I looked back at yesterday and saw the light everywhere – in small smiles, moments when sunlight stopped, and trees bowed. I saw the future in everything that in the past felt like a dream.
–Maria Lehtman (2014)
Isn’t it easy to get caught up in the company’s day-to-day operations? You’re constantly making decisions, solving problems, and pushing forward to achieve your goals, rushing from one online meeting to another. I know how challenging it is to take a step back and reflect on your progress, but doing so can provide valuable insights and opportunities for growth.
When you take the time to look back at yesterday, you may be surprised at how much progress you have made. You’ll see the brighter moments everywhere – in the small smiles of your team members, the moments when everything seemed to be aligned just right, and the times when your company positively impacted your customers, partners, or the ecosystem. Sometimes a determined step forward is all it takes.
Reflecting on the past can also help you identify areas for improvement. Do not carry regret. You may have faced challenges or setbacks that you could have handled better. Perhaps there were opportunities that you missed or decisions that you made that turned out differently than you hoped. By acknowledging these shortcomings, you can learn from them and make changes that will help you thrive. I do not like to call out weaknesses. Mistakes do not appear out of weakness but out of strength to try, make decisions, and act. They only become weaknesses if you replicate them without learning from your errors.
Reflection-Now Practice
But reflection isn’t just about looking back – it’s also about looking forward and taking in the present. When you see the future in everything that in the past felt like a dream, you can envision new possibilities for you, your business, and your teams. You can identify emerging trends, anticipate changes in your industry, and think creatively about how to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.
So, how can you make reflection a regular part of your business practice? The same old – same old – and always as important: set aside time each week or month to review your progress and identify areas for improvement. You could also solicit feedback from your team members, customers, or mentors to gain new perspectives and insights. What if you encourage them to ask a few questions? It might open up new avenues of thought. Ultimately, reflection aims to help you stay focused on your business’s mission and vision – and/or your life, career, and mission.
I block time from my agenda daily to ensure time for the ‘slow energy’ tasks. I look at what I need to do, plan, study, learn, read, write, and note down people I need to connect with. It is not just because I have tasks to carry out, but I send my colleagues thank you notes or messages in which I acknowledge their input. We are not machines. We need the human factor in everything we do.
Keep your genuine smile
I know it is time to seek inspiration when it becomes too difficult to keep a genuine smile. On a monthly basis find my reflection time on the Poetricity Live event organized by the author Frank Bolaji Irawo and his reminder to “Be present. Be balanced. Be the conduit of creativity.” His book DREAM: Manifest Your Path To Joy, Peace and Contentment is worthwhile to read – you will learn a lot from his D.R.E.A.M. framework (the book is on Amazon.)
I also enjoy participating in different 360˚ Nation events organized by my dear friend Dennis Pitocco. Throughout the years, this community has grown closer to me, and my writer’s network is constantly growing. I am already at my fifth anthology story with authors I have come to know through Dennis and his events. I could not have hoped for a better platform for inspiration and humanity. The values this community represents echo those of mine. We need more joy, peace, and understanding to create a better future for us.
Pause, reflect, and envision a future. Give room for your imagination. Find people around you who embrace your creativity and enhance your ideas further.
Last but not least, use AI! Here are a few ways I have used AI this year:
- Helping me to outline goals for the International Women’s Day Week
- Asking AI to come up with questions I could ask in my interviews. I made several iterations and edited the ones I liked.
- I wrote poems and asked AI to translate them into the proper context – i.e., not to change the poems but to expand them to different scopes.
- I asked AI to create chapters on Diversity and Inclusion following the UN’s theme for 2024. This year we focused on ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.’. You can find the interviews at Orange Business Blogs: The Importance of Role Models for Women in Technology and The Benefits of Creating a Gender-Diverse Workforce
Again, I do not use AI’s input without edits and changes – and sometimes, it is there to provide ideas I can build on. However, AI provides an excellent tool to overcome writer’s block.
Last but not least: go out! However small or big nature you have around you – acknowledge it. Admire it. Feel it. Even one tree can transform life.
“Never let go of those fiery hopes and dreams that dance in your imagination.” – Unknown
