As a part of my current keynote presentation, I usually ask people what they have been thinking about immediately before sitting down for my talk. Common responses are their upcoming meal, a deadline, finding a seat, etc. Immediate needs. Unimportant when viewed from a wider perspective.
I ask the question of the groups to illustrate that nobody is thinking about brands. They're focused on their short-term needs and goals. This week, as a part of my job, I updated my performance review document. I had to look at our list of goals, my assignments and list all that I had achieved in the past three months. It was a surprisingly long list. This isn't bragging (humble or otherwise), it is just a fact. Compared to the overall team goals, it was impressive.
Then I started adding things from my personal life and work. There were another dozen items. Unlike my work list, I didn't have a master list to compare to. I had no context. Despite a list that I'm quite proud of (I wrote a novel for Christ's sake) I started wondering what I've been working for in my personal life. Now, I'm creating a personal plan and a framework to achieve a larger goal for myself and my family. I'll keep you posted as this challenge is defined and how I'm doing. Watch this space.
This line of thinking has undoubtedly arisen, at least in part, from my conversation with the incredible Amy Kean. She is a force of nature. She is an author, the founder of Six Things Impossible and co-founder of DICE (Diversity & Inclusion at Conferences and Events). She is inspiring because she strikes me as the kind of person who has ever backed down from a challenge, and probably intimidates challenges into backing down from her. Amy is thinking about how to tackle problems that seem too big to address. She let me help for about 40 minutes and I am better for the time.
Find Amy Kean at https://www.amycharlottekean.co.uk/
Her new endeavor Six Things Impossible is here: https://www.amycharlottekean.co.uk/sixthingsimpossible
Want to read a transcript? You can get down with your bad self here: http://adampierno.com/dont-worry-amy-kean-is-working-on-the-solution/
Don't worry, Amy Kean is working on the solution