It's 2025 halftime, and I've been thinking a lot about the ladders we are climbing. Where are you heading? Is it where you intended?
Many of you are navigating so much change, both inside and outside of work and the pace isn't letting up. With continued demands and shrinking margin, it is easy to just keep grinding it out, day by day, and not have the time to peak above the consant stream of activities to make sure we are headed where intended. And if what we intended is still working.
So, as summer rolls in, hopefully that will allow a little down time to assess if you are still on the intended path. Are you climbing the best ladder for you (vs what peers are doing or family/friends are expecting)? And is your ladder leaning against a wall that still makes sense (at work or play, in your community or where you volunteer)?
For me, I am better at assessing the ladder vs the wall. It often takes me a bit more time to figure out when the wall is no longer working. Here are some of the signs that help me realize it is time to pause, assess and determine if it is time make a change:
- I get frustrated quickly, often on small matters
- I feel like I am swimming against the current (vs flowing with the current)
- I am more critical and less patient with others and myself
- Time no longer flies and there is less joy in the doing
- I question my contribution
- I am off purpose
If any of these things ring true for you, maybe it is time to pause and check your ladder. Or the wall. Or both! And as you do, I hope this poem may encourage you
Ladders to Nowhere
Where are you headed? On the best way?
So often we choose, and eventually lose, as our ladder was confused
Mistaken for someone else - their ladder has a shelf
Yours looks different, unique and true
to the purpose placed inside of you
Perhaps a pause, before one more rung
Look at your cause and what you've begun
Make sure where you're headed is where you should be
And if not, no worries, it's not too late to see
See if your ladder, belongs to someone else
Then set it aside and put down the shelf
Move over and on to a much better fit
Soon you'll be climbing and will feel the lift
Notice the ease, on purpose, and pleased
Exactly where the world needs you to be
On your ladder to what's next - powerful and free
Where are you headed? On the best way?
My hope is you'll pause and reflect on this today
