Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much – Helen Keller
It’s been a fabulous, eventful and productive (and yes, exhausting if I am honest) three weeks in my office and I want to thank everyone who has been so incredibly patient with me – both on a personal and professional level.
Most weeks are eventful admittedly, but the last few… well, they have been extra-special. Why?
An incredible opportunity has been seized. The next step in the journey has definitively been taken; a feeling of THE plan coming together grows ever stronger. And while on many levels this makes me want to shut the door, close the blinds and jump up and down on my desk and shriek ‘yippee!!’, at the same time, would I say it’s been easy?
Not all the time, to be absolutely honest.
It’s required commitment, focus and a hell of a lot of hard work. It has required pull on my intellect, my courage and mental and physical energy reserves that I wasn’t even aware I had.
Three weeks.
There are two words that my mentor has used which spring to mind when I think about this time.
‘Together alone’.
The together side of the equation is one of positivity; drawing on my family to support me whilst working as many hours as I can to deliver to an incredibly short deadline. The ability to engage with other experts and thought leaders and having them share their incredible stories on the back of my vision. Being able to trust in new partnerships and strategic alliances. Allowing myself to be vulnerable with others on the roller coaster ride of supply. Above all, being grateful to my amazing friends and colleagues for giving me the time and space to create and ultimately deliver.
Then, there’s the alone.
At the end of the day… the buck stops with me. I have had to make decisions and choices over the last few weeks (some of which may, in hindsight, have been the wrong decisions) which were incredibly difficult. Alone, because sometimes it doesn’t matter how much support and encouragement you have, only you know exactly where your focus lies. Only you can measure your determination. Only you can manage your time, slap yourself through that energy ebb, throw down that umpteenth cup of coffee. Only you know how much you ultimately want it.
Only you can know what it is that can get you through the down times to reboot your brain, your emotions and your heart to feed the vault of inspiration.
Phase one of this part of the journey is just about complete, and thankfully, the alone time is also almost done. The work continues but the chance to see the fruits of success are so close that I can smell, see, touch and taste them.
And what will I remember most about this time?
Not the alone half of those two words.
But the together.
And therein lies most of the success.
