“…And What Else?” Your thought starters: Issue No. 28

“...And What Else?”

Newsletter and Thought Starter

Issue No. 28

Success begins by asking the right questions. So why not a newsletter that asks a powerful question: “…and what else?”

Hope these insights pierce through the clutter and create a moment to reflect on your purpose.

First Thoughts

Starting

The worst runner in town came in last in the local 5k race.

Actually, that’s not true. The worst runner didn’t even enter.

Well, that’s not true either. The worst runner doesn’t even run.

Starting means not being the best. But not starting is easy (and boring); not starting means you’re in the same place tomorrow as today, which may be ok. But you should at least recognize what you’re deciding not to run.

Adapted from Seth Godin

Christmas Stars Share Their 2024 Goals

With 2023 nearly wrapped up and 2024 on the horizon, we asked some of the world’s most famous Christmas characters to share their goals for 2024. Here is what they told us made their list for the next year.

STILL TIME TO REGISTER!

Purpose and Goals for 2024:

A Personal Workshop

Free Session**

December 13, 2023: Virtual (noon to 1 p.m. EST)

Another year (nearly) down, another set of goals accomplished. Maybe you had terrific success in 2023; or maybe not. Let’s not leave it to chance for 2024.

Join this interactive end-of-year virtual session designed to prepare you for 2024 by developing a personal purpose statement and aligning your goals and actions with what matters.

During this session you will:

Develop a purpose statement—your “Why”—to anchor your goals and choices.
Establish personal and professional goals for 2024.
Create action steps for goal achievement.
Interact with like-minded people.

**Session is free with the promo code: 2024Goals. Or donate your session fee of $42 without the code. Proceeds donated to the Walled Lake Schools Foundation for Excellence.

Register for the session here

What Are You Giving?

Question #28: What is the best gift you have ever given?

You can give a thing—an item— wrapped lovingly in a box. You can give a card, with a pleasant holiday greeting (and maybe even a gift card).

You can also give your time and your thoughtfulness. You can give your attention. You can give your heart and soul. You can give your understanding. You can give your approval. So much to give, so little time.

Got Hope?

“Let me tell you, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. It can drive a man insane.” (Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, Shawshank Redemption).

Counterpoint: Hope can be inspirational. Without hope we are adrift in all possible options. With hope, we are saying “that is what I want.” C.S. Snyder created what he termed Hope Theory, in which he postulates that hope creates better outcomes when three elements are present:

Goals: A desired future state to aim for.
Pathways: Seeing different pathways to achieve your goals.
Willpower: Belief in your agency and ability to succeed.

Remove any one of these three and hope is diminished. Sure, hope may not be a strategy (to quote another hope aphorism). Yet hope doesn’t get the credit it deserves. What are you hoping for in 2024?

Christmas Stars Share Their 2024 Goals

Develop a purpose statement—your “Why”—to anchor your goals and choices.

Establish personal and professional goals for 2024.

Create action steps for goal achievement.

Interact with like-minded people.

Question #28: What is the best gift you have ever given?

You can give a thing—an item— wrapped lovingly in a box. You can give a card, with a pleasant holiday greeting (and maybe even a gift card).

You can also give your time and your thoughtfulness. You can give your attention. You can give your heart and soul. You can give your understanding. You can give your approval. So much to give, so little time.

Goals: A desired future state to aim for.

Pathways: Seeing different pathways to achieve your goals.

Willpower: Belief in your agency and ability to succeed.

“...And What Else?”

Newsletter and Thought Starter

Success begins by asking the right questions. So why not a newsletter that asks a powerful question: “…and what else?”

Hope these insights pierce through the clutter and create a moment to reflect on your purpose.

First Thoughts

Starting

The worst runner in town came in last in the local 5k race.

Actually, that’s not true. The worst runner didn’t even enter.

Well, that’s not true either. The worst runner doesn’t even run.

Starting means not being the best. But not starting is easy (and boring); not starting means you’re in the same place tomorrow as today, which may be ok. But you should at least recognize what you’re deciding not to run.

Christmas Stars Share Their 2024 Goals

STILL TIME TO REGISTER!

Purpose and Goals for 2024:

A Personal Workshop

Free Session**

December 13, 2023: Virtual (noon to 1 p.m. EST)

Another year (nearly) down, another set of goals accomplished. Maybe you had terrific success in 2023; or maybe not. Let’s not leave it to chance for 2024.

Join this interactive end-of-year virtual session designed to prepare you for 2024 by developing a personal purpose statement and aligning your goals and actions with what matters.

During this session you will:

Develop a purpose statement—your “Why”—to anchor your goals and choices.

Establish personal and professional goals for 2024.

Create action steps for goal achievement.

Interact with like-minded people.

**Session is free with the promo code: 2024Goals. Or donate your session fee of $42 without the code. Proceeds donated to the Walled Lake Schools Foundation for Excellence.

Register for the session here

What Are You Giving?

Question #28: What is the best gift you have ever given?

You can give a thing—an item— wrapped lovingly in a box. You can give a card, with a pleasant holiday greeting (and maybe even a gift card).

You can also give your time and your thoughtfulness. You can give your attention. You can give your heart and soul. You can give your understanding. You can give your approval. So much to give, so little time.

Got Hope?

“Let me tell you, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. It can drive a man insane.” (Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, Shawshank Redemption).

Counterpoint: Hope can be inspirational. Without hope we are adrift in all possible options. With hope, we are saying “that is what I want.” C.S. Snyder created what he termed Hope Theory, in which he postulates that hope creates better outcomes when three elements are present:

Goals: A desired future state to aim for.

Pathways: Seeing different pathways to achieve your goals.

Willpower: Belief in your agency and ability to succeed.

Remove any one of these three and hope is diminished. Sure, hope may not be a strategy (to quote another hope aphorism). Yet hope doesn’t get the credit it deserves. What are you hoping for in 2024?

Final Thoughts

Three things you can do today to create meaning and impact:

1) Ask, “How can I help?”

2) Focus on someone else’s results.

3) Extend a random act of kindness.