We’ve probably talked about this more than anything else in the past year. What is your why? Why do you show up? With all the talk of goals at this time of year, I keep coming back to my why. If you know where you want to go, and why you want to go there, then it makes the whole process easier.
So, where are you going? As someone who works in HR and has conducted hundreds of interviews, this question is a lot easier to stomach than what do you want to be in 5 years? I find that to be the worst question you can ask someone. In fact, I never answer that question directly if someone asks me that. Did I grow up wanting to be a senior consultant at this company? Absolutely not. What’s more interesting is where you’re going and why you want to go there. That’s a much more compelling answer because I’d love to know how we can help you get there. So, where am I going with all of this this? (See what I did there?). And why am I still waking up 3 mornings a week after all these years? Here’s a piece of where I’m going.
I’m working to build and strengthen a community that will support, encourage and motivate each other to be better people. This community will be filled with caring and genuine people who are proud to call Edmonton their home.
The great thing about my two other leaders is that, while their where and why might be different, we all share pieces of this. So when it comes to my goals, it will always come back to where I’m headed. I’m not here to run faster than the person in front of me. I’m not trying to get as many medals as I can. A year from now, I’m not going to remember about that time I beat Seumas in a race (ok maybe I’ll remember that one), or that I have 300 participant medals from all the races I’ve done. Those medals don’t give me access to a secret door after NP which takes me to a room filled with cookies.
I know what you’re thinking. Last week, I told you that my goal was to run a really fast 5k. You’re right. But here’s where the why comes in. Working towards this is going to keep me honest and motivated in my training. It is a way for me to show myself and others that you need to put in hard work. As I work towards my goals, hopefully it helps motivate others as they work towards theirs. It is a way for me to make sure that even while I’m focused on my goals, I can be there to support others. And most importantly, it is way for me to stay active and healthy so that I can continue to build this community.
Take a few minutes to ask yourself where are you going? You might find it hard to put into words, and that is perfectly normal. Come back to it every day, or every week, or every month. It will take time, but eventually, it will become more clear.
Find the Good,
Nadim
PS. Sometime in near future, we will be getting this year’s limited edition NP buffs. We’re not going to give you any advance notice of when they’re coming, but one day, the buffs will #justshowup. I’d highly keeping $5 cash (exact change) with you if you want to buy one. Remember, you have to be there to buy one because it’s one buff per person because we have a limited quantity.
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