Several weeks ago, I had some free time at the end of a shift. As I sat there pondering what to work on in the remaining few hours, I hit a wall. I mean, I really hit a wall. Some people get writer’s block. I got project block. I left work that evening feeling frustrated and a bit lost. I spent some time thinking about what had happened and what went wrong. What I discovered served as a reminder of the importance of vision, and how it extends beyond just the corporate level.
Generally speaking, airplanes share a corporate vision (takeoff, remain airborne, and land). However, not all planes are the same, and not all accomplish the mission in the same manner. Regardless, it’s good to have a flight plan before takeoff. It’s also good to know your plane (how much cargo your plane can safely handle, how much fuel you need, and so on). Without a flight plan and knowledge of the plane, you might end up crashing. That’s exactly what happened to me.
Leading up to my free time on shift, I had taken on too much “cargo”. I had said ‘yes’ to too many projects. It weighed me down and I struggled to takeoff that day. Once airborne, I was left with an ill-defined flight plan, I got lost, and then I crashed. I knew myself (my plane), but was lacking in the vision department. Has something like that ever happened to you?
If you like reading, I highly recommend “48 Days to theWork You Love” (Dan Miller). The short of it is to know yourself…what you enjoy, what you’re good at, what you gravitate towards…and then apply that to what you focus on in your work. I really believe the world is a better place when people are doing work they enjoy. That last word is really important.
So what do you like to do? What gets you excited or motivated, even when you’re lacking in sleep on Midnight shifts, or up at two in the morning to prepare for a morning shift? What do you enjoy teaching, or encouraging, others in? What are you so passionate about that sometimes you inadvertently burn bridges? (I've done this before). What are you good at (don’t be too modest)? What do people regularly compliment you on? The answers may offer a great foundation for what to focus on moving forward.
In thinking through those questions, you may find that you are already doing what you enjoy and are good at. There’s still something to be said about being on a good road…AND knowing it. On the flip side, you may find an explanation for not feeling very motivated, for feeling discouraged, or why you have been “crashing” at times like I have.
Don’t let me lose you here. A vision doesn’t have to be a 12-step program that’s developed over months of agonizing thought and planning. Think of it as a simple “blueprint” for what to focus on when you have some extra time on shift, or which areas of the country you might be willing to work. It can help you better know what to say yes to and what to say no to. I’ve found that to be one of the most helpful benefits.
Visions aren’t just about us, though. Having a “flight plan” can also provide a better service. Think about it this way. A flight attendant, who also knows how to fly a plane, may not be providing the best service if he or she says yes to both at the same time. Consider, too, that saying yes to something you can do, but don’t enjoy, may keep someone else from saying yes (someone who is capable AND enjoys it). It could even be that the person could provide a better service than you.
As a personal example, one area I really enjoy is finding
ways to keep the science foundation of our (the NWS’) service solid. I enjoy
being innovative, and practical, with the application of science in operations
and messaging. When opportunities in this area come up, I tend to say yes
whenever possible. However, over the years, I have also tended to say yes to
other areas, some of which I don’t enjoy as much. There are times we won’t
enjoy every single aspect of our jobs, but there’s a balance. We can’t say yes
to everything. Knowing my vision…what I’m good at, what I enjoy, etc. has
helped me to better prioritize opportunities that arise. I still take on some
things that are less enjoyable, but I’m finding a better balance that has made
“crashing” less common. It has also been very encouraging and motivating.
I want to take a brief moment to hit on something many of
us are dealing with right now. Knowing what to focus on is great, but hard
times, like the current era of COVID, can really be a damper. Sometimes it can
be hard to think about the future, and what to focus on, when there’s an extra
layer of uncertainty or negativity. For example, you may really enjoy in-person outreach
(school talks, partner visits, etc.). It’s kinda hard to focus on that when we
don’t know when those types of opportunities will come back. I’m learning,
right alongside everyone else, how to think about the future with the COVID
asterisks. For now, I’ve landed on focusing on what I can, while still planning
and preparing for the return of other focus areas. I realize some of those
areas may not return, or at least not in the same manner, but I think some of
that will just have to be handled along the way. For you, maybe it's something other than COVID. Maybe you are surrounded by people
who think your ideas are silly or impractical, or perhaps there's a
general lack of passion in your circle. I don’t have all the answers
here, but I want to acknowledge the added difficulty that hard times have on what we
focus on. It may sound cliche, but don't give up. Hang on to your passions and see where they can be put to use, even if that means waiting to use them.
Visions (what we focus on) give direction and clarity; and can provide a positive outlook as you move forward, even during tough and uncertain times. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but can make a world of difference not only for you, but also for those around you and those you serve.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/vision-quotes
"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can." - Neil Gaiman
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” - Joel A. Barker
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/vision-quotes
