Goals, Leadership, and Being Strategic

Christi Hegstad April 2nd, 2014

Ask 10 people to define “strategic planning” and you will likely get 10 different responses, ranging from outsmarting the competition to planning ahead to all departments working together rather than in a segmented fashion. For Erika Andersen, the answer is simple and complete:

Being strategic means consistently making those core directional choices that will best move you toward your hoped-for future.

In other words, strategic planning is not a one-time event but rather a way of being, every day.

I recently interviewed Erika about strategic planning not only in an organizational context, but in our individual lives as well. For example, each member of the ASPIRE Success Club sets a Bold Goal for the year, and we wanted to explore how Erika’s process might help each of them effectively plan, activate, and achieve her goal. Erika’s lessons did not disappoint! Whether you’re in the midst of strategically planning for your company, defining roles for your team, or wanting to move more intentionally toward personal goals, you’ve likely had similar questions to those we asked Erika. Here are a few of Erika’s many tips that you can use to support your experience:

Strategic planning typically involves long-term goals and vision. How can we stay motivated when we might not reach our goals for a year or more?

“You may need to periodically retrofit your goal,” Erika suggests. “Ask yourself, ‘Why is this goal important to me? What is it that I’m excited about?'” Reconnecting with your initial purpose for the goal can ramp up your energy and passion. If you can’t answer the question easily, that may be a signal to change your goal to suit your present situation.

Also, set subsidiary goals to support your longer-term ones. For example, if you strive to become a neurosurgeon – quite a long-term goal – you need to break it up. “Set incremental goals along the way, like completing this semester with an ‘A’ average,” recommends Erika.

When focused on a future goal, staying in the present moment can prove challenging. How do you suggest balancing the vision for the future with being mindful in the present?

Erika responded with two suggestions: first, think of your goal like a travel destination. “You know where you want to go, and you’ve mapped the path to best get there,” Erika replied, “but you wouldn’t just sit and stare at the map the entire trip.” Just like you would look out the window and enjoy the scenery on a roadtrip, be sure to do so on the pathway to your goals as well.

Second, engage in mindfulness practices. Whether through yoga, meditation, exercise, journaling, or something altogether different, do whatever works for you – and do it on a regular basis.

What if you set an amazing Bold Goal, then don’t achieve it – or decide halfway through that it’s not the right goal for you after all?

“Never view a shift in your long-term goal as failure,” suggests Erika. Your visionary goal is essentially a best guess and, once you’re on the path, you may discover detours and need to change your route. “By trying to create a future for yourself that’s intentional, you’re way ahead of most. If things change, that’s o.k.!”

I always ask interviewees to leave us with an action tip, an important step that we can implement immediately. I love Erika’s tip: Learn to manage how you talk to yourself. “We talk to ourselves a lot throughout a given day,” says Erika. “Sometimes what we say to ourselves is benign, but often times not; we say things to ourselves that, if other people said them to us, we wouldn’t be friends with them anymore.” Your language is your single most powerful tool for success. Use it with intention, and choose your words wisely!

“People who achieve important goals – climbing a mountain, running a company well, being a good parent – rarely do it by accident… They have a clear idea of what success would look and feel like for them, and they make decisions based on whether a particular choice will move them toward that desired future state.” ~ Erika Andersen

You can find Erika’s strategic planning process outlined in her book, Being Strategic (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2010). Learn more about Erika at www.erikaandersen.com and www.proteus-international.com.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

Clarity Kickstart: The Leader Sets The Tone

Christi Hegstad March 31st, 2014

Clarity Kickstart: March 31, 2014

Leaders need to understand how profoundly they affect people, how their optimism and pessimism are equally infectious, how directly they set the tone and spirit of everyone around them. Realize your influence, and use it wisely.

~ Captain D. Michael Abrashoff

Coaching Tip for the Week:

What’s the general tone of your organization? How do you contribute to that tone?

If the atmosphere of your workplace doesn’t suit you, you have several choices: grin and bear it, leave, complain, blame others. Or, you could take the lead (regardless of your role) in transforming the environment to one of positivity, support, and engagement. As Captain Abrashoff says a bit later in his book It’s Your Ship (source of the above quote), “It’s funny how often the problem is you.” Fortunately, so is the solution.

This week, decide on one action that you can take consistently to start bringing about the change you wish to see. Maybe you start each day with a friendly greeting, post an inspiring quote daily on your company’s intranet site, or begin each staff meeting with everyone sharing a “win” they’ve experienced. The transformation may not occur overnight, but you can rest assured you’re planting the seeds for a more positive, focused, and appreciative environment.

What consistent action will you commit to this week? Share below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

Adventures In Boldness: Meet Tracy Fuller

Christi Hegstad March 26th, 2014

“I am very fortunate to do what I love for a living,” began Tracy Fuller in our recent ASPIRE Success Club Adventures In Boldness interview. “I love having the goal of thrilling my clients every day!”

After experiencing a significant tragedy in her family in the late 1980s, Tracy needed an outlet to help ease the pain of loss. “I wanted to help others celebrate happy occasions until we started having more of our own,” she shared. Combining this desire with her passion for art, Tracy began what is now known as InnovativEvents.

She started 27 years ago by building stork signs to place in yards to announce the birth of a baby. “It was kind of like TP’ing as an adult,” Tracy recalled, while sharing some funny stories of incorrect addresses leading to big surprises for some residents! 🙂 InnovativEvents now focuses on full event production, taking care of details for conferences, galas, and weddings so the hosts can focus on entertaining and enjoying themselves.

Nearly 3 decades in business has taught Tracy many lessons which she generously shared in our interview. Among them:

1. Fail forward fast. “Any regrets I have in my business,” offered Tracy, “typically revolve around the thought, ‘I wish I’d made this decision quicker.'” Don’t put your ideas and plans on hold, waiting for the perfect moment. Don’t let fear hold you back from what you know in your heart you need to do.

2. Connect with brilliant minds. From involvement in a global Mastermind group with a well-known business expert to a local monthly get-together with a couple of entrepreneurial friends, Tracy consistently invests time, money, and energy into developing herself and her business. She knows from experience that any investment of this sort will reward her in significant, and often unexpected, ways.

3. Take complete responsibility for your actions. The ASPIRE Success Club knows this mantra well, and Tracy summarized it beautifully: “This is something I’ve stressed all along in my business, with my kids, in life. It’s the only way you can change.” Successful business people are usually big risk-takers. Sometimes you need to step off the cliff, with the willingness to accept responsibility for the outcome, too.

Tracy also balances her successful, often travel-intensive business with intentional self-care, advising others to “take time to do what puts you in the zone.” Her business and way of being make her an incredible role model for holistic growth, taking healthy risks, and doing what you love!

Learn more about Tracy Fuller and her business at www.InnovativEvents.com.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

Clarity Kickstart: Your Weekly Plan

Christi Hegstad March 24th, 2014

CLARITY KICKSTART: March 24, 2014

“Often people assume that because they know what they need to do, they won’t benefit from a weekly plan. That is just not the case. A plan between your ears is not nearly as effective as a plan on paper.”

~ Brian Moran

Coaching Tip for the Week:

When do you create your plan for the week?

If your answer is, “I don’t” or “When I get around to it,” I challenge you to change that. A weekly plan – even more than your daily to-do list – will set you up for success and allow your top goals and priorities to shine regularly.

This week, choose the time when you will create your plan for the week. (I like Sunday evenings, but choose what works best for you.) Set aside 30 minutes; gather your annual and quarterly goals, calendar, and to-do list; and grab a cup of coffee or a refreshing glass of water. Plan your work so that throughout the week you can work your plan – and throughout the year you can revel in your success!

When do you do your weekly planning? Share on below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

Leadership Call: Helping Girls Change The World

Christi Hegstad March 19th, 2014

Last fall I attended a community forum on the topic of girls and leadership. My jaw about fell to the floor when the presenters shared statistics and anecdotes indicating that many girls do not see themselves as current or future leaders. When I witness the acts of leadership and the high potential among my daughter and her peers, this blows my mind. How do our youth not recognize their own leadership ability?

I have the privilege of working regularly with a group of young women to facilitate their leadership development. Although we spend time giggling over Instagram photos and talking about show choir and sports, the drive and compassion in these teenagers never ceases to amaze me. They prepare and serve meals to families in need, make bedding and treats for the local animal shelter, teach younger children new skills, and continuously display leadership in ways more profound than many people three times their age.

They’re also very attuned to the inequities of the world. We recently watched Malala’s interview with Jon Stewart (click here to see the 6-minute video) and discussed how girls in some parts of the world are denied what we consider basic freedoms, like education or choosing your own clothing. And closer to home, although slowly improving, how women earn $.77 to every man’s $1 for equal work (Institute For Women’s Policy Research, 2012).

So my leadership partner and I asked them to describe a girl’s perfect world. A couple comments made us smile – “Girls wouldn’t be scared of centipedes,” for instance. 😉 But the collective wisdom of these teens can simultaneously break your heart and point to a hopeful future. They envision – and want to help create – a world where:

* Everyone is treated with equal kindness and respect.

* Human trafficking does not exist.

* Girls don’t feel the need to remove their clothes or act against their values to gain attention – nor do their role models.

* Girls everywhere attend school.

* Women and men earn the same wages for the same work.

* Women lead more countries.

* Girls are taken seriously.

* Girls are heard.

Talk about humbling. And inspiring.

I also see this as a clarion call to adults. We need to acknowledge, nurture, and develop the skills and abilities of our most precious resource – our children, our future leaders. (Boys also face a number of challenges and display incredible leadership, of course, which I’ll write about in an upcoming post. In the meantime, I encourage you to read Rosalind Wiseman’s fantastic book, Masterminds & Wingmen.) A few simple ways to start helping girls change the world:

* Point out a girl’s greatness. If you see an athlete respectfully listening to her basketball coach while others are not, or you notice a child helping another student on the playground, tell them how that demonstrates great leadership. As Stephen Covey wrote, most people think of leadership as a position and therefore don’t see themselves as leaders. They need verbal reminders.

* Talk about leaders. Ask your children, classroom, or youth group whom they consider leaders and why. Share your own examples, taking care to include leaders of both genders and various backgrounds. While you may hear many well-known names, incorporate those from your local community, too: teachers, volunteers, the friendly cashier at the gas station who makes everyone feel welcome and appreciated, the owner of the local cafe who gives free coffee to homeless people.

* Emphasize everyday leadership. Move away from the notion that leadership is something we do when engaged in certain roles and embrace it instead as a way of life. Mother Teresa was an extraordinary example of leadership, showing compassion and care to everyone she encountered – not just those she saw “during the workday.”

Perhaps most importantly, take on the mantle of leadership yourself. A significant number of adults also don’t recognize their own leadership potential; I urge you not to wait for someone else to point it out to you. Serve as a leadership role model for everyone around you. Periodically mention to children that you’re taking an action – whether it’s voting in an election, bringing a meal to a housebound neighbor, or running for the Board of Education – because you feel that’s what a strong leader does. You’ll remind them that leadership is action, not position, and that each of us can make a difference – whomever and wherever we are.

How else can we support our girls’ and children’s leadership development? Share your ideas below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

Clarity Of Purpose: WHY Do You Do What You Do?

Christi Hegstad March 17th, 2014

CLARITY KICKSTART: March 17, 2014

An organization’s core purpose – why it exists – has to be completely idealistic. Many leadership teams struggle with this, afraid that what they come up with will seem too grand or aspirational. Of course, that’s the whole point. Employees in every organization, at every level, need to know that at the heart of what they do lies something grand and aspirational. All organizations exist to make people’s lives better.

~ Patrick Lencioni

Coaching Tip for the Week:

What’s your organization’s purpose? What’s your purpose within the organization?

How many times have you come across a mission statement that, in the most generic terms possible, describes how XYZ Company exists to provide excellent customer service, operate with integrity, and provide stockholder value?

There’s nothing wrong with these success measures, however that’s what they are: measures of success. Your core purpose is the bare-bones, heartfelt WHY.

This week, brainstorm the reasons why your organization exists. Why do you do what you do? What problems do you solve? How do you make life better for others? Use what you generate as the basis for your organization’s mission statement. (Hint: You can take this same action for your own personal mission statement, too.)

Clarity around why you do what you do will fuel your energy, productivity, and results like nothing else!

Why do you do what you do? Share your comments below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

How Are You Growing Your Career?

Christi Hegstad March 10th, 2014

CLARITY KICKSTART: March 10, 2014

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

~ John F. Kennedy

Coaching Tip for the Week:

What are you doing to develop in your career and as a leader?

One of the most inspiring parts of my work as an executive and leadership coach is when people seek my services of their own volition. As one client recently shared, “I’ve seen how coaching has impacted others and, even though my company doesn’t pay for it, I know I want that too.”

Regardless of the training your company or industry offers, your growth is up to you.

This week, commit to your professional development. Enroll in a class, sign up for a conference, hire a coach, or dedicate time in your schedule for reading. Take control of your growth, recognizing that any time and money you invest upfront will be returned to you tenfold!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

4 Principles of Leadership Clarity

Christi Hegstad March 9th, 2014

4 Principles of Leadership Clarity

Jack, a coaching client, came to our meeting visibly upset. “I don’t know what else to do with this employee,” he lamented. “He’s got a track record of success and incredible potential, but he doesn’t get the job done. Everything I’ve delegated to him comes back unfinished or sub-par.”

“How does he respond when you discuss this with him?” I asked.

“He says he’s getting mixed messages,” Jack replied. “I tell him to focus on quality and doing things right, Janelle (his VP) tells him to speed up because time is of the essence, his coworker Amy does the same work but has shown him a completely different way of doing it than how he was taught.” A lightbulb seemed to come on for Jack in that moment. “I guess he doesn’t know who to listen to or what matters most.”

This illustrates a common leadership scenario. How many times have you read a company’s (maybe your company’s) mission statement touting what matters most – then seen completely different principles in action?

Ambiguity = Conflict

In many ways, successful leadership comes down to one word: CLARITY. In his bestselling book The Advantage, Patrick Lencioni stresses the importance of clarity above all else; in fact, 3 of his 4 principles are Create Clarity, Overcommunicate Clarity, and Reinforce Clarity. Leadership consultant Cy Wakeman affirms its importance by claiming, “Ambiguity is the source of all conflict.”

As a leader, you must be crystal-clear about the fundamental principles of your organization. At the core, you need to be able to answer the following 4 questions simply and directly:

Why are we here? (Purpose)
Where are we headed? (Compelling vision)
What matters most? (Values and goals)
How do we do it? (Procedures)

Once you’ve established these basic precepts, you need clarity in communicating them. Visions and goals mean nothing unless they are clearly and consistently communicated to those who ultimately fulfill them. As Captain D. Michael Abrashoff writes in It’s Your Ship, “No matter how fantastic your message is, if no one is receiving it, you aren’t communicating.” Lencioni goes so far as to say your role is Chief Reminding Officer: repeatedly describing – through words, actions, and all forms of communication – what matters most.

Can you clearly answer these 4 questions right now? Would your team or coworkers answer them in the same way? Even if you are a sole practitioner, your success depends on how clearly you can state – and live out on a day-to-day basis – these 4 principles.

Call To Action

This month, I encourage you to walk through these 4 questions on your own or with the help of your coach. Start by brainstorming all your ideas on paper, then narrowing down to what you consider your core purpose, vision, values/goals, and procedures.

If you are part of a team or board, have each member do the same thing, also on their own.

Then, bring your team together to discuss and decide. Your goal is to establish clarity around these 4 components that everyone can then communicate purposefully and consistently. Having led these kinds of discussions during leadership retreats, I’ve learned you may wish to bring in an outside, objective facilitator for this work.

Once you’ve defined this foundation and it has permeated through your organization through your clear and consistent message, you’ll likely experience a shift in how you and your team operate, leading to all kinds of positive results. Clarity is power!

What other aspects of leadership require clarity? Share your comments below, on Facebook, or via Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether in their leadership abilities, at a certain income level, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

5 Ways To Start Your Day With Clarity and Purpose

Christi Hegstad March 5th, 2014

I used to be a night owl. In college, I would schedule midday classes whenever possible so I could stay up late without forfeiting sleep. Later, as a mom with three children age 4 and under, the wee hours of the night were often the only quiet moments I would have to write or work on my business.

Several years ago, things changed. Or, more accurately, I changed.

After a series of crabby less-than-stellar mornings, a realization struck me: I often started the day on something/someone else’s terms. This caused me to feel like the circumstances of the day controlled me rather than being the leader in my own life. I slowly started rising earlier, spending a few quiet moments with myself before the bustle of the day began, and discovered that starting my day that way made me more focused, patient, and happy.

How do you spend those precious first moments of your morning? If you find yourself feeling behind before the day begins, perhaps a new morning practice would serve you well, too. Here are 5 things I now regularly do to start the day off right:

1. Give thanks. Nothing beats welcoming the morning on a grateful note. I give thanks for another day and the opportunity for a fresh start, for a cozy home and hot coffee. Even if you’ve had a restless night, you can give thanks for that 45-minute period when you slept soundly!

2. Read inspirational text. For me, that’s usually a devotional, poetry, or a few pages from something enlightening. A client of mine reads from a book of motivational quotes; another client reads a section of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. I recommend something positive, uplifting, and centering.

3. Journal. This is the heart of my morning practice. I’ve kept a journal since age 8 and, while I’d like to say my journals are as profound as those published by Anais Nin or Anne Frank, they’re often more the repository for whatever is on my mind. I use journaling to work through challenges, celebrate wins, pray, make lists and mind maps, and free-write.

4. Plan priorities. I take a few minutes to scan the day’s activities and to-do’s, selecting my top 3 priorities. While I’ll hopefully accomplish more than those 3 items, this prioritization reminds me that if the rest of the day goes haywire, these items matter most and deserve my attention first whenever possible.

5. Step outside. I’ll admit, this one’s easier not to do when temperatures are routinely below zero! 😉 But I always feel invigorated when I open the door, take a deep breath, and check out the morning sky. I often combine this step with #1 above.

Ready to create or build on your morning routine? Your best bet, as Charles Duhigg reminds us in The Power Of Habit, is to set your environment for success beforehand. If you want to start your morning with a brisk run, for example, have your workout clothes and running shoes waiting by your bed. I pre-set my coffee maker the night before so I have a fresh pot brewed and ready to greet me in the early hours, with my journal nearby.

It’s now a very rare occasion when I start my day without my morning practice – and when I do miss it, I feel “off.” You might choose different activities for yourself – several of my clients incorporate yoga, meditation, or vigorous exercise, for instance. It doesn’t matter so much what you do, just that you start your day in a positive, intentional manner that sets you up for success and joy. Choose to start your morning with intention. You’ll reap the benefits the entire day!

Like a gift, beautifully wrapped at the foot of your bed each morning, today asks that you open it and enjoy everything inside. Exhaust yourself with all it has to offer! ~ Steve Maraboli

How do you start your day off right? Share your ideas below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether at an income level, in their leadership abilities, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

10 Professional Development Takeaways From “Women Mean Business” Summit

Christi Hegstad March 4th, 2014

The status of women-owned businesses in Iowa has looked pretty bleak the past few years – we’re ranked 51st in the nation. The only way we can solve this (or nearly any problem, in my opinion) is through education, leading to smart action.

Last week, I was honored to spend a day with 130 business owners, professionals, and politicians who aren’t complaining, aren’t asking for favors, but ARE creating solutions and changing the landscape for current and future business owners. Here I offer 10 takeaways from the 2014 NAWBO-CI “Women Mean Business” Summit that you can apply to your own business or career growth:

Success Leaves Clues. How often do you come up with an idea, then quickly dismiss it because you don’t know how to proceed? Keynoter Kristen Sharma reminded us that we don’t have to start from scratch or know all the answers in order to move forward, and her track record serves as wonderful proof. Look to your own past wins, as well as the successes of others you admire, to find clues and ideas that will move you forward.
Serve As A Model. When you’re in a position of success, you must constantly remember that you serve as a model for others. An interesting addendum, however, involves serving as a model even in the journey. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds (pictured) discussed the status of small businesses, emphasizing how “Iowa has an opportunity to serve as a model for other states, to move the status quo and leverage our diverse talent.” Don’t just wait until you’ve reached your goal – model for others all along the way.
Know Your Why. Although her breakout session focused on marketing, Heather Yost applied her opening tip to both business and life success: begin with your why. You need to know the driving reason behind what you do. Remember, it’s not to make money or gain a certain position – those might be success measures for you, but they’re not the purpose behind your work. (For further reading on this topic, I suggest Simon Sinek’s bestseller, Start With Why.)
Take Risks. Starting and running a business or advancing in a career are risks in their own right, of course. But don’t stop there. A common theme throughout the day’s presentations encouraged moving forward even when you haven’t yet figured out all the details. As Shakti Gawain once wrote, “The world will reward you for taking risks on its behalf.”
Seek Out – And Thank – Mentors. All of the afternoon panelists spoke highly of mentors, role models, and coaches who have supported them in their extraordinary business growth and success. Jane Whalen added an important comment to this: “Make sure you go back and say ‘Thank you’ to your mentors and advisers.” Not only is it a nice gesture, but expressing your gratitude also encourages your mentor to continue paying it forward with others.
Make Values-Based Choices. If you look only at the statistics, you might think the failure rate for small businesses is quite high. What the stats don’t show, as Maureen Collins-Williams pointed out, is that business owners sometimes choose to close their doors in order to honor their deeper values and priorities, such as family. “It all comes down to choices,” Collins-Williams asserts, “and we need to support them all.” Even if they choose differently than you would.
Keep Your Feet Moving Forward. Panelist Erin Rollenhagen has experienced her share of obstacles throughout her career, but they have not stopped her in her tracks. If anything, they’ve strengthened her resolve and clarified her priorities even more. “Even when you feel like you’re up against a wall,” she advised, “don’t stop. Keep your feet moving forward and you’ll make progress.”
Dare To Innovate. A huge factor in staying relevant in the business world involves finding a need, then offering a solution. Emma Peterson didn’t like how ticketing companies prevented musicians and artists from being adequately compensated for their work, so she set out to change the industry. “I didn’t know exactly how to do it,” she admitted, “but it was important, and I knew I could find the people and resources to help with the parts I didn’t understand.” Focus on the WHAT, then you can figure out the HOW.
Build Community. The entire day was a powerful expression of community! You don’t have to go it alone – whatever your “it” is. Connect with people who can help you achieve your goals, reach out to those whom you can support, surround yourself with energy, success, and positive individuals. Never stop learning from and sharing your own experiences as well as taking in all you can from those around you.
Do What You Love. The speakers and attendees of the Summit varied in industry, experience, company size, age, and nearly every other factor imaginable. One common denominator rang clearly through all the presentations, however, which aligns with studies on the wealthiest, most influential leaders in the world: Do what you love. Fuel your passion. Make your difference doing work that matters to you and makes a difference for others.

“Who we are is reflected in what we do and how we do it. Do what you love, work at something you believe in, do work that matters…and make a difference in the work you do.” ~ Sandra Magsamen

What would you add to the list? Share your ideas below, on our Facebook page, or via Twitter.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches executives and leaders who feel stuck – whether at an income level, in their leadership abilities, or “spinning their wheels” in the day-to-day – to flourish towards their vision with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action.

Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Author Archives: Christi Hegstad