The year 2020 is one we won’t soon forget—if ever. As we head into the final third of the year, many of us are left puzzling over our new definition of normalcy. The one thing everyone can agree on is that our world has changed forever, and the normal we left behind is not likely the one we’ll be returning to.
As a native of New Orleans and someone who experienced the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I can say it’s clear that the storm was a defining moment in the lives of every New Orleanian who lived through it. Every event and story in the city is still gauged as to whether it happened pre-Katrina or post-Katrina. I believe that 2020 has this same defining moment potential in the minds of everyone around the world.
If that’s the case, it’s probably a good time for a bit of introspection. We’re six months into the Covid-19 pandemic. We’ve experienced six months of the virus, quarantines, lockdowns, bankruptcies, fear and uncertainty. Although we’re slightly more knowledgeable in what to expect from the virus itself, there’s still a great deal of uncertainty around just about everything else.
“You become who you choose to be. Yet, fully choosing who you are and will become is rare.”
—Dr Benjamin Hardy, PhD
No matter what is happening in the world or how much we may feel like we’re losing control, one thing you have complete control over is who you want to become through this incredible time of change. We’re on our way to a new world.
Who do you want to be—for yourself, your family and your clients as we reimagine our new “normal?” Above all else, it’s important to be intentional in creating this person you wish to become.
Future + Future Self > The Past
All too often, advisors base their entire self-view, self-worth and their current direction on the past and who they were, rather than on the future they desire, and the person they must become to accomplish their vision. Frequently, they are not even aware that they’re doing this.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
—George Bernard Shaw
The first quality all successful people have in common is a crazy-big vision of what they desire in the future. They visualize this future down to the minutest of details. They don’t just see it—they use all five senses to hear it, smell it, feel it and taste it.
In order to dream crazy-big dreams, you must be able to see past where you are now to something bigger and better. Think about all the times you really excelled at something in your life. It always began with your ability to dream and believe in something more than what you had at the time.
“Man can only receive what he can see himself receiving.”
—Florence Scovel Shinn
All of this dreaming big may have been a little easier for you to do pre-2020 but the best thing you can do for yourself right now is to start dreaming again and don’t be afraid to dream big—even in 2020. Not only is it healthy and productive but it can also be a diversion from the constant doom-and-gloom news and daily corona numbers.
Crank up your dream-big engine again by asking yourself the following questions:
- What do you want in your life and in your business in three to five years?
- What kind of life do you want to be living?
- What’s different about your life?
- Where are you living?
- What do you do for fun?
- Where do you want to be in production?
- What’s different about your book?
- What’s different about your team?
- How are your running your business differently?
- How much time are you taking off?
- What was the biggest change you had to make to reach your goals and dreams?
Now take your dreaming one step further and start visualizing your future self—the person you will have to become to attain the future you’re after. Begin by thinking and feeling as if you’ve already accomplished your goals and you’re living your future life. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How are you different?
- How is your environment different?
- What skills or character traits does your future self have that perhaps you don’t have now or aren’t as developed?
- What are you doing?
- Who are you surrounding yourself with?
- How do you feel?
- What’s the most important thing you do for yourself?
- What was the most important character trait you had to cultivate to succeed in reaching your goals?
- What was the most important character trait you had to work on or lose on your way to success?
To have the future you want, you must grow into the person who can live that future. In fact, the real treasure in working toward your future dreams is not in arriving, but rather in the person you must become in order to arrive. This is where the real growth happens.
Never look in the rearview mirror when working toward your future dreams. Most people are living on a continuous loop of the past. If your vision is future-based then everything you do should be pointed in that direction. When you can begin to visualize and feel a new future through all five senses, you’ll find your behavior begins to change. A change in behavior is always a precursor to a change in your life. The person you used to be or even the person you are now isn’t going to get you to your vision for the future. It’s the “you” that’s growing and evolving into your future that will be the one to get you there.
This is why it is so important to know, and know well both the future you’re after and the future self you must become to get there.
“It’s your responsibility to set your future self up for as much opportunity, success and joy as possible. This is how you become the person and create the life you want, rather than becoming someone with regret.”
—Dr Benjamin Hardy, PhD
It’s always easier to dwell on a past we’ve already lived through than it is to visualize a future we dare to dream of. The world needs you more than ever right now. Your clients need you more than ever right now. As challenging as 2020 has been, as advisors we all know that the greater the challenge, the greater opportunity. Now is your time and this is your chance to get ahead of the changes happening all around us by focusing on changing you into your future self. True and lasting change always begins within.
World-renowned tennis coach Steve Clark once said, “There is no growth in a comfort zone and there is no comfort in a growth zone.” Where are you in 2020?