What we can all learn from Gen. Hillier's retirement plans
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Canada's
top soldier, General Rick Hillier is stepping down after 3 years in the
spotlite.
As he ponders his next steps, we read in the July 7th
Globe and Mail that General Hillier is planning out his future in a typical
thoughtful and prepared method.
- Deciding
what he's not going to do: No political future or lobbying duties
- Taking
some time: He's off until at least September and taking some time to
contemplate the right choices and possibilities ahead.
- He's
getting some help: One off the future possibilities may be at law firm
Gowlings who have provided him with an office, some support and a place to
hang out.
- He
also gets to talk to some people that know a few things about some of his
possibilities like business, lecturing, setting up speaking engagements
etc.
Temporary support and transition is perfect for someone
contemplating a reinvention. Get away from the familiar surroundings and the
familiar faces and make a break. General Hillier seems to be the kind of person
who is not afraid of taking risks or changing the status quo. I believe he has
been thinking about this change for a long time (indeed the G&M article
talks about meetings last June, 14 months ago) and while he may not have a lot of
hard and fast decisions made, he has decided on a process that will ultimately
steer him in the right direction and allow him the future opportunity to not
only build on what has been a considerable legacy, but to also discover what
else is out there, what sounds interesting and what are the things he knows he wants to avoid.
Where are you on your personal transition plan? All wrapped
up and ready to go?
Or is it time to start looking at a process that works,
helps you get clear on your thinking and at the end of the day, make sure the
challenge of change has been all worth it.
If you are contemplating your next reinvention or if your
organization is interested in succession planning call us
about our successful process, The Best-Half.
Enjoy the summer!
Gordon
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Lots on your plate? Start with what you're not going to do |
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For many of us choice and possibility may seem foreign to
our daily routine. We eat the same thing for breakfast, drive to work the same
way and do the same things. Planning for a successful re-invention gives us a tremendous
opportunity to try new things experience new worlds and turn our current
routine up-side-down. Is any one panicking yet? In our coaching and workshops
we help people look at possibility by ranking over 100 opportunities on a 5
point scale:
A: something I truly love
B: I receive some enjoyment
C: No previous experience but I am curious to try this out
D: I will tolerate but not a favourite
E: Something I want to avoid at all costs
While its important to look at the A's, B's, and C's, the D's and E's
are also going to steer you clear of all sorts of potentially onerous,
uninteresting and boring ways to spend the next 30 or so years of your life.
If you are an insistent Fact Finder a good way to
start the day is to figure out what you are not going to do. Look at
your 'to do' list and determine those tasks where you have all the information
and the data necessary to complete the job at hand. These are the ones on which to focus. Look for those projects
where you can start something, work on it and then complete it before the end
of the day. Starting something and then not finishing it is frustrating for you. Figuring out what you can complete will lead to a greater feeling of fulfillment in having finished a task satisfactorily. If you notice the stress quotient rising, get
out the 'to do' list and see if you can complete a few smaller items quickly.
Maybe you will need to call on some help but by completing these items I think
you will feel better about the big tasks, proects and intangibles yet to come.
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