Author: Byron Darden

Refocusing on Career Growth

Posted on by Byron Darden

This time of year is significant for families with children returning to school, as it frees up parents to refocus on their careers. Some of those parents are school leaders focused on recovering from the impact of COVID that turned education upside down causing a major shift in the culture of school. The shift in routine that comes with the start of the school year provides parents with the mental and physical space to re-engage with their professional goals. With the daily demands of childcare reduced, parents can reclaim time and energy that can be channeled into career advancement, taking on new responsibilities, or pursuing professional development opportunities that may have been put on hold during the more chaotic summer months.

Likewise in the world of education, the re-engagement gives rise to the need to re-evaluate what it will take to accomplish this idea of re-establishing school culture, trust, morale, and relationships to where they were pre-Covid. This has a direct impact on parents who are in the business world rather than in education. The reality is that these different world contexts depend on and impact one another.

A personal case study of a past experience comes to mind:

I’m living in Boston, MA situated between two cemeteries. Either way I go, I will dead-end at the cemeteries of the community’s past residents. While I do not have children, the township in which I live depends on its residents to support a tax increase to pay for much-needed improvements in the local school system. I vote to increase the tax so that students in my community might have a more palatable opportunity for their education than I had growing up in Texas. 

At some point, I am in conversation with a neighbor in my community who questions my motivation to vote for an increase in the town’s taxes when I do not have children who will benefit. My reason is simple. I may not have children and yet my life is impacted by the quality of education they do or do not receive. Should students not be engaged at school, they are more likely to skip school altogether and become aimless in my community. For a youngster who is at an impressionable age, when education isn’t getting their attention, getting into trouble and being a blight on the community is! 

They are more likely to get involved in gang violence or spend time standing on corners and making it obvious to law enforcement that they are not in school where they ought to be. At this age, youth are more likely to get into trouble and fall prey to unsavory influences that lead to drug use, home break-ins, and other types of unacceptable behavior. I too have to live with these issues when I fail to do my part in my own community. I must do what is possible to support the education that is provided for the neighborhood in which I live.

Education is not just the responsibility of those with children, it is the responsibility of us all to keep our communities safe, and inspire children to remain engaged in worthwhile activities, and motivated to learn. Lesson learned; when any of us fail to pitch in we all lose, not just the children and the families to which they belong. When we look at it as a community effort, we are including everyone within it. 

It can be difficult to look at what is next in your career when your community is in shambles. When you’re working towards promotions, managing more, and taking on different responsibilities, you can be distracted by questioning what is going on back at home. Especially when what is going on back home is not working. When you are focusing on upping your game at work, to become noticed for your contributions to an organization, team, or project, worrying that your home might be vandalized or your neighborhood compromised in some way is a distraction that will get in the way.

Moreover, the back-to-school season isn’t just about younger students; it’s also a time when educational institutions offer courses for adults, making it an ideal moment for anyone considering further education or training. This environment of widespread learning and growth fosters a mindset of improvement and ambition. As professionals, it’s a reminder that our personal and career development are lifelong pursuits, not confined to traditional schooling years.

For leaders to prosper, the holistic view of their lives must encompass the choices they make at home as well as at the office. Leaders know all too well that when their skill level is not where it needs to be, promotions and increased salaries are less likely to happen. Parents are less likely to provide as well for their families and those families without children suffer as well.

Often, this is when I see executives preparing for new roles that demand not only new skills, and also a shift in mindset. The back-to-school period symbolizes a time of renewal, making it an opportune moment to reassess career trajectories and set new goals. 

I help leaders get promoted, and this requires them to be coachable—and open to learning, even when it challenges their comfort zones or existing beliefs. Just as students are expected to adapt to new curricula and environments, leaders must be willing to embrace change and growth, continuously evolving to meet the demands of their roles. Even when what you are learning may seem to go against the grain of what you believe, trust, or what makes you comfortable. 

I recognize that while we may wish for life to go back to the way it was at a time in the past, the reality is that going back to a past time is not possible. Instead, our new selves must find a new way to show up. That is why I find it difficult to embrace the phrase, “new normal.” One might ask, what is normal and that definition is different for different people. Another consideration is that not everything from the past was necessarily working. That is why I find it difficult to embrace the phrase, “in the good ole days.” The truth of the matter is that not everything was necessarily “good.”

I think we might be more effectively served to embrace the possibility of reinvention instead. For instance, who we were and how we did what we did before 2020 is done. It is time to see life for what it is and what it is not. What it is now can be summed up by the advent of hybrid work conditions. It is unlikely we will ever go back to working in an office in the manner we once did. The whole world changed and we will experience less suffering when we embrace new ways of being and doing in all aspects of our lives. Seeing the world through the lens of  “that was then and this is now” can open up possibilities that did not exist before. 

I’ve encountered many moments where learning something new triggered hesitation or fear. These feelings are natural, just as my reaction to repeating the third grade triggered hesitation and fear, especially when the learning process challenges deeply held beliefs or pushes individuals into unfamiliar territory. Yet, in every instance, I’ve used those lessons to grow and to help others grow. The discomfort that comes with stepping outside of one’s comfort zone is often a precursor to significant personal and professional breakthroughs. When you commit to continuous learning, nothing can stop you except the end of your life. Just keep in mind that the number one and two greatest fears of many leaders is presenting in front of an audience and death…in that order! As long as you remain open to new ideas, skills, and perspectives, the potential for growth is limitless, and the opportunities for advancement are boundless.

LET’S TALK

Founder’s Corner – Back to School, Part 2

Posted on by Byron Darden

As we continue acknowledging what it means to be Back to School and its connection to being back to business, it is important to consider how often we mean back to business as usual. I have a different take that opens the conversation to what it means to be back to business unusually. Here’s why.

Since 2020 very little is as usual as you are sure to be experiencing. Before 2020 the idea of a hybrid work environment may have been true for some. Yet it became true for nearly all as organizations were faced with managing workers’ from home and then moving to splitting their time between office and home. Some brick and mortar businesses closed all together and their businesses are now being run from leaders’ and employees’ home offices.

Virtual meetings skyrocketed from 48% to 77% between 2020 and 2022. Recent research just one year later in 2023 suggests an increase of 66%.

I can only imagine what statistics will say about 2024 considering that at the start of 2018 4 billion people were on the internet. That number grew in 2019 to 4.39 billion people using the internet. And by the start of 2024 5.45 billion people were using the internet. That’s 67.1% of the world population.

While that number may not inform us just how many of those people contributed to the number of virtual meetings that take place, it does suggest that business is not as usual. For example, the people who make a business run well cover a very diverse range that historically may not have always been acknowledged. That lack of acknowledgement is also no longer usual.

Here is an example of what I’m talking about. We have a significant number of celebrations this month that include a range of diverse people in business among which are Breast Cancer Awareness, LGBTQ+ History and National Disability Employment Awareness.

In addition we are observing National Work and Family as well as Global Diversity Awareness. To those we also salute Employee Ownership, Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Wellness, and Financial Planning. The last three of which are particularly significant to what we address here at Triple Axel Executive Coaching for leaders. So this month we are taking into account all these celebrations as the month of Workforce Inclusivity.

Hi, I’m Byron Darden with another edition of Leading with Purpose on Purpose. As we continue our Back-to-School installment, we dive into the value of optimism when it comes to managing people, and how important it is for leaders to grow in their resilience by embracing opportunities and finding ways to continuously learn how to meet the ever-changing demands of leading organizations and developing the people within them. Enjoy!

I’d love to share my story in Lessons from Leadership, Skating, and Relentless Optimism

Lessons from Leadership, Skating, and Relentless Optimism

Posted on by Byron Darden

When I began my formal career in leadership development I wasn’t always a quick study. I was thorough with my studies. I asked lots of questions and listened to many perspectives. I learned that no matter what I thought I knew, or how I felt about others and questioned when I could apply my knowledge, I was continually reminded that there is always room for improvement and other ways of thinking about everything. I remember one of my mentors commenting that of all the qualities I possess, two of my greatest is being a life learner and applying what I learned immediately. I wasn’t one to wait for the “right” moment. I took what I had and turned it into a practice that allowed me to progress quickly. Skating was one of my greatest teachers of those two qualities.

In the sport of figure skating, literally, every second counts. I learned that as a choreographer, technical coach, judge, collaborative partner both as a pair skater and coach, performer, and leader of skaters’ careers as an eligible, competitive athlete. I’ve also drawn on my keen sensibility to advise athletes on where they might go beyond the ice rink. In one case a skater was deciding between pursuing an MBA over a law degree. Every aspect of one’s being in the sport of figure skating is honed and perfected to the greatest degree possible. Always with room for improvement presenting itself in order to continue moving forward. 

Another mentor acknowledged me for being a relentless optimist. I wasn’t sure this was a compliment. Afterall, the word relentless can lead to unpleasantness and cruelty. My awareness of this has pulled me back from the brink of going overboard. Yet, I’d rather be accused of this as an optimist than any number of alternative descriptors of me and my work. No matter what I was up against, even today; I always find a way to do better, work smarter, focus more, and commit myself to let go of excuses and make it happen. 

Your personal Back to School time is the opportunity to hone skills that will make you an effective leader:

  • Communication Style – Learn your style of communication and continue to build on it. Adjust it. Hone it and develop it in order to benefit from it.
  • Interactions – Every interaction is an opportunity to improve your style and effectiveness in communicating well enough to influence outcomes.
  • Feedback – Whether giving it or receiving it, do so humbly and with great appreciation. Even that which challenges you. Then be sure to learn from it.
  • Coaching – Support others as though your career depends upon it. You want to prepare yourself for it to come back to roost to your benefit. And it will!
  • Messaging – Care about what you say, how you say it, when you say it, and to whom you say it. Mike Lipkin’s magical words are powerful when he shares, “Who you are being when you are saying what you are saying. Says more about what you are saying than what you are saying.”
  • Strategizing – In the words of Marshall Goldsmith, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. Remain on the lookout for what will move you ahead and bask in where you are now so you are grounded for your next leap of faith.
MAKE IT HAPPEN

Learn about Resilience, Success, and Tips for Growth.

Resilience, Success, and Tips for Growth

Posted on by Byron Darden

Once when I was in the chocolate manufacturing business, a reporter wrote a story about me in Black Enterprise Magazine. He also wrote another article about me in USA Today. Two things that struck me regarding his view of me were one, everyone he writes about is a success, and two, anyone who has gone through what I have gone through should have been out of business long ago. Yet I prospered. Learning that I’m thought of as a relentless optimist fits who I am and the influence I possess in getting people where they want or need to be in their careers. I’d like to think of myself as a relentless optimist with integrity and humility.

Here are my Tips to Grow By:

  • Identify Your Audience: Understanding your audience is the foundation of effective communication. Take the time to research and identify who you are speaking to. Learn their needs, preferences, and pain points. Tailoring your message to resonate with your audience will ensure that it is received with the impact and relevance you intend.
  • Set Clear Goals and Precise: Clarity in your objectives is crucial for success. Clearly define what you want to accomplish, and be as precise as possible in articulating these goals. Whether you’re aiming to inform, persuade, or inspire, having well-defined goals will guide your actions and keep you focused on the outcomes you desire.
  • Manage Expectations and Adjust as Necessary: Setting realistic expectations helps prevent misunderstandings and builds trust. However, it’s also important to remain flexible and open to adjustments as situations evolve. Being adaptable allows you to navigate challenges and make necessary changes to stay aligned with your objectives and the needs of your audience.
  • Communicate Early and Often: Proactive communication is key to preventing issues and ensuring everyone is on the same page. By communicating early and often, you foster transparency and collaboration, making it easier to address concerns and keep projects moving forward smoothly. Consistent communication helps build stronger relationships, and greater trust and ensures that everyone involved feels informed and engaged.
  • Master Concision and Clarity: In today’s fast-paced environment, clear and concise communication is more valuable than ever. Avoid unnecessary jargon or lengthy explanations, and focus on delivering your message in a straightforward and understandable way. Clarity ensures that your audience grasps your key points quickly, minimizing confusion and maximizing the impact of your message.
LEARN AND GROW

Wrap up the Back to School theme with Foster Growth Through Continuous Learning and Learn to Embrace Opportunities.

Foster Growth Through Continuous Learning

Posted on by Byron Darden

Continuous learning is essential in today’s rapidly evolving work environment, where the demand for new skills is ever-present. In fact, according to a study by eduMe (an education training company), 87% of employees acknowledge that acquiring new skills is necessary throughout their careers to remain competitive and effective in their roles. When you consider that statistic, also consider my sharing about what is happening in primary and secondary school education. Just the idea of the 87% acknowledgment of employees understanding their need to acquire new skills, imagine what it took to get them to that point and line of thinking. 

Should we fail at paying attention to the early years of education of our youth, imagine what the COVID Kid generation is up against when it becomes time for them to take over the reigns! This statistic underscores the importance of a lifelong commitment to learning, as staying current with industry trends, technologies, and best practices not only enhances personal growth, it also ensures sustained professional success. Embracing continuous learning allows you to adapt to changes, seize new opportunities, and maintain your relevance in an increasingly dynamic job market.

While it would be ideal for employers to consistently offer learning and development opportunities, the reality is that the majority of personal skills development falls on the individual. Waiting for external opportunities can lead to stagnation, making it crucial for professionals to take ownership of their growth. Investing in your own education—whether through online courses, workshops, certifications, or self-directed study—empowers you to stay ahead of industry changes and position yourself for career advancement. By proactively seeking out learning opportunities, you ensure that your skill set remains relevant and robust, ultimately making you more valuable in any professional setting. Taking charge of your own development is not just a necessity; it’s a powerful way to shape your career trajectory and achieve long-term success.

As a leader, it’s essential to recognize the critical role you play in providing learning opportunities for your team. While individual initiative in personal development is important, creating an environment that encourages and supports continuous learning is equally crucial. By offering access to training programs, workshops, mentorship, and other educational resources, you empower your team members to grow their skills and stay ahead of industry trends. This not only enhances their professional capabilities but also fosters a culture of innovation and adaptability within your organization. Just be sure you are not simply going through the motions of educating so that you can check the box for offering training that falls short of getting the job done!

Moreover, as a leader, you set the tone for the importance of continuous learning by modeling it yourself. When your team sees you actively engaging in your own development, it reinforces the value of lifelong learning and motivates them to follow suit. Providing learning opportunities and encouraging skill development helps build a more resilient and dynamic team, positioning both your employees and your organization for sustained success in an ever-changing landscape. By investing in your team’s growth, you’re not just enhancing their individual potential—you’re also driving the collective progress and long-term competitiveness of your organization.

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” — John F. Kennedy

Continuous learning plays a vital role in both personal and professional success. The back-to-school season is more than just a reminder of the academic year—it’s a metaphor for the perpetual growth that defines our careers and leadership journeys. As we enter this season of renewal and focus, it’s crucial to remember that our commitment to learning doesn’t end when we leave the classroom. For leaders, executives, and educators, every day is the first day of school. As long as that continues to be you, everyone will flourish including you.

Now is the time to embrace the opportunities that come with a fresh start. Whether you’re aiming to advance in your career, take on new challenges, or foster growth within your team, commit to being a lifelong learner. Start by identifying one area where you or your team can grow, and take action today. Seek out new knowledge, invest in skill development, and model the continuous learning mindset that will drive your success. Remember, the journey of learning never truly ends. It is an ongoing process that fuels our ability to lead, innovate, and inspire those around us. It’s the key to thriving in an ever-changing world. Lead the way by making learning a priority, and watch as you and your team flourish together.

Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Reach out today and ask about the CORE Leadership Toolkit—your essential resource for continuous growth and development. Start building the skills that will empower you and your team to succeed in any challenge. 

SCHEDULE TIME

Founders Corner – Life Planning Part II

Posted on by Byron Darden

August is Vacation month for many hard-working executives. It’s a time when many take their traditional annual vacation to rest, relax and maybe catch up on your reading list. We often spend more time with family and friends. See new vistas and visit places you’ve always wanted to go. Here at Triple Axle Executive Coaching, it’s planning month for our next 12 blogs we plan to publish. 

As we move into this month [August], I’m excited about the many celebrations coming up. All for different reasons. Some of which you’ll probably identify right away from having read our blog since 2021.

For instance, we are celebrating American Artists Appreciation Month. Coming from a performance artist background myself, and having dabbled in photography, drawing and design (furniture and interiors), I’m humbled by learning there is a month when we acknowledge the many creative artists in our midst.

There’s also Black Business Month, which is a reminder to me of having started seven different businesses in my career and now mounting the eighth as an executive coaching company. 

National Golf Month has a distant connection in my life when one of my relatives encouraged me to pick up the game when I lived in Boston. She said, “more decisions are made on a golf course than in any boardroom. Learn to play the game and see what happens.” While I did get myself a set of clubs and visited the Nashoba Valley driving range on a weekly basis, I didn’t quite take to the game of golf that nearly all my aunts and uncles have and continue to play in their 90s.

There are also special days of celebration that include National Womens and Women’s Equality Day, respectively on August 9th and 26th. My three decades of coaching women in figure skating have morphed into the two decades of helping women overcome imposter syndrome, release trauma to their confidence and inspire me to devote so much of my attention to women’s issues and build strong relationships with the women in my life.

World Humanitarian Day is celebrated on August 19th which sets the stage of Be Kind to Humankind Week celebrated August 25th till the end of the month. More than anything, my passion is to help executives seek their humanity in leading others. So I’m especially humbled by the notion that we observe humanitarians as appreciative contributors to society.

Then there’s one of my favorite acknowledgments that kicks off the month on the 1st, National Simplify Your Life Week; something I recently began doing before I knew there was a formal celebration designated to do so. Truth be known, with all the hoarders I’ve encountered in my experience, I try to simplify my life several times throughout the year.

Given so many reasons to celebrate, we’ve decided to coin it, Equality Acknowledgment and Endorsement Month.

Hi, I’m Byron Darden with another edition of Leading with Purpose on Purpose. As we conclude  our series on Transitions, we are building on what we began last month by introducing the transition of Life Planning. While recharging your battery, we invite you to give your future Life some thought.

To support you, we’re offering you some helpful ideas and tips on how to think about your future through Life Planning.

You may recall that I started my Life Planning in 2008 just before the Savings and Loan meltdown rocked our economic comfort zone. At the time, I had no awareness that my financial life would go into a tale spin. That event signaled my move to New York and the beginning of living my Life Plan in ways I couldn’t have imagined, with all the unexpected twists and turns that uncertainty brings to the impermanence of everything, everywhere, for everybody

You’ll learn about The Three questions that will get you thinking in ways you may never have considered before. We delve into the Heart’s Core; the center of what’s most important to you.

Come the fall it is my guess, somewhat from years of experience, that returning energized and invigorated from vacations, time away, sabbaticals, and in my case, my annual writing retreat, you will be set up for success. The season will change with the return to school mindset or continuing education, and you’ll have a refreshed perspective on what is most important to you. 

Once you get back to your roles as leaders, let’s plan to connect and explore how you can create the life you love. Enjoy!

Life Planning requires that you take Time to Think. Read on for more suggestions.

Time to Think

Posted on by Byron Darden

Creating a life plan is a crucial step in setting yourself up for both personal and professional success. It allows you to outline your aspirations, set clear goals, and develop a strategic approach to achieving them. Below is a list of activities to help you start thinking about your life-planning journey

Journal to Generate Ideas

Journaling is a powerful tool to brainstorm and organize your thoughts. It is a chance to explore what you truly want to achieve in life. Write down your aspirations, reflect on your current situation, and explore potential paths to your goals. You might be surprised by the breakthroughs that come to light with a regular journaling practice.

Setting Goals

During the Life Planning process, you will discuss your goals for the future, personally and professionally. I urge you to make them specific. For example, instead of saying you want to be CEO someday, set a goal of becoming CEO within 2 years and the steps you will take to get there. Instead of stating that your goal is to be healthy, set a goal to lose 20 pounds in 6 months by walking 30 minutes a day and eating fruit instead of cake for dessert. 

For some, specificity can feel like putting guardrails on your vision. From experience, a lack of specificity has not held me back from reaching my goals, just not how I envisioned it at the start. An RLP can help focus your goals.

Create a Vision Board

One tool that is used to bring goals and ideas to life is a vision board. It can serve as a daily reminder of your dreams, keeping you motivated and focused. Start by collecting images, quotes, and symbols that represent your desired future. Work with your RLP to construct the vision board.

Do Some Research

Looking back at your journal and your goals, think about what is standing in the way of your dreams. Is it a lack of education or a skill you’d like to develop?  Do a little research to see how you might close the gap.

Consider Your Life Experience

Chances are that you have more skills than you realize. Make a list of your past achievements, rewards, training, and more. That workshop you took last year may give you unique qualifications to achieve your goals. In addition to your achievements, consider your perceived obstacles. An RLP can help you turn setbacks into breakthroughs.

Build a Support System

In addition, be thinking about the people in your life that you could turn to for support, including friends, relatives, mentors, and experienced professionals. Building relationships 6yhb provides valuable insights, guidance, and support, enhancing your life planning process.  As an RLP client, you join a network of professionals who can support you in acquiring the knowledge, making contacts, planning and executing the steps necessary to bring your life-planning dreams to fruition. Ask me about our transition program, Chrysalis Conversion.

LET’S CONNECT

Continue to see Life Planning in Action.

Life Planning in Action

Posted on by Byron Darden

You may ask how I have come to learn so much about life planning myself and I can tell you that I have been living my formal life plan since I created my first one back in 2008. The S&L crisis had hit. I owned two homes in Washington state. I lost all my income while traveling globally providing leadership training and coaching to corporate executives as a contractor for a company. I was frustrated and scared. I had no idea what to do. 

One day during a conversation with my mentor Kathy, she suggested trying an exercise called The Three Questions. At first, they seemed rather simple. First came the task of imagining I had all the money I needed to do anything I wanted. It is a chance to dream big, pull out all the stops, and draw on my skills as an actor on stage believing I could be anything I wanted, do whatever I pleased, and have whatever came to mind. It was a fun and exhilarating experience. I did not hold back and abandoned resistance. 

Then I had to consider what I would do should I discover that I only had a short time left to live. What will I do with the time I have remaining? It was a sobering thought. At first, I tried to fit everything into the time I had left. It was during this activity that my values and burning desires took shape and reminded me of just how committed I was to going after things that held my attention and how I would let go of what I did not feel as strongly about. 

Then came the kicker question: What would I do if this were my last day? What would I miss? Who did I not get to be? What did I have to let go of doing? These are not questions we think about because the idea of death is one we rarely allow ourselves to dwell upon. That is unless you had a belief system that supported that type of thinking. It was a sobering activity and a powerful one to help me set priorities in a way I hadn’t considered.

Next, we looked at another activity called the Heart’s Core. It is one of the activities I used today to help clients get in touch with what is core to them about what they dream about, some of which they cannot imagine could come true. That was me then!

As we went through the activity I discovered a different way of thinking about my dreams as they pertained to the three questions. There was an order to identify, people I determined would possibly be involved, and where my dream could take me. It was a system of thinking in a certain way that made my dreams actually look possible rather than not possible at all. Something about being in the form of a grid helped me organize my thoughts and see how I could use the concept of patterns to see how one thing was linked to another.

Since 2008, I’ve updated my life plan twice. Once when I began my training to learn about Life Planning. A second time when I started my mentorship program to solidify the process of supporting others. Now I revisit my life plan once at the start of each year. Guess what? With few alterations, I’ve been living my life plan to the point of honing it rather than totally retooling it. Each year it gets clearer and very real. 

In fact, Triple Axel Executive Coaching exists because of my first stab at life planning sixteen years ago. My company is slowly expanding to include my passions in a conglomerate that is taking shape. I now live in New York where I dreamed of moving some day. I live in a wonderful place that I once thought would only be a pipe dream. I have a financial planner that I did not have before I started. I also became a public speaker, and a published author and have taught all over the world. I even learned more about a business that resulted in me earning my MBA.

TELL ME YOUR STORY

Join us as we wrap up this series with Proven Results and why I say Don’t Go It Alone.

Proven Results

Posted on by Byron Darden

Understanding how many people engage in life planning can provide valuable context for its importance. 

Let’s use setting a New Year’s resolution as an example. On January 1st, you might set a “goal” of losing weight.  For the first week or two, you skip desserts and head to the gym (you might even buy a membership).  Here’s the problem – your goal is weak – how much weight do you want to lose? How are you going to do it?  Do you have a support system? As a result of not taking time to explore these questions, you revert back to your old habits rather quickly.  

Now, let’s suppose your goal involved writing a contract with yourself, finding a friend on the same path, and tracking your progress with an online program. Your chances of success are much greater.  

A study by Dominican University found that individuals who wrote down their goals shared them with others, and sent regular progress reports were 33% more likely to achieve their goals than those who merely formulated goals in their minds. I tried the mind method many times. The trouble with that choice is the invariable “traffic jam” – as my big sister Billie calls it – that exists in our heads. You have to get out of that traffic jam to see a clear path to take.

According to the research, individuals who took the proactive step of writing down their goals, as opposed to keeping them as abstract ideas, were significantly more likely to achieve them. This group documented their objectives and shared these goals with others, thereby creating a sense of accountability. 

Additionally, by sending regular progress reports, individuals maintained a continuous focus on their goals, which further contributed to their success. This emphasizes the power of concrete actions and social support in the goal-achievement process, suggesting that structured and shared goal-setting can dramatically enhance personal and professional success.

The same concepts can be applied to life planning; it’s just a bit bigger goal.

Don’t Go It Alone

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin

This quote by Benjamin Franklin underscores the critical importance of planning in achieving success. It highlights that without a clear and structured plan, the likelihood of failure increases significantly. Franklin’s wisdom aligns with the findings of modern studies, emphasizing that deliberate and thoughtful life planning is essential for realizing one’s goals and aspirations.

Taking the first step towards creating a comprehensive life plan can be both exciting and overwhelming. To make this process smoother, consider reaching out to me, a seasoned coach and Registered Life Planner, for guidance and support. 

We can create a detailed and actionable life plan tailored to your unique needs and aspirations. My expertise and my team will provide you with the tools and support necessary to navigate your journey successfully. Avoid the wait— schedule a call today to start crafting the life you envision.

SCHEDULE A CALL

Founder’s Corner – Life Planning

Posted on by Byron Darden

Someone once said to me, “How can I plan my life when life is ever-changing and unpredictable?” I found it a thoughtful question and a reasonable one to ask. While I believe it to be true that we cannot predict what will happen tomorrow or in the next minute for that matter, planning for the future has always been a worthy consideration –  as long as we do not become attached to our plans. Yet, having a plan in place is how many choose which schools to attend for a degree, what cities to live in that offer opportunities, and the qualities to look for in a mate versus remaining single. 

Some plans we look forward to and are eager to engage in.

I’ve witnessed couples planning their wedding. What colors to consider? Which caterer to hire? Who will be invited to that special day? Those same couples may plan for a family. How many children do they dream of having? What neighborhoods do they wish to live in? Which schools to send their children to? Those types of plans may lead to the type of job you want, the roles that are most important to you to take in your profession, and how much money you want or need to earn. 

Other plans are necessary and not so much fun to contemplate.

Recently I heard from a former client who shared that she is embarrassed to admit that, as she nears retirement, she has not planned out investments so that she has the money to retire comfortably. She admitted that planning for this next phase of her life is not something she looks forward to doing. So she simply avoids the topic altogether. This is a pervasive reality for many of us who don’t want to think about retirement. Yet, avoiding the topic doesn’t make its reality go away.

Life is full of plans. Some go as hoped while others, well, require rethinking. And just because you make plans, how you intend to carry out your plans may not always seem so clear. 

As a part of human nature or how we’ve been conditioned to act, we often find ourselves planning for the future – however unsure the future may be.

What I’ve discovered is that when it comes to the type of plans we make later in life, it can be the difference between planning the life you envision for yourself and living the life that someone else envisions for you, leaving your wishes out of the equation entirely. 

Hi, I’m Byron Darden with another edition of Leading with Purpose on Purpose. In this latest installment in the series on Transitions we began publishing in December 2023, we explore the value of Life Planning. The connection to our theme this month draws on the fact that more than a dozen countries celebrate Independence Day. So in keeping with the significance of gaining independence we thought it fitting to acknowledge the importance of doing so by planning ahead for the abundant life that is your birthright.

I’ve been supporting executive leaders for over 20 years in planning their climb up the corporate ladder and how to strategically navigate the process. Now I’ve drawn on that wealth of experience to support you in planning the life you most desire, rather than just hoping for the best that life has to offer. Because too many of us fail to plan for what is most important to us. Focusing on your passions, your dreams, and your greatest desires, I’ve learned first-hand the value of Life Planning. 

It began for me in 2008 when a dear friend and colleague offered me an opportunity to plan for what is next in my life. It was a profound experience unlike any I had before. While I had planned out my life as a skater as well as my rise as a stage actor, and my ultimate move to New York, these were all centered around my career. What I hadn’t considered was planning for the aspects of my life that were most important to me. Getting clear on how my life beyond my career might look. 

I was stunned to discover how many plans I made over the years without much thought to how retirement might fit in, as well as what and how I would like to give back. Particularly considering the countless opportunities that came my way and not by my own efforts. In fact, taking advantage of Life Planning is how I found my way to New York and what prompted me to begin Triple Axel Executive Coaching. 

Just to give you a taste of what Life Planning can do for you, I not only planned how my company would form and unfold, I even planned the last two-year pivot through which I’ve been transitioning in real time since we began publishing this series. 

You may have noticed that over the past eight months, our website has gone through a transformation. Our colors have changed from orange to several hues of blue. Our logo is different. Our services are more dynamic. And while we continue to specialize in serving women in leadership, we are also now inclusive of all executives and the various types of organizations in which they lead. We’re primed to help organizations become more inclusive, support them in facing change, and provide coaching to executives to sharpen their skills. In order to navigate promotions more effectively, we help leaders develop their personal brand, and guide our clients to build on what they do in business by also helping them identify what comes next in their lives.

As you read this month’s blog on Life Planning Part One, think about how you can benefit from allowing us to help you make way for your life’s passions. Enjoy!

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