Vision. Goals. New Year’s resolutions.

It’s that time of year when it makes sense to take stock of progress made (or lost), lessons learned (or ignored), and new directions identified.

A major part of my work with clients is around their vision. Their goals. Whether I’m helping them clarify these, achieve them, or both – that’s where we work.

A vision or a goal is an expression of desire. And desire is something that can create complicated feelings and actions.

It can feel vulnerable to communicate a desire. Many people find it easier to communicate something they don’t like. It can sometimes be difficult to reveal something you do like or want.

This is an early challenge of leadership. Being comfortable with expressing a desire that others may not “get” or buy into.

Effective leaders, though, learn to share this. They must share it. It’s actually not possible to lead much without sharing it.

What Makes This Important to You? What Does This Mean to You?

I often ask leaders one or both of these questions after they’ve told me about a vision or goal. Their answers and responses are enlightening. Because a vision or a goal is rarely what it seems.

Our visions or goals mean something to us. Often, what they mean is tied to one of three things – our sense of significance, our sense of security, or our satisfaction in life.

In nearly 20 years of coaching and consulting, I’ve found that this first one, significance, tends to be the major driver for most ambitious leaders.

Many leaders want security, but they’ve often lived to learn with risk. Many want satisfaction, some sense of the “good life”, but most know how to live without it.

But nearly all leaders are driven by some desire related to significance. And very few are willing to do without that.

For leaders, this is important to pay attention to.

To what degree might our vision for our organizations be driven by our internal need and desire for significance? To what degree can that cause us to relate to others as either means or obstacles to an end?

Something to think about as you set your New Year’s Resolutions.

The Price of Gold

As you consider what you want to accomplish this year, I have some questions I encourage you to add to the mix.

Craig Ballantyne, the best-selling author of The Perfect Day Formula, is an important mentor of mine. He recently introduced me to an exercise he calls “The Price of Gold”. I’ve received his permission to share it with you in his words:

PART ONE (with example answers)

1. Where are you getting approval for things that do not serve you?

For example, “everyone says you are the hardest worker, so you work longer hours”

2. Who is giving you this approval?

Colleagues, people on the Internet… (basically no one important!)

3. Why are you seeking this approval?

Ego. Image. Dopamine.

4. What is this costing you?

Time with family… your relationships… your health!

Now that we’ve figured out the negative…

Time to move to the positive and re-train your brain on the right moves…

PART TWO:

1. What do you need to get approval for doing?

Being present. Turning off my phone. Working better, not longer.

2. Who are the right people to give approval?

Wife, kids, dog 😃

3. How will this better serve your vision?

I’ll become a more effective entrepreneur… delegate more… and become a leader.

 The solution is to work ON the business, not IN the business!

What Price Are You Paying for Gold?

Gold is valuable. But only if we don’t pay more than what it is worth.

Our significance – or any other driving desire – is valuable. But is the right cost being paid? And who is really paying it?

For 2023, I hope that your goals are ambitious. And that you are able to achieve or make significant progress toward them.

But more importantly, I hope you realize that you are a person of great value and you were created to bring great value to others.

I believe that God gives us our value and our ability to bring value. Remembering this helps me feel less driven to prove or seek my own value or significance. Because I do feel that drive.

For me, this makes sense.

However, you make sense of it, I wish you a very successful 2023. And I hope that the gold you seek is worth the price you pay.

Take good care,

Christian

Free Leadership Resources

Whether you are a new CEO, thinking of succession or exit, or wanting to strengthen your leadership and your team, I’ve got resources to help:

New CEOs

Succession or exit planning

Enhancing your leadership skills

Improving company performance 

Are you interested in learning more about becoming a successful CEO? If so, get a free copy of my book The Successful New CEO. Not a new CEO? I’ve been told by “old hands” that they felt any CEO should read this. So, click here to get your copy today.

There are 𝟭𝟮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 to ask before accepting a new CEO position. Do you know what they are?  Instantly download my free e-book here.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘽𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝘁.

Be prepared for a smooth transition in the event of an unplanned emergency succession. My guide will show you step-by-step how to devise your own plan.

Download my free guide here.

Let’s connect.

I’m passionate about helping leaders to create workplaces they love going to and increasing the value of the services they offer. My results-oriented approach is tailored to each client’s specific situation and needs.  As a leadership coach, I have developed a wealth of resources to help you and your team grow and become stronger.

Weekly Newsletter – sign up to receive my weekly articles addressing critical leadership challenges and issues.

The Leadership Coach Podcast – In my podcast, we explore effective, high-impact, and enjoyable leadership. Subscribe.

Find the value of your company with my free assessment tool: The Value Builder System

The Value Builder System™ is a 13-minute online questionnaire that evaluates your business on the eight factors that contribute more to its attractiveness and value. These factors are scored on a scale of 1-100. Businesses that score over 80 are likely to command 70%-100% higher value than others.

Opportunities

Executive and Leadership Coaching: Do you feel overwhelmed? Are you not getting the results you expect from the effort you are putting in? Do you find yourself facing similar challenges time and time again? Would you like to change specific ways of relating or reacting? If you would like to experience predictable, measurable growth Contact me.

Profitable Exit Strategy Workshop: Are you a business owner or partner? Over 55? Starting to think about exiting your business or active management in the next 3-5 years?

• Curious about what your business might be worth?
• Would you like to discover the specific steps you need to take to increase its value and become highly attractive to a buyer?
• Are you planning on handing it over to family or employees and you want to ensure long-term success?

If so, contact me now