Being stuck. It is something we have all experienced at one point or another. Sometimes it can feel like being on one side of a very high stone wall. We keep trying to put our foot here and our hands there but no matter what we do, we can’t get enough traction to make progress that will carry us over the top. We can see a strong hand hold ahead that looks like it should hold us, but it seems risky to stretch our arms that far. Reaching for it may send us back down to the bottom.

Being aware of this tendency to focus on what wasn’t is the first step in moving from a failure mindset to a success mindset. When you think back at the end of a day or a week, what are the top three things your mind goes to? Do you look at success or failure?

“Stepping out of your comfort zone” seems to be the phrase of the decade. We often hear it used when someone is describing what enabled them to make a big move in their lives.

Anyone who has paid any attention to what I have been saying over the past few weeks is fully familiar with my metaphor of life being a journey – a road we are on. Here is another part of that story – there is no final destination. Your drive doesn’t end until you actually run out of gas with no filling station in site

This is my journey. Many years ago, I started my search firm. I launched this business because it gave me what I wanted from work. I love the business of people – working with them, talking with them, and supporting them on a journey. I love the business of business. Knowing where a company was, where they wanted to go, and how I could be a part of that process.

It is not uncommon to strategically review our businesses to ensure we are growing thoughtfully and purposefully. Why not apply the same practice to the person you are and the one you aspire to be? No business ever grew to greatness without some kind of a plan. What is your plan to leverage all the assets of you and minimize the liabilities, as the CEO of your life?

Words are powerful. Often, when we hear that phrase, we associate the concept with robust dialog, succinctly developed prose, or emotionally charged language delivered with passion. Small words – the ones we use in everyday language can equally impact a listener - sometimes in very unintended ways.

Have you ever thought about how beneficial it would be to have your very own Board of Directors? A group of people specifically focused on supporting you as you navigate all the aspects of your life. A panel of experienced individuals invested in the focus you place on career, family, kids, health, and relationships. A group of people who are your GPS to help navigate the ebb and flow of competing interests towards living the kind of life you want to realize.

This struggle, of juggling time and commitments, is often created by our desires to achieve our own perceptions of joy, success, and satisfaction as part of an overall career or life plan. While we each seek an individualized goal of balance, often the way we think and talk about the number of things requiring our time, is the very thing that can rob us of the satisfaction we are seeking. It can also unwittingly undermine our credibility and ensure an unlimited, lifetime ride on the great hamster wheel.

Time truly is a teacher. There are a number of lessons I have learned over my 30 years of professional life. First among them - sometimes it is the small things that can make a big difference.

Whether leading a team, a company, or simply managing your day-to-day life, the past two years have challenged each of us with making decisions in highly ambiguous situations.

Staying curious is about finding opportunities in ways you may not have imagined. It is about keeping your mind open to new approaches or solutions. The mental exercise caused by staying curious makes it stronger and stronger. Unfortunately, sometimes we can get so caught up in our plan, we forget to give our brains what they need to really stretch.