How to determine you’re at a turning point?

I’m at a turning point.

And before I continue with my turning point, let’s talk a little about yours. When you receive this email, 2022 is about ten days old. You may find my next question stupid, but it’s not.

How were the first ten days of this year?

Have you made progress and moved in the right direction? Did you live up to your intentions so far?

Or are you falling into your old traps, and are things more of the same?

I’m asking because a good start is crucial. To your day, to your projects, to your year.

Just pause and be honest for a second.

This is the moment to course correct and create your turning point. Before some of your old habits kick in again.

Most people fall back in their old patterns around this time. As my former fitness trainer Mike would say around this time of the year: “Erik, don’t worry. The fitness tourists are about to leave the building for the last time and will never return”.

His message to you?

Don’t be a fitness tourist in your life.

Back to my turning point.

I’ve had a few in my life, and here’s another one that pops up at the start of 2022. 2021 was, after all, a good year. I’ve learned some significant lessons, and that’s what I’m most pleased about.

Andy from Headspace often refers to the fact that we can’t be happy all the time, but we can try to find a deeper sense of contentment. I’ve found that level of contentment in 2021.

That doesn’t mean everything is perfect, far from that, but I know where I’m heading.

And that also doesn’t mean there won’t be any choices to be made anymore. There are still plenty to make.

Will I focus full-time on creating my online business model?

Will I continue to serve large corporate clients?

Who’s my target group? Are those the C-suite leaders, the team leaders searching for their growth, or individuals working through their own turning points?

What gives me the greatest fulfillment, and what brings money to the table?

What do I love to do if I cut out the noise around me and simply look when my energy peaks and I feel enjoyment?

Lots of questions in search of answers.

Whenever I’m in a stage where I have to make choices, I leverage the four questions from the Ikigai model:

• What do I love?
• What am I good at?
• What can I get paid for?
• What does the world need?

I’m pretty clear on the answers to three of the four questions. I know what I love, I know what I’m good at, I know what the world needs.

I also know that I can get paid for it.

So what’s the problem you’re probably asking yourself now?

It’s letting go of work that answers the first three questions, delivers more money short term, but it’s not what the world needs at this moment.

The world does not need more money-making transformations.

The CEOs of those businesses will definitely disagree with me, but if we step back for a second, it’s not what the world needs.

I’m not naive to think that it will stop. It’s the inherent nature of capitalism and economic pressures.

Bigger and More still matter.

So will I continue to help make those executives more money and earn a decent amount of money myself, or will I invest my time in what the world needs?

Helping leaders discover and live through their own turning points.

That’s my turning point.

Your turn: What’s your turning point?

Let’s start the discussion…

Do more of what makes you happy!

Erikjan

PS. My personal growth webinar will now take place on Thursday the 20th of January at 2 pm CET. Sign-up below.