VIM Executive Coaching by virtue of what we do must occasionally post or communicate across various social media platforms. One of the interesting aspects to frequent postings on those sites is a rather troubling disregard for time.
We frequently encounter the groans of those who encounter “Miserable Mondays,” “Terrible Tuesdays,” “Hump Day” or “Gateway Thursday.” There are complaints about all too brief weekends, lost holidays, cool summer days or boring days that never seem to end.
Yellow Leaves
It is attributed to Buddhist thought, but literally every thinker of any country or philosophy has talked of “yellow leaves” or its equivalent. It is the thought not so much that all of us age, but that to age without purpose or direction is fearsome.
No one in particular, but virtually everyone, needs to be reminded that while the internet or our digital devices are seemingly limitless (they’re really not, you know) our lives are indeed sharply limited and quite finite.
While the purpose of this post is not to be morose, it is nevertheless important to point out that one day this ballgame will reach the ninth inning for all of us. Getting through life, or enduring it on Terrible Tuesdays or Gateway Thursdays, is the same as saying “I have no other purpose than to make it to a party on Saturday.”
However, for far many more of us, it is not the leaves of the personal aspects of our lives that wither and fall, but our careers. We can readily understand the personal cycles of our personal lives. VIM Executive Coaching does not coach on topics such as dating, wedding planning or child rearing! But far more subtle is understanding the cycles of our professional careers. In that aspect, we are much more adept.
How is Your Purpose, Anyway?
There is a rather common term in this period, “Hanging Out.” It is done among friends or those who waste their lives on those so-called Miserable Mondays or even rainy Saturdays, but much more so in our work lives.
How many times have we heard the lament “I’m just putting in my time?” Our response as executive coaches is to wonder, “Putting in your time for what?” Is it until retirement three years from now, until someone recognizes your contribution, until your boss promotes you or until the organization is acquired by a competitor?
Hanging out or putting in our time, is a term of resignation. As an executive may feel resigned by a situation, she or he may be willing to concede, “As I have no purpose other than to get through it, my purpose is really no purpose.” It is, looked at from afar, a dreadful concession to the weight of a no-purpose work life.
There are some realities all of us have in common: we cannot stop aging. There is no Fountain of Youth. Life is finite. A Terrible Tuesday, is as significant in terms of purpose as a Fabulous Friday.
What is to be done? Do we simply give up wanting to grow, prosper, succeed or actually enjoy what we do for our work? Do we lament missed opportunities or poor decisions or failures we believe we should have avoided? Many executives do. However, far better is to be mindful of where we are, finding our authenticity and enjoying this ride we call life.
Mindfulness is the opposite of hanging out. Authenticity defines our purpose. There will always be realities. We will get late into our work-lives, for example, and realize “Uh-oh, I’m in the bottom of the eighth inning!”
However, with developing mindfulness and authenticity, we can nurture our careers and move forward. Purpose never leaves us though some of our leaves may be yellow or we may need to change our mindset.
And may we remind everyone of May 8th & May 9th 1984? The Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers played a record breaking 25-inning baseball game. The players, coaches and fans were mindful of winning from start to end. Everyone had a purpose. It was a glorious thing (except for the Milwaukee Brewers), but at least they were mindful that they tried.