When your momentum wanes...
It's a fabulous feeling having a plan that motivates and energises.
It reminds me of sailing in the Solent off the south of England in July sunshine when the sails, wind and crew are all aligned!
Nothing quite beats it.
Many years ago, I got into sailing and one trip stays in my mind. I was pretty much a novice with about 3 weeks' experience of being on a boat and I enthusaistically signed up to be part of a crew that brought a racing sailing boat back from a race in Cork in southwest Ireland to Largs in Scotland.
The trip started well with a fun team on board and a professional skipper. We had a few stops along the Irish coast, enjoying the local pubs in the evenings and sailing easily along the beautiful coastline. I was starting to feel at ease and wondering if one day I might be a skipper myself...
On about day 4, we were on the Irish Sea and land wasn't in sight. The colour of the sea matched that of the grey clouds and soon we couldn't see more than a few metres ahead. The waves were crashing overboard and one by one, members of the crew retreated below deck, feeling very sick.
That left just me, the least experienced crew member by a long way, with the skipper. He looked worried.
The main sail needed to come down. We stood either side of the boom and I held onto it - but it's not stable! The skipper clipped my harness to his to keep me upright and kept one hand on the back of my harness. The wind was so strong that my feet were coming off the boat and I could hardly hear his instructions that he was shouting in my ear. The sail was flapping noisily against the mast around us and the boat was lurching in all directions. He looked determined. We somehow pulled the sail down onto the boom and got the boat stable.
Most vividly, I remember the immediate impact of the sail coming down. The skipper relaxed.
We had a cup of tea: the ultimate sign that all is going to be ok.
What got us here, won't get us there. With the best plan, the most enthusiastic vision, progress can still be hard.
At those points, how can you reignite the momentum that you need?
5 first steps can help you steady the ship:
*Understand that what got you here, is not going to get you there.... new solutions are required
*Recognise your progress and strengths - and tap into them
*Reconnect with people around you who can help
*Commit to your goals
*Take action
As part of the follow up that is available after my One Day Career Reset Programme, I provide a monthly group check in webinar to help my clients keep on track, energised and accountable. This webinar is part check-in and part group coaching.
I design the webinars based on what my clients tell me and this is the topic for them next week.... and I'll be using the image below in the coaching process.