Like | Don't Like

What do you do if you don't know what to do?

Three weeks into the new year and so many of us are already at a crossroads.

That’s been the theme I’m seeing in several conversations with people this week. People at all different levels of their careers and different points in their lives.

I keep hearing the same phrase: “I don’t know what to do next.”

Well, if you’re saying those exact words, or words like them, congratulations. Because it’s the first step to finding your next move.

Not sure.

Maybe this will help you see what I mean.

There’s a little exercise I do with my coaching clients called “Like | Don’t Like.”

It’s as simple as it is powerful.

Using a notebook or a piece of paper (or whatever digital thing you like) make two columns.

Column one, on the left, on the top write, “Like.”

Column two, on the right, at the top write, “Don’t Like.”

The task? Start paying attention to the things in your day that you like.

And the things you don’t.

Write them down in the appropriate column.

For example, maybe your list will look something like this:

Like…

-Talking to people

-Helping them come up with solutions

-Blog writing

Don’t Like…

-Looking after a P&L

-Stressing about clients

-Hustling for new business

Those were a few of the items from my actual Like|Don’t Like list I wrote a few years ago.

It eventually inspired me to go into coaching.

Think about it for you. Start paying attention and begin writing stuff down.

Like.

Don’t like.

I’ll bet dollars to donuts that somewhere on these lists you’ll find the answer to the statement, “I don’t know what to do next.”