I hope that your new year's celebration kicked off 2021 to a great start! I'm not sure how I saw far fewer people than usual between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day but still managed to eat just as many Christmas cookies if not more this time. (I would try to deny it, but any of my non-elastic-waist pants would dime me out.)
This holiday season was quieter than past years for sure, but for me that provided the gift of time and space to do some reflection and make some choices about the year ahead, some of which I want to share with you today. (I'll tell you about the mindset-shifting book I'm reading down below… keep going!)
Yes, 2020 was a year full of negative energy, from a pandemic that wreaked havoc on families and organizations and left everyone feeling isolated and disconnected, to an election that continues to force people to choose sides in an erroneously contrived and ultimately destructive “us-them” environment, adding to the isolation and disconnect. Most people finished 2020 feeling, at best… STUCK, not knowing what to do, where to go, or how to get there.
That's why one thing that became clear for me is that my theme for 2021 is “Clarity and Transformation.”
No transformation is possible without clarity. We must get clear on:
- what we want and need (an important distinction!)
- why we want or need it
- what our real, core message is for others (not the emotional rant, or the unfocused data-dump), and
- clear on what we're doing to get in our own way of getting our message heard, and getting the results we want
(Hint: a big part of that last one is that we're NOT clear on the other three.)
For me, getting clear on these issues helped me realize where I've been playing small in business and why I've been afraid to take the steps I know I need to take to make the quantum leap I want to make. It has also helped me see where I've been holding myself back in a few personal areas. (Much of this came from the book I mentioned… don't worry, I'll get to that in a minute!)
For my business, my 2021 transformation begins with a new vision statement, or the “WHY” for Vocal Impact Productions: “To bring greater peace, prosperity and happiness to the world by helping more people feel heard and understood.” Yes, my work is in leadership communication, but that's just HOW to get to the big WHY. Better communication skills help increase clarity, which promotes understanding. Contextual evidence of this may include getting a job/promotion, increased sales, being a better public speaker, and improved team cohesion or organizational culture. Each of these contributes to greater peace, prosperity and happiness, fulfilling the WHY.
My upcoming 2021 initiatives will all contribute to this transformational WHY. I'll share more about them another time.
Here are some ways to begin your OWN year of Clarity and Transformation:
First, this week's podcast guest is Janet Salazar, the President and Executive Chairman of the Foundation for the Support of the United Nations. My all-time favorite pearl of wisdom from Janet's interview was that “listening is the antidote to conflict.”
Think communication is “complicated” in your world? Every day Janet engages ambassadors and other stakeholders from countries and cultures around the globe. Tune in HERE to listen to more of her inspirational guidance on how to engage diverse groups and bring them together around common goals.
As always if there is a C-level executive that you think should join our podcast guest list, please email me at info@laurasicola.com
You can listen to Janet's interview.
Second, are you looking for a book to give you a simultaneous reality check and kick in the pants to get out of your own way? Over the holiday break I've been reading Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. Although it's neither a quick read nor a new discovery (original publication was in 1960), it is THE seminal work on how the mind can sabotage success (no matter how self-aware we think we are) and how to take control back, to “steer the ship” toward greater success and happiness.
Think that sounds a little too “woo-woo” for you (and even for what you'd expect from me)? If you are a fan of leaders like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, and Jack Canfield, or espouse ideas like the Law of Attraction (whether or not you liked “The Secret”), or even the power of positive thinking, you should know: They're all built on the fundamental principles explained in Psycho-Cybernetics. Check it out.
Finally, if you're looking for something that will give you immediate, transformational results, I'm sharing my “New Year/New Virtual You” 2021 opportunity: an exclusive offer for all of you for my brand new online course, Virtual Influence. If you want to project your best, most confident and expert “in-person” self every time you're on video, so you continue to engage your audience, feel confident, and get the results you want, use the code NYNVY21 to receive 20 percent off of the course. To learn more visit virtualinfluence.today .
I look forward to all of us having a fabulous 2021!
Here's to your success,
Laura
PS: Last year my personal LinkedIn page grew tremendously thanks in part to many of you. If you haven't connected with me on my LinkedIn Business page, I invite you to link with me there too. Many times my LinkedIn Business page contains important information that you may not see on my personal page. Check it out!
