The game is the journey, not the destination

1. Write yourself a letter. Get a pen and write yourself a postcard or a letter for six months' time. This is something we do at Up Fest (albeit we mail it in three months not six) and I'm always so intrigued to know what my slightly younger self was thinking about. It's a great way of zooming out, and it may provide you with more insight than you first realise.

2. Admit now what you know to be true. My favourite management question: "What do you know to be true now that you will admit to yourself in six months?"

That team member that you know won't make the grade? Cut them now. That job you're in that you know you need to leave? Bite the bullet.

It's a great one to try with your team too.

3. Decide what you're really good at. Write down what's working well in your team, and where you're adding loads of value. Is that how you're spending your time? Can you double down on anything?

4. Sort out your reds. This week, an amazing leader told me to focus more on my "reds and ambers" than my greens. He told me to write down every stakeholder, and colour code them- to identify who my greens, ambers, and reds are. We naturally spend more time with our greens and lean towards them, but really- the investment needs to be with those that might be blocking you and could have the most impact. Keep your friends close and all that.

5. What do you need to let go of? For years my development plans talked about learning to code. I was working in tech and it felt like a really sensible move and something that interested me. Guess what... I never found the time. Either I didn't care enough about it, or there simply were not enough hours in the day. Whatever the truth was, I should have struck it off that delusional list of personal development points way sooner than I did.

If there's something that you've been meaning to do for a really long time, either do it, or be kind to yourself- let it go.