#39: The Long Game
On Slowing Down & Going Simple
Welcome to OnGrowth&, a monthly newsletter on career and personal growth 🌱🚀
I've pondered long and hard about what to share as we kick off the new year — a 2023 year in review, a new resolution post, or perhaps a "this is what you should do this year" piece? I couldn't decide, so here's a bit of a mashup.
When I think back on last year, I struggle to find the right words to describe the year. Although it didn’t look like it from the outside, 2023 felt like a struggle year for me.
See, I started out the year bent on making additional income outside my 9-5. Eager to launch my career coaching service by mid-year with a year-end income goal of $5000, I enrolled in a 12-week coaching program in early February. Simultaneously, I was planning a trip to Kenya, co-organizing my dad's 60th birthday, participating in another mentorship program by WIMBIZ, running a nonprofit (and launching the first cohort of our own mentorship program), all while managing a 9-5, family, and personal life.
Did I hit this income goal? No.
Did I feel bad about it? Yes.
I also traveled four times, once for a whole month. I didn't anticipate such a packed schedule, and even now, I still have PTSD thinking about everything I packed into that year. It's no wonder I was burnt out for most of last year.
At work, I felt like I didn’t grow much. As a manager, being responsible for others made me question my own definition of success. Managing 4 people stretched me harder than I thought it would, I was definitely not prepared for the emotional ups and downs. If I were to articulate it, it’ll be that there were so many moving parts, lots of ambitious goals, new processes, new problems and I just felt like I couldn’t catch a break.
Did I mention I had 100 meetings booked on just Calendly (I’ve lost count of my internal calls) and spoke at over 22 events? Whew!!!
But this isn't a doomsday post; it's a lesson, my lesson to heed my own advice and pace myself.
On Growth:
I've come to understand that growth isn't always linear or exponential. Sometimes, the life we desire requires a different set of advanced skills. So be mindful of the growth stage you’re in and learn, adapt and master new skills. What got you here won’t keep you here.
On People Management:
Managing people in a fast-paced startup has given me an incredible opportunity to influence others, navigate ambiguity, ask the right questions, trust my decisions and create an impact.
For fellow people managers, know that there are times that you would feel like you are crushing it, and other times may seem like a struggle. One thing that helped me get out of my funk was asking for feedback. I snuck in to check my emails and saw the most amazing feedback from my manager. My direct reports also gave me the most unexpected surprise gift, and it was truly uplifting.
On Slowing Down:
My business launch didn't go as planned, so I took down my website. A personal year-end review revealed it was too much overhead. Currently, most clients find me through referrals or social media, and that works for now. I’m here for the long game.
On the flip side, social media has become draining. Struggling to create consistently on all platforms, I've decided to leave creator work to the experts. Moving forward, I'll show up as authentically as possible and have fun with it.
I’m slowing down on speaking engagements and travel too until I have regained some strength (I’m still in recovery😉).
On Wins:
Last year, I confronted my fear of money—making it, spending it, saving it, and even losing it. I made additional income, not as much as I'd hoped, but significantly more than any previous year.
Another one of the most significant wins was in friends and relationships. Opportunities, information, strategic partnerships, and even financial support came my way through people.
Assisting people in clarifying career decisions and overcoming limiting mindsets through digital products and 1:1 coaching was also incredibly rewarding.
And when I think about other ways I’ve won, it’s my support system — my rock solid partner, my bubbly toddler, and his amazing nanny—held things down, and I'm grateful to do life with them.
In for the long game?
Let’s Do This!
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3 resources for the new year
Thank you for this.