The winter of 2007-2008 in the Northern Hemisphere has been an incredible challenge. Snow and Flu have been the top topics of conversation in the workplace. The change of seasons from winter to spring is most welcomed.In keeping with the seasonal theme of renewal, it is a good time to review your plans for 2008 and renew your commitment to actions that will contribute to your Vision. What are you currently doing to remind you daily of your Vision and objectives?

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Earlier in my career, I was excited to get back to work to share party stories with co-workers and show off new clothes that I received for Christmas. I was excited to have a change of pace and a sense of settling back into a routine after weeks of frantic shopping, partying, and trying to pull-off the perfect Christmas decorating scheme. The tension in my shoulders and head built up as the holidays encroached on my normal routine. The pressure was unrelenting. Once Christmas was over, I was on to cleaning up the house for the New Year. There was no time for reflection; nor any inclination to do so.

Now, as a mature business owner, I am excited to get back to work to share the stories of connecting with family, friends, and my Self; to share new insights, ideas, and fresh enthusiasm for what I envision for 2008. The sense of settling back into a routine has been replaced by a sense of creating and moving forward. Paradoxically, a flu bug extended time for Self-reflection and cleaning house physically, mentally, and spiritually. The space that has opened up as a result of de-cluttering has given me fresh perception and renewed enthusiasm to share my insight and revelations with clients, colleagues, and everyone who will give me the gift of their time to listen.

A best practice (aka tradition) that I continue to honour is cleaning house for the New Year. As a tradition, I tackled this task literally. I physically cleaned the house and paid bills before the New Year. No longer a traditional task, cleaning house is a now a best practice. Yes, I still physically clean and de-clutter my environment. However, I now extend the ritual to include clearing emotional stuff and de-cluttering my mind. The additional physical, emotional, and spiritual space sets up a suitable environment for reflecting, creating my Vision, and setting intentions (not resolutions, not expectations) for the new year.

My Vision for 2008 includes: shaking up the workplace; contributing to making the workplace a better place – for everyone; and witnessing a shift in perception for as many people as possible from – I have to work – to – I want to work.

• How will you contribute to making your workplace a better place – for everyone?
• What are you willing to do to shake up your workplace to make it a better place?
• How will you feel to wake up wanting to go to work?

I believe that the Global Positioning System (GPS) has arrived just in time for people like me. I begin my journey thinking that I know exactly where I am going only to end up at a completely different destination.

I embarked on my personal and professional development journey many years ago. My route and time-line for each destination on my life-long journey was well planned. However, my journey has included several detours that have taken me over unfamiliar terrain, caused delays, and tested my ability to stay on track.

One memorable detour was an opportunity to go off the beaten path. This detour was the scenic route: a long pleasurable scenic route as I launched my consulting business in 1992 and nurtured a new rewarding relationship. When the time was right, I added professional coaching accreditation as an exciting new destination. I enthusiastically calculated a new route and time-line.

Then, a second and devastating detour. I was taken off my meticulously planned route by the sudden illness and the passing of my father followed by additional responsibilities for my mother’s care and the basic need to take care of myself.

This detour was not the scenic route!

For most of us, detours can be unsettling with difficult unfamiliar terrain, anxiety, and lost time. Even necessary pit-stops become an annoyance. We are anxious to make up lost time. Like children, we ask “When will we get there?”

When finally we do reach our destination, we appreciate that we arrived safely. Perhaps, we acknowledge and appreciate that we had the opportunity to see the landscape from a different viewpoint.That is very much how I feel about my personal and professional development journey.

These two detours in particular have provided opportunities to experience pivotal insights. Fortunately, I can appreciate that these insights enriched my overall experience as I arrived at not one, but several exciting destinations in 2007:

1. Contributing author to the book Awakening the Workplace, Volume II
2. Division P Toastmasters Evaluation Champion and 3rd Place at the District level
3. International Coach Federation Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accredited designation.

I am grateful and pleased to say that I arrived safely. I am ready to move on in my journey using my own internal form of GPS to guide me in plotting my route and defining my time-line.

Detours are inevitable. Attention to our family, our work, and our own self-care are necessary detours. I invite you to consider how you can re-frame detours in your personal and professional journey as opportunities to experience the landscape from a different viewpoint. If you get off track, simply recalculate your route and time-line. Above all, arrive safely!

PS: GPS is really helpful.