Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Over the summer I’ve been listening to the Books, Beach & Beyond podcast, where all kinds of writers are interviewed about their journey to where they are now, what they write, how they write, and why they write.

I love it.

A question the hosts often ask is this one: Are you a plotter (plans out everything in detail before they start writing), or a pantser (starts with an idea and lets it unfold as they go)?

The answers vary hugely. Both types exist and are successful - there’s no right way or best way - but they definitely know which one they are.

It feels like this question is useful in so many more contexts! How do we like to approach the story of our lives? Our work? Our play?

What's your Career Anchor?

What's your Career Anchor?

A number of years into my corporate career, we did an assessment to find out our Career Anchors.

Mine was Lifestyle, which I was absolutely mortified by at the time. How unprofessional of me!

Was I not committed enough? Driven enough? Would my company think I wasn’t serious about my career and development?

It felt embarrassing. Definitely something to keep very quiet and try to change.

And yet…

It was so very accurate. And so very useful.

The gift of a clear brief

The gift of a clear brief

Back in the day, when I was a brand manager on Lucozade Sport, one of my favourite things to do was write a brief.

It was a collaborative process, and I loved weaving together the threads to help tell the story of the brand:

  • What was it about?

  • Where had it come from and where was it now?

  • Where did it want to go, and why?

It was so useful to take the learning from the past and use it to shape the future.

And also to be specific about the edges - what was in and what was out, what was fixed and what was flexible.

What helps you get your bearings?

What helps you get your bearings?

For 3 days recently, part of my daily commute was a walk from London Victoria to Marble Arch, through a sunny Hyde Park.

It’s not a route I’ve done before, and it’s safe to say I’m not a natural navigator. I’m terrible at finding my way to new places on my own the first time (and often a few times after that!).

In the past I’ve judged myself for this. It felt like a weakness I should be able to fix.

Now I use Maps.

Just because you started...

Just because you started...

I have been a great completer finisher in my life.

Sometimes when it really would have been wiser to stop.

I’ve trained through injury, I’ve stayed too long in roles that no longer fit me, I’ve chosen to ‘push through’ when really, I needed to stop and regroup.

 

I’ve also started things that felt like a wonderful idea at the time - before I realised what the process would be like - and then felt I had to see it through.

 

So, it’s been a complete gift to realise that I don’t have to finish everything I start.

And that I often learn just as much from the things I stop as the things I complete.

It’s all useful data.

Is it about doing less, or focusing more?

Is it about doing less, or focusing more?

Does it feel like you have too many things to do?

An overwhelming to do list?

With not enough time in the day to get it done?

When we step into a larger space - in our work or life - it can feel as though there’s a lot more to do, all at once.

It can be hard to work out what we need to hold onto, and what we can let go of.

Especially if we’ve been praised and rewarded for being someone who gets a lot of stuff done.

It's time for a mid-year review

It's time for a mid-year review

It’s the middle of the year.

A half way point.

A beautiful time to take a step back and look both ways.

To appreciate the progress you’ve made so far, to focus on what’s to come.

When we’re busy in our lives and work, we can forget to pause, to see the bigger picture, to put things into perspective.

And yet it’s so important.

One of my favourite quotes from Danielle North sums this up, “If you never stop to ask yourself how you are doing, how will you ever really know where you are going?”