For 5 consecutive weeks, I led 30 retired LA City employees on a journey to uncover their WHY. While I was teaching them about the keys to fulfillment (purpose, financial wellness, health, community and social engagement), I was learning even more about life itself.
Here are my top 5 lessons:
1) You are never too old (or too young) to dream BIG, set goals, learn and grow.
What this means for you:
There is no time like the present to take the leap towards reaching your full potential.
What this means for your brand:
No matter where your company is at in its journey, there are always new heights, more to learn and more to achieve. Fostering a culture that promotes personal development and continuous improvement can have tremendous benefits for your business. As each employee grows, your organization improves as well. Set the tone by engaging your employees in the process of defining your vision and setting your goals.
2) Change, tragedy and obstacles are inevitable, but how you handle them makes all the difference.
What this means for you:
Character is built in the struggle. Embracing each obstacle with grace and grit will ensure you come out even stronger than before.
What this means for your brand:
Every challenge your business faces is an opportunity to improve. Failure is inevitable, but it is also an incomparable catalyst for transformation. By approaching your obstacles with a positive mindset and reframing them as opportunities for growth, you may be able to find new solutions you never would have thought of.
3) Decisions that you make today can set you up for success for the rest of your life.
What this means for you:
Build positive habits now, especially when it comes to your relationships, your health and your wealth.
What this means for your brand:
Dedicate the time and resources to plan today for the future of your organization. Strategy is the difference between a dream and a plan. By defining your strategic framework, you can ensure that every major decision you make is aligned with the goals of your brand.
4) 45% of seniors experience profound loneliness. As a society, we undervalue and overlook an enormous group of wonderful, worthy people who can enrich our lives.
What this means for you:
Call your mom. Or your grandma, or any beloved figure your life. Nurturing relationships with our elders can bless us with wisdom, love and amazing stories.
What this means for your brand:
Know your audience. Listen to your audience. Value them. Love them. Nurture them and support their dreams. Learn anything they deign to teach you. Welcome them into your tribe and be ceaselessly grateful for their business, their time and their attention.
5) Just five weeks (or less) of dedicated effort can fundamentally alter the course of your life!
What this means for you:
Apply yourself. If you want to make a change, it is wholly in your power. Start today and the next time we talk, you’ll be well on your way.
What this means for your brand:
Don’t put off the important in favor of the urgent. There will always be more tasks, but tasks don’t grow your business. If you are holding out on a major initiative that could level up your company, you are only hurting yourself. Next year, you’ll wish you had started today.