Do What You Love…Or Something Else?

Christi Hegstad April 2nd, 2017

“You don’t have to know what you love to do that,” Fortgang’s book (with pictured quote) continues. “You just have to become the person you’ve always wanted to be right where you are and watch how your work will transform.”

I have seen this time and time again in my coaching work. Unless you are in a toxic work environment, you likely don’t need to switch jobs or careers or fields in order to succeed. You simply need to clarify your purpose (which you can fulfill in any role), be intentional about your activity, and work with love.

This week, be your BEST right where you are.

We’re starting a new week, new month, and new quarter – so start fresh! Connect with what you love about your work and try to weave more of that into your week. Focus on building relationships and being the best {insert your job title here} that ever was. Bring love, light, joy, and compassion to your work.

You’ll be amazed how successful you can become, by all measures, simply by focusing on loving what you do.

The Why and How of Purpose

Christi Hegstad March 31st, 2017

“If you take the time to figure out your purpose in life, I promise you will look back on it as the most important thing you will have ever learned.” – Clayton Christensen, How Will You Measure Your Life?

“[Your purpose statement is] the most important statement of your life. It defines who you are.” – Victor Strecher, Life On Purpose

In the late 1990s, with ideas from a few books and articles, I wrote my first Purpose Statement. It started out pretty long, jumbled, and overwhelming – definitely not something an 8-year-old could easily recite and understand (criteria one resource suggested). Eventually, to my surprise, with time and tweaking I was able to capture the entire essence of who I believe I am and what I’m here to do – personally, professionally, as a parent, and in all other roles – in a single sentence.

And not even a run-on sentence! 🙂

Even more surprising, that sentence hasn’t changed much over the years.

To be honest, now I can’t quite imagine not having a clear, concise Purpose Statement. I refer to it in so many ways on a daily basis! For example:

First thing in my office each morning, I scan my Purpose Statement – along with my Vision, Values, and Guiding Principles – to remind me why I’m about to do the work I’m about to do.

I filter potential opportunities and obligations through it. If the activity doesn’t help me fulfill my purpose, that’s an instant red flag (and makes saying “no” much easier).

It guides all my decision-making.

If something feels “off” – i.e., I’m unmotivated, disconnected, angry, or upset – I can look at the core components of my purpose and almost always determine the source. This knowledge makes change much easier and my next actions much more clear.

It reminds me who I am and who I want to be at my core, regardless of messages I might hear from external sources.

The books cited at the start of this article resonate deeply with me – and both were random picks off the bookstore shelf. In particular, I am struck by both authors’ bold assertions that your Purpose Statement is essentially the most important thing you can ever uncover. It’s so true! My work and life have never been the same, and my clients over the years report the same.

Think about it: Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, Gandhi, Mother Teresa… impactful leaders know their purpose, which guides their actions and fuels their courage. Purpose allows us to do what Christensen also advises: “Decide what you stand for. Then stand for it all the time.”

What’s your purpose? How does your Purpose Statement support your work, leadership, and life?

If you’ve written your Purpose Statement, I encourage you to keep it present and make it part of your daily activity. Feel free to engage the ideas I’ve presented here.

If you haven’t yet uncovered your purpose, consider enrolling in next month’s Write Your Purpose Statement course. After four weeks of guided activity – which includes proven worksheets, tools, and templates – you can expect to walk away with your clear, concise Purpose Statement.

Clarifying your purpose can elevate your experience to a whole new level and help others do the same. It can change your life, work, community, and world!

Either way, know that you matter. You are here for a purpose that only you can fulfill. Your positivity, leadership, and strength make a difference, and you make the world a better place by virtue of being you. Here’s to your meaningful work and purposeful life!

Write Your Purpose Statement (NEW COURSE!)

Christi Hegstad March 29th, 2017

I wrote my first Purpose Statement in the late 1990s, and – cliche though it may sound – it truly transformed my work, leadership, and life. Being able to clarify who I believe I am and what I’m here to do in one concise sentence impacted all areas of my life and continues to guide me on a daily basis.

Since then, I’ve helped thousands of clients and workshop participants create their Purpose Statements as well. Now I am delighted to offer the process for the first time in an online course! Here’s the scoop:

Write Your Purpose Statement

Primary Objective: By the end of this 4-session online course, you will have your own Purpose Statement to guide your work, leadership, and life!

Each week for four weeks, participants will receive an lesson via email covering one or more of the components of the Purpose Statement. Each lesson typically includes worksheets, suggested exercises, written and/or audio instruction, supporting resources, and a homework assignment. The final lesson will bring the various components of the Purpose Statement together, provide numerous examples of others’ Purpose Statements, and offer a template to help you crystallize your statement.

Course begins mid-April, runs for four weeks, and a portion of each enrollment will be donated to Reach Out and Read.

Would you like a clear, concise answer if someone asks, “What is your purpose?” If this resonates, please join me this spring to gain the purposeful clarity you crave!

Enrollment for this course has closed. Join our mailing list to learn about future offerings!

Creating a Miraculous Life – One Morning at a Time

Christi Hegstad March 23rd, 2017

“Two months ago, if you had told me I’d become a morning person, I would have laughed out loud,” a client recently shared. She then paused, and I realized she was fighting back tears with what she said next: “My new morning practice has changed everything: my work, my productivity, how I parent, how I feel about myself. It has transformed my life!”

She is one among many clients and ASPIRE Success Club members sharing this transformation. What a difference a day – or just a morning – makes!

When your alarm rings in the morning, what are the first thoughts to enter your mind? What actions do you take immediately upon waking to set the tone for your day? Do you typically wake up like a kid on Christmas – or like a person wishing for a much more generous snooze alarm?

I’ve written extensively about my morning practice (like this Huffington Post article) and, though originally developed somewhat out of necessity, I have found it to be one of the most meaningful parts of my day. So I was thrilled to discover Hal Elrod’s book, The Miracle Morning, last year and have spent the first quarter of 2017 discussing concepts from it and other resources in ASPIRE.

Elrod’s Miracle Morning consists of 6 components, or SAVERS: Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (writing). He describes his daily process in fair detail and encourages readers to adopt something similar, whether you dedicate a full hour or just six minutes to the routine.

Since I already had my morning practice firmly in place when I discovered this book, my takeaways might prove a bit different than other readers’:

Say ‘NO’ to Mediocrity.

In many areas of life, we tend to settle – whether by habit, limited thinking, or fear of the unknown that comes with trying something new. “Your entire life changes,” Elrod reminds us, “the day you decide you will no longer accept mediocrity for yourself.” Don’t settle.

Say ‘YES’ To Purpose.

While the actions each morning are important, I love how Elrod focuses more on the reasons behind them: To live a life of intention and purpose. Focusing on personal development, committing to growth, and beginning each day positively pulled him out of inconsistent results and a less-than-stellar lifestyle.

Take Responsibility For Your Life.

We cannot control everything that happens to us, as Elrod well knows: He was hit head-on by a drunk driver, suffered permanent brain damage, and actually died for six minutes. We can, however, choose our response to everything that happens. “It begins with accepting total responsibility for every aspect of your life and refusing to blame anyone else,” he writes. “The degree to which you accept responsibility for everything in your life is precisely the degree of personal power you have to change or create anything in your life.”

The Miracle Morning offers practical, actionable ideas you can implement immediately to begin changing the course of your work and life. Elrod’s powerful personal story, encouraging support, and ability to connect small daily actions to the bigger topics of meaning and purpose make this a truly worthwhile read. I highly recommend reading and implementing. Miracles await!

When You Don’t Meet Expectations

Christi Hegstad March 18th, 2017

As leaders and achievers, we tend to strive for excellence – a wonderful trait. However, we can also be especially hard on ourselves, or perhaps on those we lead, when we don’t exceed expectations.

Sometimes, despite our knowledge and effort, we don’t show up at our best. We hold back when we could have shared, we quietly make assumptions when we could have sought understanding, we remain silent when we could have spoken up.

Then, to add to it, we can spin in the world of coulda/shoulda/woulda for ages.

This week, practice grace and growth.

When you perform at less than your best, give yourself grace (aka, forgive yourself), do what you can to improve the situation (ie, apologize or offer a solution), then grow from the experience by committing to doing better next time. Reflect on what that will look like so you can have an action plan.

In every difficulty, I’ve made it a habit to ask myself an important question: What’s the lesson here? When you learn, you grow; when you grow, you can do better.

What helps you grow from your coulda/shoulda/woulda experiences? Share your ideas below.

How Will You Know Your Life Has Been Successful?

Christi Hegstad March 8th, 2017

I don’t believe this has ever happened to me before: I read through most of the book, How Will You Measure Your Life?, with interest – taking notes here and there but nothing too jaw-dropping.

And then, the final chapter of the book arrives…and I highlight the entire thing.

I chose this book randomly while roaming Barnes & Noble with a gift card in hand (one of my favorite life experiences, by the way). The author, an innovation expert and Harvard business professor, offers an interesting perspective of measuring life experiences similarly to business ones. He introduces business theory and innovation practices as a way to answer life’s big questions: Why am I here? What matters most? What does it all mean? His perspective is certainly unique and thought-provoking.

It wasn’t until I reached the final ten or so pages of the book, however, that everything came together and struck me with a profound sense of importance. A few takeaways:

Values are seen in action – not words. Christensen writes, “With every moment of your time, every decision about how you spend your energy and resources, you are making a statement about what really matters most to you.” Like a speaker I attended once shared, show me your calendar and checkbook and I’ll show you your values. An important reminder in our personal lives, work, and family.

Encourage big dreams. I was thankful to see this affirmation of one of my guiding principles. “As a parent,” he states, “encourage your children to stretch – to aim for lofty goals… If they’re not occasionally failing, they’re not aiming high enough.” We can all apply this to our own work and lives, can’t we?

Hold true to your values ALL the time – it’s easier than SOME of the time. When you set guidelines for how you want to live, don’t give in “just this once.” Difficult as upholding your core values may be, it’s easier than regretting where you end up because you gave in. “Decide what you stand for,” Christensen says, “then stand for it all the time.” I love this simple directive.

Do the work to uncover your purpose. The author makes a bold statement here: “If you take the time to figure out your purpose in life, I promise that you will look back on it as the most important thing you will have ever learned.”

My jaw dropped a little here.

I coach and teach the process of writing a personal purpose statement. It was the focus of our annual Spark event last year. I live, breathe, and work in the midst of purpose.

But I can’t say I’ve ever told someone, definitively, that it is the most important thing they will ever discover.

Yet reading this statement, I agree. I just haven’t been bold enough to state it.

Clarifying my values, defining my strengths, and writing my purpose statement truly changed my life. Knowing my purpose has given me the courage and confidence to do things I never would have thought possible nor would have attempted otherwise, from starting a business to raising a family in the way we are raising them to taking healthy risks that have caused me to grow immeasurably.

The distinction comes so clearly now: Pre-Purpose-Statement I was “fine” but floating, meandering, just taking the next step without much sense of grounding or vision.

Post-Purpose-Statement, I feel intentional about my decisions. I choose in favor of my purpose and clearly link my actions to my higher beliefs and the greater good. I have a “knowing” that I cannot say I experienced before discerning my purpose.

And I’m so thankful for the bold way Clayton Christensen stated this. It is how I will now voice my feeling as well.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in figuring out answers to the “bigger questions,” but in particular to business-minded people, young parents (or about-to-be), and those dedicated to creating a culture of growth and meaning in their workplaces, families, or organizations.

“The type of person you want to become – what the purpose of your life is – is too important to leave to chance.” Commit to an intentional, deliberate approach to fulfilling your purpose. It changes EVERYTHING!

The Choices You Make

Christi Hegstad March 7th, 2017

The choices you make,

make you.

Coaching Tip of the Week:

This line, often attributed to John Wooden, rings true on so many levels. Look at your work and life right now. How do you feel about them? What choices have brought you to where you are today?

While the big decisions – where to live, what career to pursue, etc. – certainly impact us, it’s the choices we make every day that tend to define our experiences.

If you feel strong, fulfilled, and purposeful, reflect on the choices that have led you to this point. Ask yourself how you can continue on your uplifting path.

If you feel dissatisfied, out of alignment, or frustrated, reflect on the choices that have led you to this point. Decide what needs to change. Then commit to choosing differently.

This week, make strong choices.

Choose in favor of your values. Choose to change a behavior, pattern, or mindset. Choose to show up, stand up, speak up. Choose kindness. Choose respect. Choose positivity.

When we become aware of the change we want to create, we can clarify a new vision for our work and lives. Then, we can choose in support of that vision over and over, with each day and each action.

Let the choices you make lead to meaningful work and a purposeful life – starting now!

Want to receive a dose of positivity in your in-box to start each week off right? Click here to sign up (and receive a free workbook while you’re at it!).

The Most Difficult Jump (And What To Do About It)

Christi Hegstad February 28th, 2017

When Olympic gold-medal skater Scott Hamilton was asked what the most difficult jump is… “The one you have to do right after you’ve fallen.”

In Naomi Judd’s “Breakthrough Guide”

Coaching Tip of the Week:

Tough times, setbacks, failures… we all experience them. The question is not whether you will sometimes fall – it’s how will you get back up and move forward?

Some people let the fall hold them back for far too long. They dwell on the mistakes, wallow in the disappointment, or let the sting of failure settle in too deeply. Sometimes they step right out of the rink, afraid to return in case of another fall.

This week, rise gracefully.

Learn from your errors, make amends where necessary, then use those setbacks as stepping stones for your future growth. Decide they won’t hold you back but will instead increase your commitment to becoming the best possible you.

As the saying goes, fall down seven times, get up eight. Let this be the week you rise!

Want to receive this quick dose of positivity in your in-box each week? Click here to sign up!

Do What You Love

Christi Hegstad February 27th, 2017

When people ask what I do for a living, I often reply, “I help people successfully do what they love.” This mission has served as the cornerstone of the business since the very beginning, fourteen years ago.

Every once in a while, someone will respond, “I wish I could do what I love, but I have to pay the bills.”

If there’s one myth I’d like to dispel in the world of work, it’s that you have to choose between work you love or a paycheck. Work and life are so much more enriching when we focus on and instead of but.

My definition of Doing What You Love is this: Engaging in meaningful work that uses your passions and strengths to make a positive difference.

You can do what you love even if you’re not in your dream job yet. You can engage in meaningful work without changing careers. And you can make a positive difference in ANY role: paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time, public or behind-the-scenes, for-profit or nonprofit, volunteer or employer-based.

Here’s the thing about meaningful work and doing what you love: It’s not so much about the job, the title, or even the work itself. It’s about the spirit in which you do the work. It’s about the mindset you adopt and the attitude you choose to embrace. It’s about doing more of what lights you up and simultaneously lights up others. It’s about making things better than they were, and leaving people better than you found them.

Some particular aspects help you do what you love, and these are often what we focus on in coaching:

* Discover your strengths and how to leverage them.

* Identify your core values and how to honor them at work.

* Reconnect with your passions and structure your day in favor them as much as possible.

* Lead with vision, kindness, and grace – regardless of your title.

* Connect your work to the bigger picture. Become clear on the ‘why’. Know your purpose.

Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran holds special significance in my work and life for a variety of reasons, and I agree with him 100% when he says that work is love made visible.

You can make a living, a difference, and a life – all at the same time – by doing what you love.

So whether you’re currently in your dream job or moving in that direction, make a commitment to do what you love – starting now. Infuse your work with energy. Consider the positive difference you are making and strive to make an even greater one. Through personal development, working with a coach, and other methods of growth, decide that you will engage, serve, and do what you love.

Let your love be made visible as you live, work, and lead with purpose.

As I celebrate 14 years in business this month, I’m sharing 14 lessons – one per post – that I’ve learned (many the hard way) over the years. I hope they help you work with meaning and live with purpose!

Dedicate Time To The Important

Christi Hegstad February 26th, 2017

One of my greatest “mentors from afar” is Dr. Stephen Covey. His work around values, priorities, and principle-based leadership helped create the foundation on which I built my business and, in many ways, in which I live my life. While I never got to meet him in person, his research and writing have influenced me tremendously.

When I saw the Time Matrix in his book First Things First (my favorite of his), I had a huge aha! moment. How often we give our time and attention to the urgent, merely because it screams the loudest; meanwhile the truly important work gets put on the back burner. His matrix serves as a valuable filter for work, leadership, and life.

Lesson #13: Dedicate Time To The Important. Set aside time for your long-term goals, creating strategy, visioning, reflecting, planning. Don’t constantly let what matters most get pushed aside in favor of ‘the squeaky wheel.’ (Fortunately, when we pay attention to the important consistently, we experience fewer squeaky wheels.)

This weekend I had the opportunity to put this lesson into practice once again. Months ago, I had set aside this weekend for a writer’s retreat. The book I’ve been writing is incredibly important to me and to the fulfillment of my purpose, but setting aside an entire weekend to work on it seemed nearly impossible: How do I step away from the urgent needs of the business, my family, and other responsibilities for an entire weekend to focus on the book? Many things – urgent things – were conspiring to keep me from making this retreat a reality.

But I remembered that while my book may not be urgent, it’s important. And if I don’t pay attention, soon it will be urgent, too.

So I made the necessary arrangements, honored the important, and made it happen. This photo depicts where I spent a good portion of the weekend, creating and writing and putting together the details of a book that will hopefully change many lives for the better – like Covey’s did for me. This may sound dramatic, but it was a life- and business-changing weekend!

As Covey wrote, “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” How can you prioritize the important this week?

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