by Jared Goralnick
Independence Day 2008 was a turning point for me.
It may not have been yours, but this holiday is almost exactly halfway through the year. It may be worthwhile to pause and plot out your next chapter. I think it’ll again be a turning point for me.
Some of you know what happened last July 4 for me. But either way, it was the start of a year like no other. From launching AwayFind to traveling a quarter of the year to speaking every month to falling back in love with photography to starting two DC area events/groups to waking up with a completely different set of intimate friends. So much of that I owe to the people around me (like you all who are reading this), but one way or another, a year later I’m a different person.
And the process is about to start again: I’m leaving for Barcelona for the rest of the summer, my sister is getting married on Monday, I’ve just hired two new people, and a large project is about to start. And I’m betting everything on a new version of AwayFind that could actually change the way people use email.
Let Me Shut Up for a Second About Me…
It’s halfway through the year. Have you thought about where you are right now? It may not be New Year’s, but it’s a big holiday, and a time to sit back with a beer and think. How are you doing with your goals? What milestones are behind and ahead of you?
I hoped to make more impact in 2009. Michael Martine’s theme was process. Mark Hayward’s theme was helpfulness. Victoria Pickering chose three themes: creativity, curiosity, and sharing.
Michael, Mark, and Victoria: how have you fared?
Struggles for Another Self
July 4 last year was a time when a lot of things in my life changed, and the things that took place afterwards were heavily influenced by elements that were as much external as they were internal. For instance, I may have booked my tickets to Iceland, but I didn’t know what affect my friend’s family would have on me (it slowed me down and encouraged me to look around myself, and then Barcelona continued that). The same story with AwayFind—I may have played a large role in launching it, but I didn’t know what the process would teach me and how it’d affect so many decisions afterwards.
We forget that when we’re struggling to finish something big we’re often adding another dimension to ourselves. And looking back over the last year I see how different activities led to different growth.
Transitions for Transitioning
I don’t want to forget that lesson. As I look ahead at all these things I’m about to live through, I hope to use them as an amplifier for the growth I’m seeking.
In case you’re wondering about my “theme”: yes, I’ve made progress toward impact. I’ve tested the waters and found exactly how I want to impact both my local community and “the world,” so to speak.
But I swear there’s a lesson in here for others:
- Think about how some actual milestones (events, trips, releases, weddings, whatever) have affected your growth in the past year (give or take)
- Consider what milestones are ahead
- Use these milestones as a chance to amplify your theme or your personal growth
That last point could use a little clarification: are there big things coming up in your life? Don’t just let them happen, instead take a moment to consider how you can affect their outcome, about how much you can actually get out of these milestones.
Have I Made a Point?
I hope I’ve made two:
- It’s halfway through the year, and thus it’s worthwhile to evaluate how you’ve progressed toward your hopes, dreams, and themes for the year
- It’s valuable to consider what tangible transitions or milestones in your life are ahead so that you can use them as a way to actually make a transition and grow
I don’t know that I’ve captured the mood I’m in right now, as I’m about to embark on what feels like a new journey. Sure, I’m off to another country, but I feel like there’s a definitive new chapter starting.
I guess that’s maybe the best metaphor. End a chapter in your life right now. Write the final paragraph of what you got out of this chapter and start the next one on a blank page. You know a few of the events coming up, but what will be the deeper meaning for the protagonist? Heck. how’s it going to start?
It’s time to make your mark on 2009, part 2.
Flickr photo credit: dmodzelewski
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Jared -
Once again you bring a lot of clarity to what it takes to work on fulfilling dreams. Thanks so much!
It was great to see a reminder of what I’d said I was going to focus on this year, and to actually feel that I’m beginning to change the ratio of time I spend on being dutiful vs. being creative.
Here are some of my lessons for myself mid-stream:
1.Don’t wait to get good at something before you do it. Like this year I exhibited at Artomatic even though I’m not yet the really good artist/photographer I want to be.
2.Find passionate and inspirational people to be around (fairly easy) and spend less time with those around me who are more complacent (quite hard).
3.Find a practical auxiliary to your dreams. For me, it is the technical side – which lets me continually learn, feel competent, and have a revenue stream – all of which, when I get the balance right, help me create the climate to keep on dreaming.
Best wishes in the next chapter of your trajectory!
Jared – I want you to know that this post was very helpful for me. Lately I have had a similar feeling myself, that the second half of this year was going to be a new chapter for me, but I hadn’t really put it into those words. Now that I have done so, however, it has allowed me to see the path to come with a bit more clarity which has, in turn, given me a great deal more motivation. Thanks a million, and I wish you the best with your own 2009 Chapter 2 :)
Victoria, Those are awesome lessons. It’s wonderful that you’re taking so many steps forward…though I wish I knew you were at Artomatic so I could’ve looked for you there before I skipped town. Thanks for the warm thoughts and ideas!
Bobby, thanks for commenting, and I’m glad this has helped. I can’t wait to see you new site and new project come to fruition in the next few months : ).
Hey Jared – have an amazing time in Barcelona!
I must say, you have made tremendous progress and I can’t wait to see what you come up with for Away Find.
Unfortunately, I have not done as well. The year started with a bang (as always!) and I was posting regularly and really trying to help other small biz owners out there who are struggling….But, I was not sure that the information I was providing was necessarily needed so I have backed off.
Also, Train for Humanity is in its final iteration and after this round of athletes we will close the project.
On a positive note, I am off to El Salvador and Guatemala next week to surf for a week.
You take care and I hope the rest of your year is even more productive/successful than the beginning. :-)
Hi Mark,
Changing course isn’t such a bad thing. But I’m glad to hear you’re still making time for yourself.
The things we come up with in a few days of a reflection around the beginning of the year are often not best for us, and our actions always speak louder about who we are than those few statements we make about ourselves for who we’re going to be in the following year.
I’m glad that you succeeded with Train for Humanity and helped a lot of small business owners. It’s a challenge when we take on those sorts of projects, but our lives still need to go on–projects need to end…even the big ones.
Have a great time in Latin America…I hope we can cross paths one of these days!
Cheers.