Nontraditional Questions For Crafting Your Life Plan

Christi Hegstad October 15th, 2023

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know I’m a fan of goals. Bold, meaningful, beyond-your-own-expectations types of goals in particular. Search my blog and you’ll find oodles of tips, ideas, and resources for setting and achieving goals that matter.

But despite my affinity for goals, I know not everyone shares this passion. If you’re in a season of ‘I just need to get through this challenge,’ for example, setting an audacious goal may just not feel in the cards right now.

Or if you’re focused more on daily routines or small habits, adding bold new actions into the mix may interrupt the steady progress you’re making.

Not all goals are created equal, and no one-size-fits-all goal works for everyone, all the time.

So in the spirit of high-variety goals for unique individuals, today I simply want to offer some ‘nontraditional’ questions to ask yourself as you look ahead to the end of the year, the start of a new one, and beyond.

Ponder one or a few of these on a walk, while washing the dishes, or in your journal, and see where your ideas take you:

* What topics of conversation absolutely light you up?

* What dream has hung around forever, but you’ve never let yourself think about it too much?

* If you could help make a difference for one or two causes near to your heart, which would you choose?

* What hobby or creative pursuit would be fun to explore or spend more time on?

* What did you love about your job, career, or business when you first started?

* What would you enjoy doing more of during your week? Less of?

* Where do you need to be a bit more gentle with yourself?

* What book on your TBR (to be read) list would you really love to dive into?

* What words do you most want people to use when describing you?

Whether you turn some of your answers into goals, habits, dreams, or direction markers is up to you. (And if you’d like help crafting your year or life plan, be sure to contact me!) Whatever you decide, I hope you have fun considering possibilities + ideas and seeing where they take you!

Q3 Reading Wrap-Up

Christi Hegstad October 10th, 2023

What type of book comes to mind when you hear ‘beach read’? To me, that’s any book you read at the beach, whether romance, mystery, fantasy … or even personal / professional development! Below are five nonfiction books that really stood out for me this past quarter. And while I didn’t actually read all of them on the beach or poolside, if I see you doing so, I will definitely stop and chat with you about them!

Great At Work by Morten Hansen

A terrific evidence-based look at what helps – and hinders – performance at work. Hansen coauthored Great By Choice with Jim Collins, a book I read years ago, but somehow I missed this particular title until now (it was also published several years ago). A great blend of theory and practical application; I particularly appreciated the chapter dedicated to passion, purpose, and work.

Wild & Precious, narrated by Sophia Bush and others

As its subtitle suggests, a celebration of Mary Oliver and her gorgeous poetry. Many contributors – including famous actors, Oliver’s students, and people who never met her but were changed by her writing – share the impact her work has had on their lives. I believe this is only available via audio and it is beautifully narrated, including clips of Mary Oliver herself reading her poetry.

All The Beauty In The World by Patrick Bringley

A thoughtful memoir from someone who left a busy + bustling career to quietly stand guard over the artwork at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. This book provides a beautiful look at meaningful work, grief, relationships, personal growth, and deciding what matters most. I posted an overview of thoughts on my LinkedIn profile back in August if you’d like more detail.

Monsters by Claire Dederer

What do you do when you discover your favorite author, singer, or creator is problematic? When they behave badly or make statements that go against your values, do you no longer watch their movies or read their books? Dederer explores the complex questions around separating the art from the artist. I found this book challenging, at times infuriating, and incredibly thought-provoking.

The Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff

An intriguing look at our relationship to work, how much it defines us, what function it serves, and whether certain work is ‘required’ for a fulfilling life. If you feel like your definition of success has changed over the years, or you’re wondering if your job is supposed to look a certain way at a certain point in your life, I think you’ll appreciate this perspective. I especially liked how each section focused on a specific person and their actual career path.

If you have questions, have read any of these, or would like to know my top fiction reads of the quarter as well, please share in the comments below. Here’s to an excellent 4th quarter of reading!

Values, Vision, and Your 4th Quarter Achievement

Christi Hegstad October 5th, 2023

We have just begun the final quarter of the year.

Do you feel motivated and on track? Or more along the lines of, ‘Well, there’s always next year!’?

Wherever you land on the motivation scale, I encourage you to remember that with purposeful focus and intention, we can achieve something significant in the time remaining in 2023.

Twelve weeks can be enough time to:

Strengthen a relationship.

Build a leadership skill.

Learn a new activity.

Start a blog.

Craft a business plan.

Support a meaningful cause.

Re-engage with an organization.

Set and achieve a goal.

I could go on and on! The point is, we have plenty of time to achieve something that matters to us.

Maybe not everything, but something. The key is to prioritize in honor of your values and vision.

What will you commit to this quarter?

Take a deep breath, prioritize, secure your support, and begin! You’ve totally got this.

Lessons Learned – September 2023

Christi Hegstad October 4th, 2023

Although September flew by in the blink of an eye, it still brought its share of experiences, reminders, and life lessons. Here are a few that stand out for me:

1. If it inspires you or moves you, pay attention.

2. Say YES to the homemade pear crisp.

3. Take responsibility where necessary. But also remember not everything is your responsibility.

4. For a planning nerd, nothing feels quite like a new week, month, and quarter all starting on the same day.

5. Your experience depends tremendously on your mindset. Fuel it accordingly.

6. Grief can appear unexpectedly. Be gentle with yourself.

7. ‘But what will everyone think?’ is not a valid excuse to do/not do something. Trust yourself.

8. It’s never too early for Christmas music.

9. Fall is an excellent time for cleaning up, clearing out, and letting go.

10. You always have options.

Do any of these resonate with you? What lessons did you learn this month?

5 Ways To Make This Your BEST Quarter!

Christi Hegstad September 28th, 2023

As we approach the fourth + final quarter of 2023, here are 5 ideas to help you close the year clear, strong, and vibrant:

1. Imagine yourself on December 31 looking back over the year. What do you most want to celebrate, acknowledge, or hear yourself saying?

2. Review – or create afresh – your 1-3 top priority goals for the remainder of the year.

3. Hire a coach or join a group like the ASPIRE Success Club to help you stay clear, focused, and motivated toward those top priority goals.

4. Build in some regular reviews (I recommend weekly) to assess, course-correct where needed, and celebrate forward movement.

5. Give yourself a high-five for all you’ve experienced and achieved already this year. You’ve grown, you’ve made a difference, and it all counts!

This week, commit to making the 4th quarter your best quarter!

Ready? Let’s make it happen!

Add A Little Beauty Wherever You Go

Christi Hegstad September 26th, 2023

“I am going to make everything around me beautiful – that will be my life.” – attrib. Elsie de Wolfe

This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. I have very little fashion sense or knack for interior design, though I greatly admire people who do.

But when I think of making things around me beautiful, it’s not only in a visual sense.

What would ‘making everything around you beautiful’ look like to you?

This week, add beauty wherever you go.

To me, making things beautiful could mean leaving a place nicer than when I came, or adding kindness and compassion into a conversation, or supporting someone who courageously speaks up, or making someone feel truly heard by putting aside my distractions and listening with my whole self.

To me, all of these things add beauty to the world, and to my own life, too.

How will you add beauty this week?

Choosing How To Be Remembered

Christi Hegstad September 21st, 2023

What will people say about you 20, 50, or 100 years from now?

If your answer is ‘I have no idea!’, now may be the time to rethink that.

Is it possible that you can actually choose how people remember you by choosing how you live each and every day?

This week, consider how you’d love to be remembered.

One question I ask myself nearly every morning is this:

Who + how do I choose to be in the world today?

And while the ‘theme’ may differ from day to day (as described here), my overall response typically incorporates my core values, purpose, and what matters most.

I don’t believe our legacy is simply how people remember us 100 years from now – it’s how they remember us when we leave the 3 o’clock meeting, or the office, or the dinner gathering.

We may have a lot more power in choosing how people think of and remember us than we think!

Time For A Change

Christi Hegstad September 19th, 2023

Last week, I shared ten lessons I learned in the month of August. The one I’ve received the most feedback on is #8:

Some seasons call for continuing as is, some for incremental change, some for massive overhaul. Take note of your current season.

What season are you in right now?

If all is running smoothly for you, carry on! You’ve likely put some systems in place that are currently serving you well, so your energy may just focus on maintaining them.

If things aren’t quite as smooth as you’d like, a few areas where you might consider incremental changes:

Routines.

Whether the kids have returned to school and/or daylight is getting shorter, a new season often means adjusted routines. Look at how you set up your week, your morning, even your bedtime routines and ask yourself what could use a bit of altering.

Your Surroundings.

This might involve shredding the outdated contents of a filing cabinet, rearranging your office furniture for greater flow, or implementing a ten-minute desk tidy at the end of the workday.

Areas of Overcomplication.

If some areas have somehow become harder than necessary – ie, a gadget or system with way more bells-and-whistles than you need – a ‘back to basics’ approach may help. I recently wrote a blog about this with additional ideas.

And if you, like me, are in or approaching a potential overhaul, I encourage you to join me in the ASPIRE Success Club! Not only will you receive exceptional support, guidance, and inspiration with your changes, you’ll learn the best times to make certain changes, the most common (and often easily-remedied) barriers to change, and more. Enroll today while the Earlybird Rate is still in effect, and let’s make our forward-moving changes together!

Whether your current season calls for continuing as is, making a few tweaks, or implementing significant change, I wish you great success!

When Going ‘Back To Basics’ Propels You Forward

Christi Hegstad September 14th, 2023

A client came to coaching for help getting ‘back on track.’ She was quite perplexed with herself: After a lifetime of feeling organized and able to accomplish what she set out to, lately things were falling through the cracks.

When I asked her to describe a time when things were on track, we discovered some interesting – and simple – shifts she could make to return to that organized, accomplished feeling.

Much to her surprise, it involved going back to basics in some areas: Recording meeting notes on paper instead of a laptop, for example, because she realized that she remembered and followed up on things better that way.

This week, consider where going ‘back to basics’ may help you grow and propel you forward.

It could involve planning your week on Sunday afternoons, returning to a hands-on hobby that calms your mind, making changes in your food choices, or wearing an analog watch to reduce the number of times you pick up your phone.

If you notice something not working, it may only require a simple shift – and sometimes going back to basics may be the cure!

Lessons Learned – August 2023

Christi Hegstad September 12th, 2023

Taking a few moments to recap my lessons learned/relearned has proven to be such a valuable exercise each month! Here are the ones that top the list for August:

1. Beware the ‘always’ and ‘never’ and ‘you must.’ Life is filled with nuance.

2. Sometimes letting go of the *fine* creates space for the *fantastic*.

3. Go on the walk. You’ll be glad you did.

4. It’s ok to not have all the answers. Do the best you can with what you have.

5. Savor the sunset. Oceanside, when possible.

6. You can change your mind. In fact, you can change more than you realize.

7. Every experience can teach us something – if we’re open to the lesson.

8. Some seasons call for continuing as is, some for incremental change, some for massive overhaul. Take note of your current season.

9. Try to make each day a blend of productive + peaceful.

10. Be brave.

What lesson have you learned or been reminded of recently?

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