Powerful Lessons I’ve Learned in 2021 That Will Make 2022 Even Better

2021 has been a year of tremendous growth. My training business crossed the 10th year mark, and that coincided with the best year in revenue. However, more important than business growth, what really matters is how have I grown as a person? Who I have become through the course of 2021 that manifested the results?

Growth #1: Becoming a Better Leader

As our business have growth, I’ve had to expand and grow the team. I was at first apprehensive about my ability to lead my company, and as the team grew even bigger, I felt the stress. I asked myself, “𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳?”

❓ Can I trust others enough to delegate well?

❓ Can I bring the best out of my team members?

❓ How can I get out of the way of the team? Provide them opportunities to shine, and NOT be the bottleneck?

Although it was not without initial challenges, to my surprise, it has been something that I’ve come to enjoy.

The philosophy I’ve developed for my business is “The purpose of a business is to bring vitality. It should bring more life to the clients we serve, as they transform and grow. It should help team members shine and flourish not just as employees, but as human beings as well. It should also spark joy in the suppliers, associates and partners we work with.”

I am proud that I was able to live this philosophy and my values as I grow as a leader, and keep my small team engaged. This is the kind of work environment that I never had when I was working in the corporate world, and I am proud to be able to provide it for my team.

Growth #2: Strengthening Emotional Resilience and Management of my Moods

While Covid19 rocked and shocked the world in 2020, it would appear that 2021 is a false dawn. After people have been working from home for some time, they were like birds out of cages when face-to-face events started coming back.

However, I did notice that people have become less patient (in general, and with each other), more easily triggered emotionally (perhaps due to underlying anxieties from Covid19 and job security). There have been times I’ve been openly criticised during my speeches and my workshops, or even had to mediate in fights between participants of my workshops when emotions run high.

On top of that, I’ve had friends who called me in the middle of the night to speak, who would pour out their pains. They can be from marital issues, to challenges in business, or simply anxiety over the jobs. I’m just grateful that these friends had the trust in me, and that by providing a listening ear I could help them. Though I would never have guessed the challenges they were going through, just by looking at their bright, shiny social media shares.

With these challenges, I’ve gained a keener awareness of my own emotional needs, developed a deeper level of compassion for others, while still maintaining my personal “psychological shield” so that I do not absorb the negative emotions. Being a whole-hearted person who is passionate about all my speaking, training and coaching engagements, I’m proud that I’ve been able to develop this emotional resilience and the ability to manage my own moods.

Growth #3: Learning to Nurture my Inner Child

Personally, I’ve not travelled in more than 2 years, and being an avid traveller, my mind is craving for that stimulation again! While the VTLs provided travel opportunities, the uncertainties with new variants, and the variants measures and restriction, I decided it was just too much of a hassle. When I travel I want unrestricted freedom.

While I was meeting my business and financial goals, my inner child was crying out for the opportunity to play.

That opportunity came unannounced, when I received a call one day from a client of mine, who had booked a suite at a luxury hotel for a staycation with his wife, but had to give it up because of a family emergency. I thought to myself, WHY NOT?

However, I was pleasantly surprised by how that short staycation had woke up the epicurean in me. I thoroughly enjoyed the stay, and the good food, fine wine and great service that came with it.

My inner child had been let out to play, and he loooooved it!

Reflecting on the experience, I realised that as much as I enjoy good food and fine wine, I’ve often greeted it with guilt, telling myself things like “think of the starving African children” or “be careful of getting addicted to sugar and alcohol!” It was my subconscious mind keeping a limitation on the joy and abundance that I felt I deserved. It was keeping my inner child trapped.

Embracing that I DO INDEED enjoy good food and fine wine, I then realised that my best clients and friends do in fact share the same interest! This realisation helped me to stop judging my inner child, and let it come out fully to play.

It led to my best quarter in business ever.

Intentions for 2022

I am not one for setting New Year Resolutions. I prefer to create ways of being. With the lessons I’ve learned in 2021, I endeavour to be more conscious with the choices I make and activities I say YES to. To better protect my time and my emotions, I always ask myself the following questions:

• Does this spark joy in me? Does it make me come alive?
• Is it the best use of my unique gifts?
• Does this bring me closer to my goals in life, business, health and relationships?

Here’s to a GREATER 2022 to you!