Two of my clients are facing strong headwinds.
One is negotiating a high profile promotion; the other a senior role at a new organization.
You could argue that the headwinds are strong because the situations are high stakes.
I would argue that the stronger headwinds are internal.
And both are asking for what I hear a lot when the stakes are high: “Just tell me what to do.”
One of the most frustrating ways that the saboteur shows up is that it jumbles your thinking.
You can’t focus.
You can’t concentrate.
All the clarity you had over the holiday break, when January was still 10 days away…
Gone.
Instead of feeling the fear, or the excited anxiety, you freeze.
You can’t think. You get distracted with things like:
“I can’t work my plan because I have to get back in shape first.”
“I can’t start working on my goals until I confront that friend or family member.”
“I simply can’t…won’t, be effective in 2025 until my family stops leaving the kitchen a mess.”
Here’s the thing y’all.
Resolutions can easily be just the saboteur in disguise.
There is a better way.
- First, take some time to appreciate where you’ve been. For how to do this, see my video from a couple of weeks ago. January 1st has a way of stealing your successes and turning you towards what’s still NOT DONE.
- Get familiar with your saboteurs. My favorite tool for this is Shirzad Chamine’s Positive Intelligence.
- Break it down. My clients aren’t wrong about keeping things simple. I like to use Monica Shah’s 90-day planner to help me put the big goals away and focus on small, doable now things that will roll up to big successes.
- Feel your feelings. My friend Dr. Felipe Rocha has an incredible course that teaches you how to feel the feelings you don’t even know you’re avoiding, so you can get back to being effective.
These tricks are my go to’s for putting that saboteur DOWN.
It can be there, right next to you, like a well-meaning buddy or co-worker.
You just don’t engage.
Because resolutions won’t fix you.
You’re already great.
Happy 2025 everyone!