Have you ever noticed that once you get back a sense of passion and direction in your life, then somehow financial, relationship, career and health problems seem to lessen or vanish completely?.

On-going reinvention

The people who are surviving and thriving these days are the people who continually reinvent themselves. Success seems to have a certain shelf life and after that you need to try something new to keep growing.

For example, your fitness routine, or the way you manage your team, or how you market yourself, or what you do to attract income, or how you work with a client, or how you raise your children.

What worked once may no longer be appropriate

Celebrities who stay on top tend to do this such as Madonna who has gone from material girl, to disco diva, to doting mother, to Cabala scholar.  Arnold Schwarzenegger went from bodybuilder to actor to governor. Michael Milken went from Wall Street high roller to admired philanthropist.  What works for you at one time in your life may be inappropriate at another time. What the world needs from you at one time may be different from the next.

The skill of consistent reinvention is something that anyone can learn, like learning how to ride a bike. Once you know it, you never forget it. You probably already have some of the skills if not all, but are you practicing them regularly?

Reinventing yourself is not always easy, but here are a few tips to help you along the way, and some practical steps to take.

1. Do a Self Assessment.

Knowing where you are now is of the utmost importance. That seem obvious, but you would be surprised how often people don't do this step.

For example, it's harder to get out of debt if you don't assess how much debt you actually have. It's harder to lose weight if you refuse to step on a scale. It's harder to improve team performance if you haven't done an employee survey. It's harder to improve your presentation skills if you don't watch yourself on video.

Although it can be painful to see what's actually going on, it can be invaluable. Once you have a starting point you can create a destination. It's like using Google Maps to get to Los Angeles. If you don't know what town you are in now-then the program can't work.

2. Explore Your Passions.

Once you know the current situation you can start to explore your new destination. Many of my clients report that once they get clear on what matters most to them now-then a lot of life's problems tend to evaporate or seem less daunting. What is unique about you? What have you learned? What is your experience? What's missing in the world? Answers to these questions can help you get back in the flow of life.

3. Finding Who to Serve.

Once you know what's deeply important to you, then who do you want to serve or how you want to serve them? Many people get stuck in the "winter of change" because they are serving the wrong people or doing it in the wrong way.

For example, one entrepreneur reported that once she stopped micromanaging her clients and outsourcers, her entire business took off. Instead of serving them, she was hindering them. She discovered that stewarding people was a lot better on everyone concerned. A stay-at-home father discovered that volunteering for Habitat for Humanity improved his health and relationships with his family. 

4. Ask Yourself Open Questions.

Once you have focused in, it helps to ask yourself the big questions to see if you missed anything. What matters most to you? If there were no obstacles what would you do? What brings you fulfillment? What are the core reasons behind what you want? What would bring more congruence to your life?

5. Reinvention Mission Statement.

Create a new mission statement for yourself which will act like a new seed for what's next. Once you get clear, the seed can take root and start to flourish, so that the "winter of change" becomes the spring again.

If you'd like a specific, step-by-step process on this, check out The Art of Reinvention process here.   www.carlarieger.com/online_store/#i00

Are you planning a meeting? Invite Carla Rieger to motivate and entertain your staff or association with the program The Power of Laughter: Managing Change with a Sense of Humor. Click on the link to find out more or call 604-222-2276.

Do you have a story to share? If you have an example of how you used fun or creativity at work please let us know. It just might inspire others. Please email it to carla@artistryofchange.com