Last fall, I was talking with a client who'd just received her 2023 goals - which included a goal to double the sales her team produced to $500 million in sales in 2023. With any big goal like this, her response was typical - excitement followed by doubt and and worry. She wondered how they would be able to accomplish this? Along with her revenue goal, she discussed her career path with her leader and in addition to her team's growth, her role and title would be likely to advance as well. On our call, her basic question was this: How in the world can I ensure success with all of this? I want you to ask yourself the same question I asked my client: What would $500 million dollar you do? What does she NO LONGER do? Like I told my client, you cannot be a $500 million dollar leader with $200 million dollar habits. If you want to level up at work, you create the new results you want with a new identity, mindset and habits.

• If you want to be in the C-Suite - think, act, decide and lead like a chief now.

• If you want to be a $500 million dollar producer, sell, network, and prioritize like one now.

• If you want to be a published author, keep the writing habits of one now (I may have had to use this tip ;) )

As a leader, you can’t develop your team to a higher level than you’ve developed yourself. So, every new level will require a higher level of you. So, who is future you? How will you start being her now? What can you do today that your future self will thank you for?

PUT THIS IDEA INTO ACTION

Reflect on a goal you have for this year. It could be a sales goal, promotion goal, well-being goal, project goal, etc. For example, when I was writing my book, I had a goal to be an author, so I'll use that example below. 1. Imagine what future you does:

• How does you make decisions?

• What do you say yes to? No to?

• Where do you spend your time? NOT spend your time?

• Who do you hire for help?

• Who do you network with?

• What habits does your team keep?

• What boundaries do you set?

2. Imagine how future you feels:

• How do you take care of yourself? Physically and emotionally?

• Who do you surround yourself with?

• What in your physical environment supports you?

• List 3-5 adjectives that describe how you want to feel?

3. Imagine what future you deeply knows:

• What does she believe about herself?

• What gifts and talents does she own and promote?

• How does she trust her gut and stay true to her values?

“Your future self has requirements” ~Robin Arzon, Entrepreneur & Peloton Instructor

Kelli Thompson is a women's leadership coach, speaker and author who helps women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She offers 1-1 private coaching and is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership program (online group training for corporate women leaders). She is the author of Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck.