preparing for the shift

The new year brings with it an inherent spark of freshness and energy - and for me, there's always  anticipation that is pregnant with possibility.

While 2023 brought me gifts and growth beyond what I could have wished or even dreamed of, with any season of massive change there is also disruption to the status quo.

Thus, I have decided the new year is a timely opportunity to "reset the operating system of my life".

 "Have you tried turning it off and on?" - is one of my all-time favourite one-liners. Made famous by "The IT Crowd" - a TV comedy about a corporate IT helpdesk whose standard greeting is to answer the phone with that classic line (which in their case solves most of the routine tech problems).

I still giggle as to this day I find myself saying this to my nearest and dearest, often even attempting to mimic the distinct British accents of Roy and Maurice.

And when it comes to our life, there's a lot of parallels.

While we have holidays, breaks and downtime throughout the year, there's nothing like "turning yourself on and on" and having a complete reboot.

Each year I treasure the holiday season to reflect and disconnect from what's become "normalised" over the year.

Looking back I see that consistently the biggest periods of transformation happen in January.

But that doesn't "just happen" randomly in January for me.

I believe it happens because in December I create space to mull over and think about "what I want to think about" and get clarity on in January.

The intentionality around that is huge.

Turning my gaze to pursue the shift, the clarity, the strength to do something different or new. 

When a PC reboots, it has inherent built-in processes to sort out glitches in a way that it can’t do when it’s running. Or when it’s off. Or even when it’s shutting down. Those processes happen after it’s been turned off, as it’s going through the process of starting up again.

We have "human-reboot" processes built into us too. 

But just like the computer, they can't take place while it's running at full speed. Nor can it happen when you're shutting down completely switched off - they are realised during the "starting up again" process!

So my encouragement is to not wait until January when we are already “in” the new year to think about directing your attention towards the big shifts you’d like to see in your life.

Even in the frenzy of the current season, there are always moments where you can set your gaze forward into the new year - and what I have found enormously powerful in the pre-holiday time is to take the "think about what you want to think about" approach.

Don't think about "the thing" itself too much yet.

Your brain might not be ready for it just yet.

Doing it this way will slow it down, ease you into it, and pave the way for you to be ready at that time when it WILL be open to processing insights, epiphanies, answers, and gentle shifts that will come.

2024 is going to be a momentous year. Yet I’m feeling very ready for it. Unlike any year prior, actually.

How do I know? Because I'm in the thick of one of the stretchiest and most intense seasons of my life and I feel just so much shifting.

I see this in so many of my friends, peers, clients, mentors too. Strong, powerful, amazing people. All really feeling it in this season, many remarking it's a lot more intense than usual at this time of the year.

I'm going ever so so gently right now, and as we all know, sometimes keeping the head above water can be a full-time job!

Yet I have such powerful anticipation for next year, and know that what so many of us are going through is for a reason.

So much is changing, In so many domains. for all of us.

Societally. Technologically. Economically. Culturally. Globally.

And in the midst of us we are all also in a season of massive individual transition.

Personally. Professionally.

Relationally, with many of the people in our immediate spheres. 

I don't think 2024 going to be easy. There's no magic pill that's going to make all the challenges in the world suddenly disappear.

But we can certainly find "our ease" through it.

Despite what is going on around us.

We can find "our power" through it.

And through this amplify the impact we can have.

This is the anticipation I'm feeling for 2024.

And I know from experience that the coming 6 weeks or so are particularly potent for allowing big shifts in our life to start, to surface and to settle.

It's without any doubt consistently been the most powerful and transformative period of each year for my last five years.

And so if you're feeling any stuckness, frustration, agitation or limitation - my encouragement today is to babystep your way towards the transformation.

Here are three steps to help you do this:

1. Reflect intentionally about the area in your life where you want to see the shift. Don't delve into the detail yet - just intentionalise "what you want to think about " in your "thinking time" over the "reboot season" and start to direct your gaze towards that area.
   
   
2. During the reboot season – whether that’s in the holiday season or the first week or two of the new year, create several large “chunks” of thinking time (ideally a couple of hours) where you find a peaceful location and have no agenda but to let your thoughts swirl around that area. Take a notebook. write notes. Draw diagrams. Notice words, and patterns. 
   
   
3. Rinse and repeat every couple of days and over a period of a few weeks you’ll be astounded at what will come up.

If anything comes up for you as you’ve read this that you’d like to share with me, I’d love to hear it, please comment below get in touch via your favourite social platform any and let me know!

All my best,

Here's a list of the ways I can support you in 2024! 

 There's something for all budgets, ages and stages -  I'm truly excited about ALL of them so check them out and see what might you might be ready for!

The Marketing Me Experience LIVE Intensive - Starts February, 8 spots max.
My signature program which takes you through my proven framework of building a compelling and commercial personal brand over 6 weeks, so you get clear and confident on how to use your brand to attract the right people and propel you forward in your business or career. 

 Marketing Me "Express" -  (IRL or Virtual 1-day Workshop)
A One-Day Intensive & Interactive Workshop where you'll walk away with confidence in your Personal Brand & Positioning Strategy, your 6-month content plan directly aligned to your or your professional objectives and your unique 1-hour a-week marketing system tailored to your personality, strengths and situation. (Jan, Feb, March dates available)

Marketing Me Express for Legal Professionals - January (or in-house) 
A Intensive & Interactive Workshop for LEGAL Professionals who want to amplify the connection you have with your clients so you inrease billable hours, referrals and repeat business and attract better clients aligned with your values and culture, and empower your team to be brand ambassadors for your firm.  

Marketing Director "on Demand"
Delivered as either a 1-Day VIP Intensive or a very accessible 12-month retainer with weekly access to world-class strategy, advice, systems and support around what you need, when you need it.

Mess, Magnificence & Motivation 
Monthly life insights and hard-won lessons and hacks that are real, relatable and relevant, delivered in an actionable step-by-step plan that will help you have a happier, more fulfilled, and successful business and life. (Just $5/mth or $60/yr)

 Personal Mentoring (1:1 for 3 months or 12 months) 
We will work together on elements that make up your life and business, to help you create a Life on Your Terms.

Book me to speak at your upcoming conference or event
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