Crafting Intentions

Last week, I reflected on some of the people who made a lasting impression on me over my nearly 30 years at Pearson. This was a decidedly retrospective view, and while it was fun to look backwards through my career, it’s even more enticing  to consider the road ahead. “So what’s next for you?” That’s been the overwhelmingly frequent question that people have been asking since last week’s post.

And here’s the answer: I’m choosing to focus not on the end game, but on the way of being in order to get there. I’ve crafted three clear intentions that will lay the groundwork for a successful transition ... when I’m ready. My intentions are grounded in some simple truths around living a good life. Unfortunately, they are often underprioritized in the blur of professional pursuits, and I’ve been as guilty of this as anyone. But now with the benefit of perspective and the luxury of time, I’m able to apply some fresh focus on the following:

Love

My family has championed my career through two international moves over the past decade. This has entailed tearful goodbyes back home in the States, a massive disruption to my wife’s career, and the uprooting of our daughter from school three times. They have also grappled with the challenges induced by the long hours and stress that have come with my work. So now is a time to return some of that backing with more acute focus than I’ve been able to provide in the past. Along with a trip to the States for an extended visit this spring/summer, this intention centers on our 17-year-old daughter. She’s had a challenging few years - COVID notwithstanding - and now we’re in the lead-up to university admissions. This is a precious time before she’s out into the world and so now is a special opportunity for us to give her an extra boost of academic and emotional support, while also enjoying these waning days of her childhood.

Learning

Pearson’s long-time motto was “Always Learning” and that signified an ambition to help people progress in their lives by helping them build skills and knowledge. Accordingly, I’ve been a beneficiary of several company-sponsored professional development programs. Now I’ve been embarking on my own battery of formal and informal learning, and it’s been invigorating to pursue areas of interest and to discover new curiosities. Through this intention, I’ll be pursuing a collection of micro learning experiences - largely on “future skills” topics - through platforms like Coursera, DataCamp, and LinkedIn Learning. I’ve also completed the Foundations of Directorship course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and I’m contemplating a microcredential through a leading university. Informally, I’ve been making a dent in my personal/professional reading list and I’ve joined a handful of museums here in Melbourne - aiming to gain a deeper appreciation for what the city has to offer.

Wellness

The events of the past few years have raised our collective consciousness around physical (medical) health, but also emotional and even financial health. I hope it’s true to say that people are increasingly waking up to the imperative of looking after themselves within each of these domains. As for me, I’ll be using this extra time to focus on my own fitness across multiple dimensions. Along those lines, here are some quick examples of the habits I’ve been developing through this intention:

• Pausing to appreciate the things I’m grateful for
• Getting more sleep and in more consistent patterns
• Practicing daily stretches and breathing exercises
• Maintaining my acupuncture routine (which is working wonders for some joint pain)
• Drinking more fluids (namely water, tea, a cup a celery juice, and Chinese herbs)
• Cycling around the beautiful city I live in and enjoying the fresh air
• Hitting the tennis courts a few times a week
• Assessing and implementing strategies to support our family’s financial future
• Investing time to nurture important friendships - both new and old, and near and far

These intentions serve to outline "what's next" for me over the coming months, but they will extend far beyond this “sabbatical” period. I’ll use this time to refine and solidify them, and then to harmonize them with whatever my professional life looks like down the track. I’ve always taken my work seriously and that won’t change, but the gift that this opportunity provides is the intentionality of adjusting my focus on the things that are ultimately most important.