VIM Executive Coaching is at a loss for words, which is pretty unusual, we would agree! This past week, we saw an on-again (I’m interested in business coaching) and off again (I don’t know if I’m interested) potential client. Who told us, “Why don’t we talk after the New Year, OK?” Then, he made that gesture where one puts their finger to their ear to simulate using a telephone. If you know how to describe it, please let us know.
However, the funny part was that we turned to each other and asked, “Exactly which calendar was he referring to and which New Year?”
Procrastination in any language…still procrastination
Turns out, our “interested party” had a whole number of calendars and New Year’s celebrations from which to choose. Let’s see, there’s the Gregorian calendar (most of us use that), Julian calendar, Islamic calendar, Jewish calendar, Hindu calendar, Chinese calendar, and for those who are history buffs, the Egyptian and Aztec calendars. Some of us use more than one, for example, the Georgian and Jewish; the Hindu and Georgian.
Point is that turning the page on the New Year is a rather arbitrary concept. If any of us waits to act, we have a whole array of options. The choices are a procrastinator’s dream. What is not a dream but an unforgiving reality is when an executive who refuses to be mindful is terminated or demoted or “made redundant” or is forced to leave by “mutual agreement,” or any other variant (much like arbitrary dates on a calendar).
The outcome of procrastination is generally bitterness and regret. Though we are having a bit of fun with this calendar stuff, we know how deeply painful it is. In fact, it is unusual when executives are able to pull out of a nose dive. The nose dive is usually preceded by subtle and not-so-subtle warnings, isolation, painful gossip, isolation and superficial counseling’s. In those moments, executives are often advised to turn a new leaf. It is a convenient, throw-away line, for we all know, it is usually too late by that time.
Suddenly, the train has stopped
If we turn our calendars back to those (barely) post-pandemic days of 2022 we can well remember the money freely flowing into company coffers courtesy of government programs and other entitlements. Hiring was robust and frankly, mindfulness was often the last thing organizations cared to address. The gravy train of low unemployment and high salaries was chugging along the tracks. Many executives were in their narrow-minded virtual worlds not worrying about authenticity or even compassion (in its broadest term).
The train has stopped. We don’t which date it started to slow but suddenly, executives who had been virtually coasting, issuing their missives and barbed opinions, running up their debts and believing they were impervious to change, were seen as mean-spirited and ineffective. They had not been mindful to change.
In short, the New Year they figured would never come was staring at them in their mirrors. They had been changing calendars month-to-month to avoid the inevitable. Change comes to every calendar no matter how much it is avoided.
The development of mindfulness, of being authentic and in the moment is essential no matter the calendar an executive follows. It is a guarantee that if an executive refuses to seek mindfulness, the moment or day of neglecting mindfulness will find them. VIM Executive Coaching helps executives reconnect with their mindfulness and purpose.
If you do follow the Georgian calendar, we wish you a Happy New Year!