What Are You Doing at 3 AM?
I like to get things done. A recent personality assessment I took said I am “interested in achieving goals, thrive on a challenge, and in constant need of making advancements.”
My achievement orientation is a gift, but it can also be a hindrance. Just last night I was up at 3:00 am, fretting over a perceived reprehensible error.
I’m a recovering perfectionist. My guess is that many of the talented folks reading this newsletter might relate. As a black woman, I’ve always been told to work “twice as hard to be seen as half as good.” It gets to be a lot.
One thing that’s been helping me lately? A “done list.” During my end of the week planning block, I take five minutes to write down what I got done.
Here’s a recent one I wrote:
Had a meeting I was afraid to have and asked for what I was afraid to ask for
Finished two books (The Advantage and It Starts With Us)
Kept my inbox at zero
Put away all the laundry within two days of it being out of the dryer
Got accepted into EdLoc
Wrote an RFP for our DC Executive Leader Cohort
Sent an email I was putting off sending
There’s no right or wrong. Anything that reminds me of my power and my ability to do easy and hard things works. In my last newsletter, I touched on gratitude for others. That starts with gratitude for self. The done list can help.
Next Steps:
Add a “done list” to your weekly routine. Or, the next time you’re feeling stressed, think of three things you’ve already done.
Try this with your team. Start the week with a to-do list and end it with a group wide done list.
During step backs or quarterly meetings, celebrate what’s already been accomplished. Nothing demoralizes me more than working hard to accomplish a goal only to have a new one set immediately. Take the time to celebrate the wins.
Just for fun: Watch this beautiful video of the Today Show cast serenading Al Roker on his doorstep. Full tears. I’m working on being the type of leader that inspires moments like this.
