Last week I kicked off the series, 20 things learned in 2020.
If you missed parts one and two you can read them here and here.
Now, remember, when I say “learned” it could be new things or it could just be things that were “lessons learned” in 2020, they just became more important this year
Anyways, let’s dig into lessons 11-15.
11. It's Not Important Until It Is
Back in March Megan went to the hospital for some shoulder pain and troubled breathing.
What transpired over the next 72 hours was unfathomable...
She was transported to Maine Med ICU, and I took multiple calls from doctors telling me they don't know what's going on and they don't know if she's going to make it.
I distinctly remember sitting on our bed, it was 2:00am, and I had just gotten off the phone with the doctor, he told me she might have to go on a ventilator.
Talk about life flashing in front of your eyes...
I didn't have enough time with her yet, I wish I were more present, and gosh, how was I going to take care of the kids by myself?
Long story short, she ended up recovering.
If you can't tell, we think she had COVID-19.
This was very early on in the pandemic, and they didn't even have testing for it, but clearly, looking back, it wasn't just pneumonia.
We're thankful she fully recovered and is going just fine.
But it's really not until moments like that happen that you realize how you're living day to day could be better...
How you are with your family, how you take care of your health, it's all doesn't feel that important until moments like this.
12. Find Your WHY
There have been several times this year that I felt like giving up, moments of burnout, frustrations, you name it...
Probably similar feelings that we have all felt this year.
What always brings me back is my "Why"
What is your purpose? Why are you here?
Are you actually set out to do something, or are you just taking up space and getting in people's way.
This above all else has been my foundation which is why I start with it.
I may have bad years, I may feel burnt out, but I can always come back to this.
When the days are long and you’re feeling run down if you have a strong enough “why” none of that matters.
I keep this written down, I try to read it at least once a week, and it keeps the fire burning.
If you’re looking to find your “why” (you already know it, you just need to discover it), I highly recommend following Simon Sinek and his two books “Start with Why” and “Find Your Why”.
13. Mental health does manifest itself in physical ways
I never really bought into this until this year...
I had been working out, eating decent, but just physically looking like crap.
And then it hit me...
Stress, anxiety, pressure...
It was/is manifesting in physical ways...
Gray hairs, belly fat, you name it.
No other lesson here other than physical and mental health are connected and you have to take care of both.
14. Communication became a value of mine
I added a personal value in 2020.
I've been pretty big on knowing my values, both in what's important to me, and how I like to live my life.
But I started picking up on a trend with myself...
Almost every little annoyance, every little frustration, it always came back to communication.
Whether it was a communication that I could have improved on or frustration on my end for lack of communication.
I think as a company we're pretty good at communication, but it could always improve.
Now, better communication is not more, it's better.
Communication is not what is said, it's what understood.
If you look at the small businesses that survived 2020, they not only pivoted and adjusted, they communicated well.
We know good communication is the lifeline of good teamwork, a healthy relationship, etc.
It seems small, of course, communication is important, but if it's a value, I just look at it through a deeper lense.
15. Growth Mindset is Everything
In personal development, we talk a lot about Growth vs Fixed Mindset.
It originally comes from the book 'Mindset' by Carol Dweck.
In a growth mindset, you always believe there is more, you believe there is a better way of doing it, you believe there is always a solution to every problem.
Now, that doesn't mean day-to-day you don't have frustrations, pressures, and moments of a fixed mindset.
However, as a whole, you have a very abundant mindset.
Those that have a growth mindset probably did okay this year.
The fixed mindset believes that there is no way out, how it's done now is how it has to be done, and there is not always a solution to a problem.
They believe their personal qualities are fixed and that they cannot change.
I imagine those that have a fixed mindset had a real challenge this year, and it is a good reminder to explore the development of a growth mindset.
Now, it's never this absolute, we float between the two based on the topic/moment at hand, but it's still an area of opportunity for all of us to explore more of a growth mindset.
I'll be back tomorrow with lessons 16-20 to wrap this four-part series up.
I hope you're finding it helpful.
1% Better.
Dedicated To Your Success,
Doug Spurling