Then, as if by fate, I came across an old blogpost from Seth Godin and it spoke to me. I am including most of it here.
Some of the things to ask(myself):
What am I better at?
Have I asked a difficult question lately?
Do people trust me more than they did?
Am I hiding more (or less) than I did the last time I checked?
Is my list of insightful, useful and frightening stats about my work, my budgets and my challenges complete? And have I shared it with someone I trust?
If selling ideas is a skill, am I more skilled at it than I was?
Who have I developed?
Have I had any significant failures (learning opportunities) lately, and what have I learned?
What predictions have I made that have come to pass? Am I better at seeing what's going to happen next?
Who have I helped? Especially when there was no upside for me...
Am I more likely to be leading or following?
The overall article was about the lack of value of the annual review; the post suggesting these are the questions we should ask and answer about ourselves and the way we run our life.
This really spoke to me as we enter the fourth quarter of the year. This is the time I have a tendency to really look at the year we are completing and look forward to next year. What are the successes and the failures? What do I want to do again, and what would I like not to repeat. Are there big directional changes coming in the next year, or will it be mostly status quo?
Honestly, I don't have answers to these questions, but I still know the questions are worth asking, and worth thinking about. I know next year, or the year after will not be better if I don't process on these questions today. I'm sure each of you have a technique you use to look inside and think about these types of things.
On top of all of this, I have an unbelievable opportunity each month to speak to and learn from really smart people. This business round table occurred last week. Roughly once a year, each member of the group presents a challenge or opportunity they are facing, personally or business wise. The group works to process the information, often providing insights not obvious without their input. With that said, three or four people in this group continually astound me.
I have the ability to ask the questions above, or others like them, and assess where I am. I can even on occasion know what I need to do to be more effective. But some folks on this round table who have the next step locked down, which is where I struggle. The people I watch with fascination are those who can develop a plan on how to make the necessary changes, and then set about and just do it. I have a tendency to know which way I want to move, and if I get closer to my goal, I am satisfied with the outcome. These folks make plans and then commit to personal changes in their lives and the way they lead, and then move forward to accomplish it. Wow. I keep listening and learning, and know I continue to strengthen this part of myself, but there is always more to do.
Okay, kind of deep and personal. Let's move on.
The Toybox is currently packed, but only hours from changing. Saturday morning, I will install bookcases I have been working on for a group of kids. This is the moment in time where I find I am a bundle of nerves. I know I've done a good job on construction and finishing. I am proud of the project. The bundle of nerves comes from considering the installation itself. Since I've seen the room a total of one time, there could be small issues I may need to work around. When I say small, they will all be bigger than they should be as I am trying to install and get out of the way of the people working there. I know it will be fine, but sleep will not come easy tonight. If you are up and around in the wee hours of the night, reach out and say "Hi". I may be there.
On the teardrop trailer front - the one I am building for my sister 0 I have finally overcome a hurdle I've been wrestling with. I wasn't sure how to finish the outside of the trailer to make it as impervious to weather as I wanted it to be. I finally landed on looking at boat builders, which almost instantly took me to epoxy finishes. Why had I not thought of that before? Then to just make me laugh, when I figured out the right epoxy system to use, I discovered it in stock at the Woodsmith Store. I must have walked by it a hundred times, but never needed it. I was in there last night for one of their seminars and there on an end-cap, was everything I could possibly need. Excellent. I can hardly wait to tell you how it goes.
Finally, I'm thinking about something a little different. I am considering doing some writing about basic tool information, through my eyes. We will see where this idea goes. If there is anything you would really like to see me write about, let me know. Like I said, I'm still thinking about this.
Have a great weekend. Think good thoughts for me as I undertake the installation of these shelves.
