series, I highlighted the importance of pausing and acknowledging where you are and where things stand. This tool is very similar, but it focuses on noticing what’s changed and how much perspective you’ve gained. Dan Sullivan writes about “the gap and the gain”— you can choose to focus on how far you have left to travel, or you can notice how far you’ve come. This tool is about embracing the latter.
Celebrate: Like the wise pause, this tool involves pausing too — long enough to give yourself a pat on the back or host a party! Too often, even if we notice progress, we simply ‘nod and move on.’ But creating a ritual of celebration can provide much-needed affirmation and structure during a season that can feel otherwise swampy.
Calibrate: It’s not enough to pay attention to how you’re doing — you then need to do something with that information. Take this opportunity to course correct based on what you’re learning so that your choices continue to align with your values. Both might be in flux right now.
Keep Going! Sounds obvious? It isn’t. We all experience multiple transitions with remarkable frequency, particularly at certain stages of our lives. Refuel as needed, and carry on. What more might you need to build your stamina for this endurance sport called life?
I hope you’ve found this series useful. At some point it might end up in a book. Or as an actual toolkit. Or a Mary Poppins bag of random but useful items to be pulled out at just the right time…
I’d welcome your feedback, as always. And if you’d like to dig a bit deeper, get in touch — there are lots of ways we could unpack this further together.