Prompts and perspective to decide
If we’ve had a personal conversation or been on some sort of group brainstorming call in the last year and a half or so, you’ve heard me talk about being “mid-pivot.”
Sometimes, lamenting the stagnation of it, sometimes excited about the vision that’s coming together.
For (almost) 5 years now, I’ve been part-time mom, part-time business owner. Even though both take up full-time space in my brain. (IYKYK)
Now, I’m also dividing my time, attention, and relationship-building between my international strategic advising consultancy and my super local community for ambitious moms. (Although, they’re also much more tied than they seem at surface level. And ironically, I’ve connected with lots of people outside of Central Illinois because I’m hosting my local chapter.)
Even tech-wise, since switching my weekly newsletter from MailerLite to Kit, I’ve been halfway set up. Enough to send the newsletter, but not enough to feel organized when I log in. And it’s come with SO many tech support calls. (I STILL can’t reply to someone’s response to my newsletter, or forward the newsletter. It bounces back every time. Tech headaches are actually my least favorite part of running an online business. 😫)
That feeling in the in-between is never good. That’s why the concept of being stuck in purgatory has become a day-to-day metaphor, even for non-Catholics.
So here are a few questions some of the wise women I’ve surrounded myself with have posed to me, that I’m passing along to you—whether you’re mid-pivot, in the middle of an existential crisis, or feeling that icky, sticky indecisiveness bubbling up inside of you.
❓What’s the decision underneath the decision?
➡ Sometimes the problem isn’t what’s staring us in the face. Instead, it’s all the subsequent meaning we attach to that choice or the ripple effect we know will (or think might) happen.
Think: changing career paths, audiences, or offer suites. A marriage or divorce. Entering into motherhood (or closing that chapter of possibility forever). Heavy concepts, not because they need to be inherently, but because we place so much of our identity on these decisions.
❓When you let go, how does that open you up to what’s coming next or something existing that you can commit more of yourself to?
➡ I’ve had 1 foot in so many areas of my life and business without acknowledging I only have 2 feet.
And this goes both ways—if I only have 2 feet, I can’t do EVERYTHING all at once. (Despite my brain rebelling against that logic daily.) It also means that if I only have 1 foot in any given task or path, I’m not giving myself or the people I interact with the benefit of my full self.
❓What’s the best case scenario?
➡ Play out the future with keeping the status quo—which, reminder: is the default reality if you don’t “decide” anything. Then compare that with the decision that could lead to potential change. What’s the best case scenario with either of those paths?
❓Besides the emotional labor, what’s it costing you (and your team, customers, partners, donors, funders, etc.) to be in limbo?
➡ It’s really hard to cling onto an idea, keep you top of mind, or refer you when all you talk about is ethereral vision vibes, not concrete claims. (And yes, this is a note directly to myself too.)
I know how deeply painful (and literally expensive) it is to be blocked in this limbo land, investing in things because it’s how they’ve been, not because it’s how you need or want them to be. (Think: sticking with a tech stack because you feel frozen at the idea of migrating or finding a better solution. Staying with a partner, even when you’ve outgrown the relationship. Keeping old policies, even after you have knowledge and experiences to make them better.)
So that’s why I’ve been wanting to work with clients on exactly that: auditing what’s going on, assessing what could be better and what’s already working well, and then advising on how to actually make those big ideas happen.
All through a values lens…because, of course.
📍 If you feel on the cusp of something big, or mid-transition, or stuck in overthinking spiral, let’s chat via a free Alignment Call. I know good things are on the other side of making, then communicating these values-aligned decisions!
✨ Bonus thoughts on some of these concepts from the Purpose & Progress Podcast archive:
- Episode 28: Reframing A Brand Identity Crisis
- Episode 50: Celebrating Milestones For Continued Momentum
- Episode 59: Living Out Your Brand Values
This is an excerpt from Toward Purpose & Progress, my newsletter where I share business tips, good news, shoutouts to Founder Friends, and other juicy snippets. Subscribe here for more rants, reflections, and resources.
