#6 Tricky Question - How Have You Grown in the Past Year?

I received this prompt in the First Draft which is a writing group on Farcaster and I usually don't write to prompts because I write about how to build better businesses and companies, but this one kind of stuck.🙄

Why? - Because it is tricky question that most overachiever A-types don't know how to answer. Well, unless they've taken the company public or landed on the moon. 

I have never considered myself overachiever, just a normally ambitious person, but even I have problem to answer questions like this.

Why is that? - I mean, certainly I have learned something, I've done something useful for someone, I helped someone (that's why I coach female and tech founders in different programs), I've achieved some of my goals and lost some battles which taught me something, haven't I! Hmm... 

Here's the trick how to think about it that helped me over the years; 

- After such question, most of us start immediately thinking, omg what happened this year. What did I do so interesting or memorable that I have grown? 

- And these are natural but wrong questions. The best question that works for me since I started using it about a decade ago is: "What has occupied my mind the most in this past year/quarter/month?"

This simple reframing gets everyone unstuck. At least everyone I know said that it helped them to immediately see what's happening. 

Now, answer to this question is not your real answer to our tricky question "How have you grown", but it's the most likely area of your growth that you need to examine. 

For me - issues that most occupied my mind past year are my divorce, my 3y old daughter that's living in different country as a result, and financial issues related to this messy situation.

This is not how I have grown, but I've certainly learned some lessons which helped me grow (maybe): 

- I feel I've learned to be more present and focused as a parent since my time with my daughter is limited.

- I feel it also helped me to be more focused and present in other social or work situations.

- I've certainly re-prioritised a lot of things.

- And I've learned that mindfulness is not just a word, regularly practiced along with physical exercise iy can get you through any life situation because it helps you reframe things into different light. Even initially hopelessly looking things.

- I've also learned that you can make real friends online even though most people just come and go when there's something in it for them.

- ... and some more which relate to work. 

You see, it's not about building a rocket or taking the company public. Quite the opposite - a lot of times it's about the mess and not very glorious moments that teach you something if you give them a chance through that moment of reflection.

How about you - How have you grown in the past year? Feel free to share and join me on nets below.

You can also join me and FirstDraft on Farcaster! And find me on Twitter/X or LinkedIn!

Till tomorrow! 🤠