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2010. I know it’s cliché, but I can’t believe today is the last day of the year. No time for a two-minute drill to sound. It’s all but over.
Time to reflect, repurpose, re-invent, and re-engage. Looking forward to all of that…. but I have NO interest in RE-learning any of the (sometimes heart – wrenching) lessons 2010 taught me.
As a public reflection, I’d love to share MY journey and lessons from 2010 AND invite you to post your own…. Let’s dig in… before the ball drops and ushers in the new year – which I’m sure is CHOCK FULL of new lessons, new potential, new connections and new HEIGHTS for each of us!
Lessons from 2010
This past year, I traveled a lot. (Too Much.) I learned that travel is a lot less glamorous than I thought previously and vow to do MUCH less of it in coming years. I found myself navigating a FRIEND”ship” down the turbulent waters of business, and learned to communicate OFTEN, EARLY, and HONESTLY. I gave fabulous business advice and saw clients make HUGE strides in income… and failed to implement those same strategies in my own business. I learned: Never again.
I strengthened and expanded my partnership with one of the most engaging, impressive and urgency-driven business owners of our time… and I learned more than I could ever post on this blog… although over the next year I’ll certainly try. =) I put off what I thought I had plenty of time to do later… and had to sacrifice family or “mister” time to get it done… and learned that I must harness every hour of my “work day” to create the time “off” I desire. (A major goal for 2011.)
I spoke to groups of all sizes in locations all across the United States and realized that polished, shiny and scripted are passe’ and that people embrace me because I am real, approachable, and purely results-driven. (And maybe UNintentionally funny?? I’m sure you’ve been laughing WITH me and not AT me… right?) For 2011, I vow to revel in and leverage our new economy’s seemingly unquenchable thirst for all things practical… and marry it with my commitment to all things PROFITable. It’s a good marriage, don’t you think?
I treated those closest to me as an inconvenience when they called in the middle of the work day and learned: Never again. I lacked commitment to my spiritual walk and vowed to get it back on track immediately. I learned that some things are too important to let slide. I allowed “busy-ness” to creep into my home and saw my parenting become re-active. I learned to hate being “busy” even more than I always had and re-committed to pro-actively guiding my kids… and infusing our home (again) with joy, spontaneity and laughter!
I made incredible connections with impressive women and learned to dig in, engage, and SERVE. I lost my commitment to fitness, thinking I was “too busy”…. and I learned that there is ALWAYS an excuse to put off doing something important if you’ll accept one. This year: NO excuses. I listened to so many… TOO many… women who were willing to operate in planning mode – indefinitely?- and made every excuse in the book for why they “couldn’t” do this or that. I learned to hate excuses even more… I learned how pitiful they sounded.. how UNempowered… and vowed: NO excuses. (I’m seeing a theme here. In fact, I’m naming MY 2011: the year of NO excuses!)
I sold my services, my conferences, my intensives to many people. I learned that selling is DIFFERENT now… that ALL power has shifted into the hands of those we sell TO… and I shifted my approach to meet this new reality. I now teach this approach, and it has become a profitable “pillar” in my business. I had some major wins in 2010, went farther than I originally aimed, and have MUCH to reflect on with gratefulness and joy. But I also made many mistakes and certainly have some regrets. I know better than to dwell on them… I know to learn from them, make a new commitment, and to Roll ON. Without further ado: Here’s to WILD, OUTRAGEOUS, AUDACIOUS success in 2011.
If you need me, you know where to find me: IN the trenches of business… shoulder to shoulder with the rest of this incredible WOW! factor community… and always, always, always rooting for you….
In the trenches is the place to be- really no short cut to success! Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for commenting Barry! Let’s get together soon… I would love to know more about what you are up to in 2011!
Great post Michelle! We’ve actually experience a lot of the same things this year.
Although several of the lessons are hard to look back upon, the are good lessons. The stepping block we need to take our lives to the next level.
I look forward to the great things you have to offer in 2011!
Take care,
Monyelle
In the words of Jim Collins: big hairy audacious goals.
I love it and I commit, right here and now, to the same thing…without sacrificing those things I hold dear.
I’m with you girlfriend and am eternally grateful to have you in my corner.
Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, blissful and prosperous New Year.
Dani, this means so much to me! I, too, am grateful to be a part of all you are up to in 2011!
I learned many similar lessons in 2010 and they’ve all shaped my vision and plan for 2011. Thanks for being so transparent and vulnerable – here’s a list of some of the things I learned last year – you are certainly not alone!
I learned that all work and no play does indeed make me dull – especially when I let my spiritual and physical health falter by being too ‘busy’ with work. This year one of my words is ‘intentional’ – I will be intentional with my work, not wasting time on unimportant or busy work so that I can devote the time I want to and need to to my faith, my family and my own well-being.
I learned that I wasted too much time trying to ‘convince’ certain people to support me in my business. I won’t do that again – it is not my responsibility to convince others to believe in me – it starts with me and the dream God has placed in my heart, and if I’m the only one on the planet that believes in me (which I’m not) then that is sufficient. I learned that I do have some incredible supporters in my corner, and that I need to reach out to them when I’m faltering or in need of a little boost. I do need and will seek out in 2011 a small accountability group of likeminded business women to support each other in our spiritual and business walks. I need to have their support during tough times and I also need to use my gifts of listening and encouragement to help support sister believers.
I learned that it’s critical to keep investing in myself. The investment of attending Spark & Hustle was the best thing I could do – everything I learned there contributed to the greatest strides in my business to date. I will continue attending this incredible conference for years to come. Coaching is another key to my success which I had let falter – never again – the accountability and feedback are imperative to my success and I won’t be without a coach again.
I learned to give myself credit for the strides that were made in 2010, especially while working another full time job and having a complicated pregnancy and delivery. Consistent action steps, even the smallest of steps lead to big gains both personally and professionally, and ‘action’ is another word of mine for 2011. My work day may not be as long as others’ but it will be just as, if not more productive, as my actions will be intentional and purposeful. Along that vein, I will be growing a team in 2011 to help with the workload and provide greater products and services to our customers. I want to capitalize on my strengths and hire others with different talents to do the tasks that I’m not so skilled at (or have no interest in doing, but are necessary to running a business).
I have many plans for this next year and look forward to all the excitement and blessings it will bring. Thanks for this post, Michelle – while I had been reflecting on this past year already, this was a great opportunity to put it down as I’m writing out my 2011 plan. Here’s to a wildly successful 2011 for all of us!
Alyssa,
This is such a great post and I can’t WAIT to see what you’ll create in 2011~ I’m with you all the way!
“people embrace me because I am real, approachable, and purely results-driven.” EXACTLY. Listening to your stories & advice was a REAL inspiration.
This past year (my final year of undergrad) I learned more about patience.
Patience when working on my projects.
Patience when collaborating with others.
Patience when having to make decisions.
Patience with my family and old friends that have changed since I last spent some time with them.
Happy New Year Michelle!
Thank you Shelby!!! it was so great to meet you in Chicago… As I type this I have my own Shelbey snuggling in next to me! =) =)
Michelle,
We just connected a few days ago (thanks to my friend Wendy Krepak) and this I know to be true….there is a reason we connected. I too, have learned much, or at least I thought I had, over the past few years. I left my corporate sales management career behind in late 2007, cashed out my 401K, and co-founded a coaching organization with a dear friend. We were somewhat successful – actually, without even knowing what the heck we were doing, we had thousands of followers, fans and our phone rang often. But, her goals and my goals were different. The GREAT news, is that we both realized this at the same time and now we are both moving forward, in different directions.
My Lessons from the past 3 years
– I am worth the price I was too afraid to ask for
– My natural God given talents, personality and message rings true for many, many, many…many people. No need to question this any longer.
– This is a business…I need to run it like a business
– I have spent too much time on my couch
– I have not spent enough time in my Bible
– Choose wisely…relationships, tasks, time commitments and wardrobe (I have a larger buttocks, white pants, just won’t due without spanx!)
– I am unique. You referenced this in your post….it is true…Authenticity is undeniably the most attractive quality in a speaker or coach
I am thrilled that I learned these valuable lessons…I’m hitting the ground running, full speed with the right attitude, plan and determination to “strain my potential, until it cries for mercy!”
Looking forward to connecting more with you Michelle…I have a feeling we are very much alike!!!
Jennifer, LOVE this response to my post…. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself… I can’t wait to speak to you soon!
Jennifer, love the phrase ‘strain my potential until it cries for mercy!’
As for myself … I’m looking forward to taking control of my life back. After 2 decades of working for the corporate world, making big bucks and then 5 layoffs in 10 years – it’s time to look out for number one – ME!
Even tho my current job title has “Manager” in it, I am a Manager in name only and I am slowing suffocating in a male dominated company who see me as “one of the girls”. A company where all the execs have big black SUVs that park together and ride Harley Davidsons.
So I’ve made up my mind to use my skills and experience and create my own business. Michelle is my mentor and we have talked a month or so back on how I need to just do it and go with my gut. Create a life I want to be in and enjoy.
I have signed up for Spark and Hustle back in Aug and just champing at the bit waiting for Feb. Just so excited to start planning my new world. 1-1-11 starts my new life. I hope to make every day feel as good as New Years day 2011!
Thrilled to be a part of your 2011!!! =)
2010, the year of “relentless change-relentless changer”. Thanks for your insights and honesty. I dug much deeper and persevered through more transition and evolution than ever before, but it has given me rich understanding, wisdom and strength. This is my year, I have put the intentions out there and done all the foundation work. Now it’s ‘flawless execution”! See you soon Michelle. Urock..
Another GREAT article from you Michelle!
1. The lessons I learned are to trust in yourself and stay true to your
vision and mission.
2. Never let FEAR keep you from your goals
attaining your goals.
3. Effective marketing is essential, beware of people who say “Marketing is not Guaranteed”.
4. Keep Focused on your immediate goals.
5. Learn to balance your work and life.
Hoping to see more of you, see you at the Top Michelle!
Great post, Michelle. I love your honesty and passion. I may be one of those people who has been stuck ‘in planning mode’ – but not indefinitely! In fact, I think I needed 2010 to be a year of planning, learning, thinking and just absorbing possibilities. It was an incredibly busy and ‘work-driven’ year for me.
Despite my best efforts, I made some of the same mistakes – putting relationships, faith and health behind my business at times. I may continue to struggle with the perfect balance but I believe awareness is the critical first step. So I embark on a new year with a renewed commitment to remain true to my priorities. And a sense of readiness – ready to implement, take action and create change!
And, while I do not glamorize travel at all, I realize that I need to step out of my comfort zone in my home office and reach out and connect IN PERSON with others. So, 2011 will bring more travel for me and I’m looking forward to it (the connecting part, not the airport and hotel part!).
Here’s to a year of ACTION, whatever that looks like for each one of us!
Theresa