So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change.
Know we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change. . . .

—John Mayer
“Waiting on the World to Change”

Many of us are waiting out the Great Recession. We’re playing it safe, not taking any risks, putting off our next big steps, the transformations we long to make in our lives and work, until the winds of global economic change die down. We’ve locked the doors, boarded up the windows, and headed down into the basement.

But the problem is that boarded-up windows not only keep the winds from coming in, they keep us from seeing out—we close off our perspective, our ability to see the big picture. The problem is that sometimes playing it safe and sticking with the status quo is the most unsafe choice we can make.

When we finally venture out from our basements and tentatively open our doors, we are likely to see a different world out there, one created and reshaped by the people who didn’t hide away, who instead realized that the only way to survive was to start planning the rebuilding process before the structure collapsed, not after.

We are likely to find that the place we held in the old world, that we so desperately tried to protect, no longer exists. And because we weren’t part of creating the new world, we also weren’t part of creating and ensuring our place in it.

Now I’m not suggesting that you just abandon everything and throw yourself out into the storm. If you are an executive or business owner, you need to start preparing to lead change by figuring out exactly what that means and how you can stay ahead of the curve of change without abandoning what already works in your organization.

If you are not financially ready to start that new business you’ve been longing to start, quitting your job today isn’t the answer. But as I’ve said before, the choice isn’t either/or. It isn’t either you stay at an unfulfilling job or you risk everything and start your business. The choice is both/and.

Stay at the job while you take concrete steps toward starting your business, going beyond just dreaming about it. Commit to taking action every day to build it, and taking into account the bigger world picture as you do: The world is undergoing an epochal shift. Build your business based on what the world needs and will need, based on likely trends as well as the changes you want to see in the world. If you build your future assuming it will look like the past, your business will be obsolete before you even open its doors. In fact, the business of the future might not even have doors, not the way we’ve always thought of them anyway.

Waiting on the world to change is the riskiest move we could ever make—not because it won’t, but because it will.

Image credit: Photograph by Jeff Kramer.

But what exactly do I mean when I use this word?

People sometimes think that reinvention means dropping everything and starting on a new path. Although this might be what we need to do at times, in my experience, it’s rare. This misconception can lead people to a cycle of starting new endeavors without ever finishing any of them because when they hit a rough patch, they “reinvent” again, rather than reassessing along the way and making necessary shifts while continuing to move forward.

Furthermore, that’s not really reinvention at all. It’s essentially a cycle of invention without the all-important prefix. Reinvention is a process of working with who you are, where you are, what you’ve done, are doing, and are capable of. It’s a process of building and transforming based on the best of you as well as the core of what really matters to you. Yes, you often have to toss out old definitions of yourself and of success, as well as aspects of your life that do not really matter, that are merely clutter. Reinvention is a purification process, getting down to your essence, to your core values. But you don’t toss out the gold with the dross.

This is an especially important distinction in these uncertain times. If we look at reinvention as an either/or prospect—either I continue doing exactly what I’m doing or I discard it all and do something completely different—many of us will feel stuck, knowing we can’t afford to throw it all away. Others will throw it all away and very likely find themselves with nothing to show for it because they also tossed what they needed.

Either/or thinking is not the answer. Reinvention is about both/and. You can continue moving forward on your path, doing what you need to do pragmatically while also getting in touch with your visionary voice, with what matters most to you. You can identify what needs to go and develop a plan toward your vision that includes the best of both worlds, the best of who you are now and who you can be.

Reinvention—of our lives, our work, and even our world—is not for only a select few who can afford it. We’re all invited to the reinvention. Come as you are.

Image credit: Art with Fruit.

Many of you are no doubt aware of this voice. Maybe you’ve had to reawaken it at various times in your life—most of us have to do this—but you know it’s there.

Some of you, on the other hand, might not see yourself as ever being a visionary. Visionaries are other people, not you. You have ideas, but you don’t see them as earth shattering. You want sustainable, meaningful success, sure, but nothing you’re planning will transform the world.

And that’s okay. Your definition of success, of what matters most to you, is yours and yours alone. But if at any point in your life you’ve felt that you were meant for more, that there’s a bigger purpose inside you yet to be realized, then you are selling yourself—and the world—short by not uncovering that purpose, by not doing what you can to awaken your visionary voice.

This is especially crucial if your reasons for not doing so are that you think it’s too late for you, or that you are not smart enough, rich enough, confident enough, creative enough . . . that you are simply not enough to lead change.

It is never too late to be a visionary. On the contrary, many of us can’t be true visionaries until we have the experience, wisdom, and willingness to focus only on what matters—qualities that tend to ripen with age. You don’t have to wait until you feel you are enough. Awaken the visionary voice inside and you will find that your doubts become insignificant in light of a vision you will be driven to pursue, with passion, purpose, and, yes, even profit.

And that brings me back to those of you who do not feel driven to uncover your larger Soul’s purpose, to discover how your personal and professional success can run parallel to making a difference in the world. Consider this: The more turmoil our world undergoes—economic, environmental, social—the more everyday people choose to spend their money on products and services that in some way go toward healing our planet. In other words, when given a choice between two companies with essentially the same offering, consumers are increasingly choosing the one that goes that extra step toward making a difference in the world.

Think about where this trend is going. People and businesses that find a way to combine a larger visionary purpose with their business model will be the most profitable. More people and businesses will follow their lead until visionary business practices will become the norm. Not riding this trend now not only means missing out on a larger market, more money, and greater impact—it could make your ideas and your business ultimately obsolete.

No one can know the future with certainty, of course. Things can change on a dime. But you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by at least listening to what your visionary voice has to say. That’s all. Just listen.

Have you always felt that you were meant for more? Have you discovered your large purpose, your visionary voice?

Image credit: Photography by Rinna Bohui.

—Marian Anderson

Before making any big change in our lives—particularly before reinventing ourselves, our work, our world—it makes sense to pause and get in touch with our inner visionary voice. If we aren’t clear about what really matters to us, we risk pursuing goals that leave us feeling empty even if we are successful.

Even once we have a vision for transforming our world, we need to take the time to do our homework, to fill in the gaps in our knowledge—about facts, trends, emerging markets, etc.—and build our game plan based on this solid foundation.

Sensible caution and patience are essential to creating a future of sustainable, meaningful success. But once we have a plan in place, we need to act, without hesitation. In other words, before leaping across a chasm, it pays to determine how far the other side is so that you know exactly what you are leaping toward and how much of a running start you need. But once you start running, you have to leap decisively. If you hesitate even a little, you won’t make it across.

We often blur the line between caution and hesitation by overplanning, getting caught in the research, the to do lists, thinking we need to create a perfect plan before we risk taking action. Of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect plan. If we allow our Inner Perfectionist to overwhelm our Inner Visionary, we might as well never plan at all for we’ll never act. If you build periodic reassessment into your plan (as I discussed on Friday), you do not need to hesitate. Just leap and then reassess the next leap after you’re on the other side.

In the end, we don’t always control when our visions will come to fruition. Along with planning for continuous reassessment, we have to account for lag time between the actions we take and the fruit they bear. But one thing is guaranteed: The longer you take to act, the longer you will wait for your vision to be realized. You do control your actions. You do control every leap you take.

Sometimes, we hesitate because we are the first ones to ever attempt the jump. Maybe we should wait until someone else tries it. Then we’ll know we can do it. But if we wait, the opportunity may be lost to us forever. Or we might be sitting on this side of the chasm next to everyone else who is waiting for us to go first.

We are the visionaries we have been waiting for. Pause to look before you leap—not during.

Image credit: Photograph by Lauren Manning.

This frequently comes down to the definition of success we started with when we first began working toward our big goal. If we did not consciously think through that definition, to determine what success really means to us beyond the superficial achievement, we could easily find that the attainment of our goal is itself superficial.

Often, by the time we achieve what we set out to do, we discover that our dreams have changed, that we have changed. If we did not continuously reassess our path and ourselves along the way (see “Do You Know Where You’re Going To?”), we could end up exactly where we’re headed but not where we want to be now.

Sometimes the problem lies in thinking too small right from the start. We strive for visions that are safe and relatively easy to accomplish rather than taking a risk on the BIG dream that our visionary voice is telling us to pursue. The result? Not only do our successes never feel like enough, we often feel like we are not enough, which only feeds our fears and pushes us even more to take the safe route, to dream small.

In other words, by giving into your fears and playing it safe, you are feeding your fears, not lessening them. And in the process, you are robbing yourself of the passion you would feel every day if you were working toward a big vision of meaningful, sustainable success, of transformation, reinvention—of making a difference in your life, your work, your world.

Does your definition of success include what really matters to you? Are you thinking too small about your future?

Image credit: Photograph by Refracted Moments.

—Diana Ross
“Do You Know Where You’re Going To?”

In Seth Godin’s latest blog post, he makes an excellent point about why we sometimes don’t get very far in our endeavors, even when we are taking action every day. Often out of fear, our actions are either two small, too easy, to get us anywhere, or, out of our impatience, they are too big and doomed to fail. The secret, he contends, is to set difficult but achievable goals.

This is an excellent point that we should all take to heart, but I’d like to take it a step further. Even difficult achievable goals won’t take us where we want to go if we don’t have a clear idea of where we’re going in the first place. Without a big picture view, a vision, that ties together every action we take, we could end up at the wrong destination, the place where achievement and success ring hollow because we still feel unfulfilled. Worse, perhaps, is that our steps could lead us in many different directions, without reaching any destination, feeling scattered and overwhelmed, thinking, I’m working so hard. Why aren’t I getting anywhere?

One of the first steps you need to take is to redefine what success means to you. (I talk about this in more depth in my post “Sustainable Success.”) Without a clear idea of how you personally define success—not how you used to define it, and certainly not how others define it—you won’t be able to map out the steps to get there, and you won’t be able to measure your progress along the way.

But even more important is a step many people leave out, even those with a big picture view, a vision, and difficult but achievable goals to get them there. You have to periodically stop and reassess. Are the actions you’re taking still moving you toward your vision, or have you veered off course? What have you learned along the way? Do you need to fine-tune your plan or even your vision? What creative insights can you gain from your mistakes or from results that didn’t turn out the way you thought they would, or even expected results that didn’t feel the way you thought they would?

This is a crucial step, but it’s also a fine line to walk. It’s easy to turn reassessment into second guessing, not based on continuous improvement but based on insecurity and fear. You need to be brutally honest with yourself about your reasons for wanting to make changes to your game plan, as well as your reasons for not wanting to change. It helps to feed your intuition with facts, so that they work in partnership. Continuous improvement requires continuous lifelong learning, about who you are, what gifts you bring to the table, what knowledge and skills you need to acquire, and what the world around you needs and how your actions and vision intersect with those needs.

Staying in tune with the flow of everything around you, and adapting constantly to that flow, is the difference between having a vision and being a visionary.

What big picture view ties together all your actions? Do you have periodic reassessment built into your game plan?

Image credit: Photograph by TiG.

~The Clash
“Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”

 
As the future gets closer, I’m accepting the fact that my old future doesn’t work anymore. So to hell with that future. What about now? The work of midlife and beyond begins with this question.

But it doesn’t stop here. Each of us will confront this question several times in the years ahead.

Which is why Power is in the Now! We can harvest opportunity from crisis, but first we have to take a step back and do some ruthless soul-searching: How did this happen? How did I get here? Where am I headed and is it still where I want to end up? Doing so will engage us from the depths, as it takes courage and demands transparency. It’s the only way to regain our own audacity of hope.

Many of us are caught in shock—with despairing paralysis threatening from the sidelines. Some of us are hiding out in isolation, either licking our wounds or processing, not sure what to do next. Others are gestating and concocting.

As with any maturation curve, as one phase winds out, another is already in progress. Knowing when to leap from one to the other will determine your trajectory.

Midlife crisis can come at any time, even more than once—from age 35 to 70, give or take a year or two! For many of us, our midlife malaise is colliding with our new reality. In the midst of an identity crisis, we are being forced to ask some hard, fundamental questions and to re-examine who we are and where we best fit. Don’t be lulled into “mission drift,” because mid-career turns into late career really fast.

This intense exploration isn’t only career related. Every facet of our life comes under scrutiny: from the bedroom to the boardroom. What we thought we wanted or needed is changing, either because we are up against a wall or because we are choosing to get ahead of the curve of change. And just when we think we have “it,” it will morph yet again.

The unfortunate truth is that most of us choose unhappiness over uncertainty. But nothing is certain except death, so embrace uncertainty and make it work for you.

It’s still too dicey to place bets on when our current economic woes will be over. So we have no choice but to redesign our “now” and renegotiate everything.

Most of all we need to take a breath and get here now! Soon enough our “now” will be past tense.

This is a time for great reflection and truth telling. Some of us, like my husband and me, are getting real. No longer just talking about it, or getting stuck in fantasies of our youth, we are making hard choices and sacrifices so we can keep on keepin’ on. We are not alone in our search for meaningful futures that work.

Jackie is a perfect example. She’s not only a young boomer, age 45, but also smack in mid-career. Not quite a senior partner, but well past being junior. When we met, she was at a real low point. She had just divorced and was thankful no kids were involved. Work was just that—work. Being a traveling executive, she’d find ways to slip below the radar, just getting by. But it wasn’t good enough anymore. Totally bored and burnt out, she was getting nowhere fast. Only happy on the tennis court or partying into oblivion on the weekends, it was time for a major revamping. She wanted a life and a career that mattered.

We concocted a plan that honored her desire to move on while doing a thorough inventory assessment of which skills she still needed to hone before taking off. Our goal was to leverage this time with her current firm, so she could leave with accolades and a resume that would jump off the page. We never lost sight of where Jackie is headed. Once she realized that she didn’t have to stay forever, her productivity went off the charts. Now even in this severe downturn, she is THE woman, keeping business on the books and opening up new doors she never thought possible.

Now is the time. . . . Which is it for you? Unhappiness or uncertainty?

Working the Power in the Now might mean staying on or it might mean taking the grand leap into the unknown. Gauge your tolerance level for the uncertain. Risk taking in these times is not for the faint hearted. But for those at the helm or for those who have an in-demand specialty, and even for those still singing the blues ’cause they can’t get any satisfaction, this may be your time to rock on out.

Since it’s no longer a sure thing that tomorrow will be better than today, isn’t it time to harness your promise and redirect your energies so you can honestly answer: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Image credit: Photograph by iboy_daniel.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.

—R.E.M., “It’s the End of the World as We Know It”

 

Well, here we are. 2012. Our last year on earth. Doomsday prophecies are of course nothing new: There have been thousands over the centuries. And the fact that you’re still reading this shows that not one has come true yet. That doesn’t mean the world won’t end someday, of course, but how much stock should we put into apocalyptic predictions? What do they tell us about what we need to do today?

Let’s assume the world is going to end on December 21 this year. What would you do differently? Spend more time with your loved ones? Focus your time on what really matters to you? Would you do everything you’ve always wanted to do but have been putting off?

What if you did all those things and the world didn’t end? You’d probably be a happier, more fulfilled person. You would realize that you really can have meaning and success in your life. You really can accomplish anything you set your mind—and soul—to do.

But there’s a dark side to this as well. You probably wouldn’t start anything long-term, like a new business, and you might even jettison your existing business or career—not a bad idea if you’re unfulfilled, but a terrible idea if your sole reason for doing it is your belief in an impending doomsday. You wouldn’t have any reason not to spend all your savings, or to take care of the planet. The whole concept of “sustainable”—whether we’re talking about success or the earth—would be irrelevant. And this is not even getting into the people who would live the entire year in fear of The End.

But what if the world isn’t going to end this year? What if the Mayan prophecy is wrong? What if it’s not actually a prophecy at all? According archaeologists, the Mayans never did predict the end of the world in 2012. This simply marks the last year in their long count calendar, much as December marks the end of our calendar. Once one calendar ends, you start the next. They just viewed time with a far longer view than we do today. The year 2012 is the end of one very long cycle that is followed by the next long cycle. It is not a time of endings but of beginnings, of rebirth, renewal, a fresh start on a grand scale. It’s not the end of the world. It’s the end of the world as we know it.

This means that this is the year to prepare yourself and lay the groundwork for a new era, to awaken the visionary voice inside so that you can lead yourself, your loved ones, your business, your world into a new Age of Greatness. Let’s take our cue from the Mayans and see the big picture. Let’s transform our lives in ways that transform the world for seven generations to come.

Yes, spend more time with your loved ones. Yes, focus on what really matters to you. YES, do what you’ve always wanted to do but have been putting off—not because the world is going to end but because you are just getting started.

What would you do if you knew this was your last year on earth?

Image credit: Photograph by CarlosVanVegas.

Young hearts can go their way.
Can’t put it off another day.
I don’t care what others say.
They say we don’t listen anyway.

Time has come today.
Hey.

Time.
Now the time has come. Time.
There are things to realize. Time.
Time has come today. Time.
Time has come today. Time.

Time. Time. Time. Time….

~The Chambers Brothers
“Time Has Come Today”

Making big relocation changes in midlife is very different than it was in my youthful 20s, 30s, and 40s. Reality dictates: Time is a diminishing asset. It always has been. I just didn’t get that truth in the same way as I did when I turned 50. Now in my 60s, it’s my daily contemplation. In our youth it’s not such a big deal to change our minds and move on . . . even to return again. Now I feel an urgency to dig in and make my new home base home. But caution rules since I want to limit the number of mid- and later life relocations ahead. I’m not looking for where to retire, but where and how to live my greatest life yet. I know I’m not alone in this pursuit.

Is this up for you too?

When I’m in the midst of a major shift, it’s terribly important to listen to all my inner rumblings as well as the facts. I have to avoid getting intoxicated by what I want versus staying conscious of what is so. Thankfully my dreamtime has been rich. My body’s truth verifiers have been alerting me to when I’m drained and when I’m juiced. More importantly, I’m noticing what causes each. It’s such a visceral transition, whether you are just starting in your 40s or fully engaged in your 60s or 70s . . . and beyond.

Too much either/or can really bring me down. I’ve been watching my duality struggle play out before my eyes. In my middle years I yearned for my quiet time in nature, reconnecting with deep soul currents within. Being virtual and near an airport, it worked. I never expected this quest would be not only restorative but also transformative.

With the clarity of a newbie, I realized that I want to continue feeling awe every day and to breathe deeply. Nature here in Litchfield County and in the western desert feeds me. Tribe and vibe have always been important to me—now as I age, they are even more so. My nagging conundrum: How do I get the vibe, the tribe, and nature too?! Suddenly it became crystal clear. Not to worry. I can continue to have both/and versus living in either/or. There’s no rush but time itself.

True to my always being on the cusp, as I move between later midlife and early elderhood, I still want to keep accomplishing and making sure we live independently as we grow older. But more than ever before, what I do has to matter and make a huge difference in how you and I move into our collective and personal futures. Esteemed gerontologists and developmental experts like the late Erik Erikson refer to this midlife task as moving from “stagnation into generativity,” and in later midlife and beyond, into “ego integrity” as wisdom keepers. For me it’s all about moving from success into significance . . . leaving our footsteps in the sands of time for generations to come.

Every year, my time out west brings blessings far beyond my expectations. I am constantly in a state of attraction at warp speed. My new Tribe keeps showing up. I’ve re-met high school friends I haven’t seen in decades. I’ve met others whom I know will be new longtime friends and colleagues.

As I told a group of new colleagues, I’m the “wandering crone in the desert seeking my tribe.” Thank goodness they laughed with me. It is a big thing to own “her” publicly. But what became sharply apparent is how important finding my Tribe really is for me.

Synchronicity is my friend big time in Arizona. Doors keep opening without my saying “Open, Says Me.” Everywhere I go, my reflection as elder is mirrored back to me. Questions I posed years ago, before boomers were ready to hear them, were now on the lips of the folks I met. Experienced seekers and accomplished professionals are asking not only, What’s next?, but also how to make the big shifts in their middle and later years.

As a “Crone-in-training” for many years, it appears I’ve now arrived solidly in early Elderhood. Now that is a big shift! Back in my Connecticut office, I dusted off tons of material I’d relegated to the top shelves in my file room, marked “SAVE for the Right Time.” I’m now being called back to Arizona, bringing forth a new book, Visionaries Have Wrinkles, keynotes, and workshops so we can create the future together in a whole new way.

With so much shifting going on for all of us, time is of the essence to get our energies lined up with our intentions so that we can create the results we envision for our greater future.

What are your big shifts?

Image credit: Photograph by Justin Henry.

This downturn is different than past recessions: Most of the jobs lost will not come back. Instead of the usual cyclical contraction of jobs, this time the change is structural, leaving us with permanent shrinkage or total loss of industries and markets. If we haven’t stayed ahead of the curve of change, we may find ourselves with outmoded skill sets, markets evaporating before our eyes and clients slipping through our grasp, at some point each of us wondering if we have what it takes to keep on keepin’ on.

In nature wherever there is a vacuum, something new rushes in to fill the space. In the wake of volcanic destruction, new life flowers in hardened lava. The creative process takes over. It is in this sacred emptiness where creative inspiration ignites and new opportunities emerge. This is where we will transform the dross of leftover dreams into the gold of new promise and possibility.

Yes it will be far tougher than you or any of us envisioned. But things change in a moment! Lest we forget, we are here one moment, then gone. Change isn’t stopping for any of us. In fact, it’s not slowing down one bit.

Every time I speak on reinvention and re-careering, I find that everyone is asking the same questions and having similar concerns about how to reinvent their careers or their business, their personal lives . . . and our world. We all want quick resolution. But transition is never without its thorny detours and dead-ends. Questions come first. Answers later.

There’s a mind-shift taking place. Our conversation is changing. Of course we all want security and freedom no matter our age or economic status. But what I’m hearing these days are that meaningful connections and a life that matters tops the list of “Must Haves” for everyone.

The underlying conversation doesn’t change whether I’m with a group of high-powered professionals, a mixed group of experienced career changers, serial entrepreneurs, or new retirees. It’s the same yearning for a 46-year-old world traveler just deciding to settle down —even if it means changing careers to do so—as it is for a 40-year-old new mom who opts out of the fast track so she can balance work and a new baby, or for a 50-something experienced empty-nester giving back after taking early retirement.

The good news is that this Great Recession is turning us upside down and inside out. What used to addictively drive us no longer does, or at least not in the same way. The upside of downsizing is that we are considering changing venues in record numbers. Many careerists long to make voluntary career moves but are staying put, while forced-out job seekers are starting all over.

With radical social and economic breakdowns becoming the new norm, massive structural shifts are being put into motion. These epoch changes are forcing more and more of us to seek the profound knowledge and critical skill sets needed to move through change and to create sustainable success in our careers and personal futures.

Whenever we find ourselves in the “middle of the muddle,” just remember that this involuntary shakeup of what was is a signal that we’ve been given a time out. Just like our kids, we all need permission to disengage so we can regroup and get back in sync. It’s a perfect time to re-examine the life you’ve lived and the career path you are on. Take time to rediscover what your strengths and values are, as well as your value-added assets. (Do this about your business or workplace too.)

Before you attempt to gain an edge in the current crowded and highly competitive marketplace, it is mandatory that you take time out to redefine success. If you don’t what to measure, how will you know when you’ve “arrived”? This is the starting point for all creative reinvention and transformation.

To create a sustainable future that matters, begin by asking yourself the deeper questions and waiting for your visionary voice to emerge and messengers to arrive. Stay out of your head. Get back down into your body, where your soul, your inner sacred feminine, resides. Trust your inner knowing to lead you to discover new success criteria so you can create a clear vision of the future you want.

While the future is unpredictable, by understanding the forces of change and embracing all the possible ways in which we can influence the future, we can ready ourselves to meet the future with confidence and soulfulness.

How are you redefining success?

Image credit: Photograph by Scott Robinson.