The week after Thanksgiving, I was outside helping my mom put up holiday lights one evening. I live outside of Chicago, so at this point in the year, it’s pretty much dark by 5pm. And it’s cold. (But we’re still in that transition period where Midwesterners fool themselves into believing we don’t really need bundle up yet to go outside.) Well, it was late, and as I was looping a strand of colorful lights over a branch, I took a step to reach around the tree and felt a sharp pain on the edge of my foot.
Startled, I lightly stepped and re-stepped to affirm what I was feeling was real. I dropped the lights and slipped off my shoe only to find that a sharp, thick thorn had pierced the rubber sole. The thorn only slightly punctured my skin and it felt worse than the damage it actually caused.
But this random moment freaked me out. I rely on my feet for so much. As a dance teacher, I depend on my feet to move and dance, but I also take for granted the ability to do everyday tasks like walking or climbing stairs. I continued to feel the residual pain days later, but the thought that it could have been much worse has stuck with me. I was an inch away from impaling my foot and finding myself in the ER or who knows what else. The version of reality that we know to be true can truly change in an instant.
How often do we live on the edge of our breaking point, even without knowing it? How close are we to disrupting what we can handle and finding ourselves in a dangerous situation?
“It is strange, but true, that the most important turning-points of life often come at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected ways.”
-Napoleon Hill
For me, this thorn that so smoothly sliced through my shoe has become almost like a metaphor for 2023 — it’s been an overwhelming year full of change that feels like it’s always close to hitting a level too deep to ignore. And it’s more than just “things” that happen or pile up, but it’s also the shifting of roles we adopt and take on.
In our personal and professional lives, we evolve and adapt in our roles and responsibilities. I now find myself now hanging lights and diagnosing sump pump issues - roles I’ve had to take on since my dad passed a few months ago — some of which feel intimidating and seem to inch closer to a level of breaking. Yet this year, I’ve also made intentional career decisions to change and take on new roles that have more purposeful alignment; this type of adaption has added more cushion and space between me and the thorns.
As we head into the new year, don’t expect the thorns to fully go away. One day, we might step wrong and realize that the thorn has gone too deep to be ignored. All of the “things” and the expectations and responsibilities might add up to too much. All we can actually do is to just aim for balance, so we are better equipped to handle what comes our way. The more we take on — to own and lead and accomplish — the more aware we have to become about how thorns may impact our success.
As leaders — no matter our industry or title — the path to success comes down to our ability to be adaptable, observant, and proactively identify both problems and potential solutions. It’s not about avoiding the thorns, but knowing how to quickly react and navigate when you sense one in the way. And as your role changes or grows, it becomes more important to understand how to keep your own expectations in pace with the curveballs life throws at you, whether or not you know it’s coming.
As 2023 winds down, what thorns are currently stuck in your shoe? What new roles will you need to adapt to or grow into next year? How are you taking care of yourself to avoid your breaking point? What level of balance should you strive for in 2024?
LEADERSHIP
Crucial Conversations 🗣️
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The stories we tell ourselves influence how we feel and how we react. Watch this keynote from Joseph Grenny, an author of Crucial Conversations, to learn more about how to intervene with these stories we create and get out of our own head. This ultimately enables us to be more effective communicators personally and professionally.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
How to Capitalize On Your Good Ideas 💡
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Clinton Sparks is a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producer, songwriter, and DJ. He’s a renowned entertainment mogul, entrepreneur, and visionary builder who’s worked with icons like Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Snoop Dogg, and brands like the NFL, Ciroc, Build-a-Bear, and Red Bull.
With his track record of success managing multiple products from ideation to launch, he’s joining Entrepreneur for a free webinar on December 5 at 2PM CT to share his secrets and process for how to come up with and capitalize on good ideas.
INNOVATION
Can AI build a business? 💼
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Entrepreneur Jimmy Slagle took on a 120-day experiment to launch an e-commerce business from scratch using AI. From deciding the company name and building the website, to creating the branding and setting the price, check out his newsletter + posts that revealed every step of this experiment and the AI tools he leveraged.
Spoiler alert! Watch the results of this experiment!
CULTURE
Reaching Alignment on Technology’s Role in Our Lives 💻
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“Hitachi” means “rising sun” and, for more than 110 years, the Hitachi company has risen from a Japanese mining subsidiary into a multinational technology company involved in energy, mobility, manufacturing, IT, healthcare, and more.
On December 7 at 11AM CT, Ryoko Imai, principal research scientist at Hitachi, will discuss how she brings alignment, collaboration, and creativity to her work. She’ll explain how forecasting, design, and vulnerability come together to impact the evolution of teams and technology.
PERSONAL GROWTH
Still Hiring 🤝
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Looking for work or a career change? It might be a tough market, but there are companies out there that are growing and hiring. StillHiring.today is a site that actually tracks tech companies who are actively hiring and compiles it all into an easily accessible, free list. Start exploring new opportunities!