Each of us have a professional breakout moment. If we allow ourselves to take that first, minute – possibly hesitant – step forward.
That first step, our permission to allow ourselves to move one millimeter beyond our current professional comfort levels, is all that is involved. Yet that single, tiny millimeter forward represents the most daunting professional distance any of us ever will traverse.
Why is that?
Because, as we move forward, we face our professional fears, our baggage and bias. We address all the garbage we drag around with us, each and every day. And, let’s face it, we do a pretty good job of being high-functioning, high achieving professionals.
Except we are not fooling ourselves one bit, are we?
So why rock our own, professional boats by targeting our professional breakout moment?
As Professional of Worth, we are comfortable being continuously uncomfortable. We eschew professional complacency, and inspire, encourage, mentor and coach others to do the same.
Our professional DNA is hard-wired to continuously target becoming better and better.
Which is why, in spite of our best practices at our own professional development, we sometimes come face-to-face with that one millimeter distance we have yet to traverse. That “something,” “someone,” or “somewhere” we are reluctant to go.
Yet, we continue to rationalize our reasons for avoiding the single thing on our professional horizons which gives us reasons for Pause.
So, we continue to hold ourselves back. Instead of moving that one millimeter forward beyond our current professional comfort levels. As a result, we short-sell, short-change, and perhaps even rob, ourselves of yet-undiscovered Possibilities and Opportunities.
The single step we decide to move forward becomes our Professional Breakout Moment.
The fascinating aspect of achieving our Professional Breakout Moment is that, once achieved, our next steps are easier. We are relieved and liberated. At that point, we accelerate our trajectory forward. Subsequently, we embrace our continuous professional improvement.
Our path of professional innovation is never easy. Then again, our breakout moment yields even more remarkable and enduring outcomes. Serving our clients is never any more difficult than we decide to make it.
Just. Stop. Holding. Yourself. Back. From moving one millimeter forward.
That single decision we wrestle with – and then decide to take – is revelatory. Ultimately, our professional breakout moment leads us to professional innovation and professional wisdom.
That single decision is your breakout moment. And I am honored to speak to your team, organization or association about how to take your first, and subsequent, steps forward. One Millimeter at a time.
Start moving one millimeter forward, today.
- Engage me to speak or conduct an interactive workshop at your next corporate or association event.
- Has what you read Today started you Thinking about tomorrow? Contact me. Let’s create a One Millimeter Mindset™ program that fits your needs.
- Subscribe to my blog. Share your email address in the red box in the right column. Never miss another insightful post.
Babette Ten Haken delivers her One Millimeter Mindset™ keynotes, breakout sessions and workshops to help individuals, teams, organizations and associations leverage productive and profitable collaboration to catalyze professional innovation, workforce engagement and customer retention. Babette Ten Haken serves organizations as an inspiring speaker, strategist, coach and storyteller. She is a STEM-trained scientist, corporate catalyst and design thinker. Babette’s playbook of collaboration tools, Do YOU Mean Business?, is available on Amazon. She is a member of SME, ASQ, SHRM and the National Speakers Association.
Image source: Fotolia
Leave a Reply