Inventing the Future

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

- Alan Kay

Who would have guessed on Dec 31st, 2007 that we would have experienced all that we've witnessed in 2008? And on that note, who knows what's coming in 2009?

I read the above quote in a Harvard Business Review interview with Vinod Khosla, cofounder of Sun Microsystems and currently a venture capitalist who invests in early-stage technology companies. Khosla was making the point that, regardless of what economists predict about the future, new technologies can completely disrupt predictions because they can change the assumptions that those predictions are based on. Economists base their judgments on what has happened in the past, whereas inventors base their judgments on what could happen in the future.

Over the last couple of weeks, we've been exploring our "goods" and "others" from 2008. We've learned a lot from them, and now it's time to turn our attention to what we want to see next year. I was just talking this morning with a new friend who has struggled to set goals in the past. She felt compelled to define goals, yet she did not know what she wanted to achieve. I, too, have felt compelled to define goals, partly because I think I'm supposed to do it and partly because I really want to improve the quality of my life. However, as soon as I utter the words, the dark cloud of past unachieved goals casts a shadow on my lofty hopes. "Yeah, right," says my inner gremlin. "You don't want to let yourself down again, do you?" she asks.

This year, I'm looking at goals a little differently. I believe that they cause a great expansion in our lives because they force us to be clear about what we want. And as we achieve goals, they expand our belief about what is possible. Looking back on 2008, I'm proud of my accomplishments, I've learned some good lessons, and I'm ready for more expansion!

Here are a few questions to help you invent the best possible future in 2009:

1) What would delight you? Choose something that you believe is possible for you--something that you can vividly imagine happening in your life. Perhaps you'd like a better work environment, more joyful relationships, or a healthier body. I use the word "delight" because the thing you choose must be a strong "want," not just another "should."

2) What general steps might you take to make that delightful experience a reality? Brainstorm a few of the big ones like "sharpen my resume," "take a family vacation," or "exercise five times a week."

3) What is holding you back from taking those steps right now? Perhaps your priorities are a little skewed, or you hold a belief or perspective that creates an impenetrable barrier. There may be an old habit that can be replaced with a new, more beneficial one. Or maybe you've been returning to a comfort zone that doesn't serve you.

4) What actions will you take? If you're a planner, you might create long-term plans for the actions you'll take. If not, I encourage you to simply take the next step within a week, and then schedule a periodic review of your answers to questions 1 through 3 above--each time, making another commitment to moving forward.

Choosing goals and then exploring the underlying obstacles and motivations can be a challenge. If you'd like to explore how a coach can help you with this process, I'd be happy to talk with you about it--just send me an e-mail or give me a call.

According to the media and those "doom and gloom" people in your life, the future looks a little bleak. But if you look through a different set of lenses, you'll remember that there are always those who thrive in hard times, and there are those who wither in the best of times. I hope that you'll invent a future that shows you thriving and enjoying life to its fullest...Happy New Year!

Learning from "Others"

"Learning is like rowing upstream. Not to advance is to drop back."

- Chinese Proverb

When I was flying in the Navy, I was constantly learning. In flight school, every single event was a test, with my instructor observing and grading each move I made. And when I joined my operational squadron, the learning continued. After spending hours, sometimes even days, planning a mission, we would fly that mission and then return to the ready room for a debrief. Two words would be written on the white board: Goods and Others.

Last week, we reflected on the "Goods" of 2008, and this week, we'll take a look at the "Others."

Failure is not often taken lightly. We might get into a slump, beat ourselves up for the silly missteps we made, or look for a scapegoat. But there is another way to work with failure. Instead of feeling frustrated or depressed about our loss, we can turn our attention to the lessons embedded in the experience. Consider your biggest disappointment in 2008, and answer these questions to help you learn from the "Others":

1) How did your weaknesses hinder you?
2) Which of your strengths might you use to overpower the negative impact of your weaknesses?
3) What advice would you give to yourself about how to handle a similar situation in the future?
4) What do you want to do differently next week? Next month?

Are you looking forward to the good changes you'll make in 2009? I certainly am! Hold on to your answers--we'll be wrapping things up next week. Until then, enjoy very happy holidays...Cheers!

Warmly,
Jenn

Learning from Success

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.”

- Mortimer Adler

I was recently visiting with a friend and I asked her about her holiday plans. She mentioned that she would be changing things up this year--instead of allowing the plethora of possible activities to automatically fill her calendar, she would be very deliberate in choosing a limited number of events while reserving ample time for relaxation and reflection. What a new perspective!

This time of year is a natural period for reflection. Just as animals hibernate and plants store up energy for a busy spring, we might choose to slow down and feast off the lessons we’ve learned in the past year. This message is the first in a three part series that will help you to do just that.

Though news sources would tell you that the world is falling apart, you know otherwise. You have experienced some exciting successes in the last year, and now is your chance to learn from them. These are the kinds of things you want to repeat in the future, so I encourage you to learn from them now. Consider answering a few questions before you start your week:

1) What went right for you in 2008? The answer may be tangible, like a goal you achieved, or intangible, such as a personal breakthrough. What did you do well that contributed to your feeling of success?
2) What were your most triumphant outcomes? Since those things already happened, what do they tell you about the success that is possible for you in the future?
3) Of all the things you did this year, what do you want to do more of in 2009?

I hope that this exercise leaves you on a high note. Keep your answers close to you--we'll be building on them in the next couple of weeks. Until then, enjoy basking in your success...Cheers!

Warmly,
Jenn