As I share the gift of coaching with the world, rarely does a conversation end without some action toward an established goal. I will have that conversation with my spouse. I will journal at least 3 times this week. I will go to the market twice this week for language learning, even if I don’t need to buy anything. In the world of coaching, meaningful goals and action steps are the product of clarity, of deciding what’s most important -- and why.
When coaching is grounded in faith, the process goes to a whole new level. More than simply establishing goals and checking off to-do lists, it becomes about stewardship -- leading our personal and professional lives well. We do this by deciding what’s most important. We answer the question of Why. Getting to the why and committing to a subsequent course of action is often a process of discernment and a series of deep conversations, especially during pivotal transition seasons.
As I age and mature, I’m learning that the small, seemingly insignificant choices made on a regular basis hold great impact over time. Those kinds of choices, more than anything, determine where I will end up. They are important! For example, I’m convinced it takes courage to live in obscurity, consistently doing the right thing when no one seems to notice. This is definitely part of answering the call to serve others. To avoid burnout and not lose heart, we need to decide what’s most important and have a strategy to achieve our short and long-term goals…all the while trying to remain flexible.
W.I.N. is a simple but powerful acronym that comes from the famous Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz. It stands for "What’s Important Now?" Holtz instructed his players to ask themselves this question 35 times a day. He wanted them to think about it when they woke up, while they were in class, study hall, the weight room, the practice field, standing on the sidelines during a game and while on the playing field. Holtz wanted his players to be able to learn to focus on what mattered most at any given time.
Reflect for a moment. What do you want to accomplish and by when? How can you reach a desired outcome through consistent and intentional choices? What kind of support do you need along the way? These are all questions that fall under the bigger question of What’s Important Now? Hidden in these questions lies a treasure trove of answers based on your core values just waiting to be uncovered. But here’s the thing: These are not the type of questions answered by focusing on productivity alone.
My friend and colleague, Teresa McCoy, has a saying, “Forget productivity. Do what matters.” This season of COVID-19 has left many of us struggling to regain some sense of efficiency and productivity. What could it look like to put productivity on pause and prioritize what matters? Could this give you the W.I.N. that you need? I leave you with this question: What’s Important Now?
I’d love to hear from you. What are you focusing on during this challenging season? What really matters? And why?
One way to focus on the W.I.N. is by working with an experienced coach. Book a discovery call HERE to learn more about life purpose coaching.