The "Start Your Engines" Challenge: Your 7-Day Journey to Power Shifts!
Welcome, trailblazer! You’ve just taken the first step on an incredible journey by picking up your copy of Shifting Gears: 7 Power Moves to Design a Life You Love, Grow Your Career, and Lead with Impact. To help you immediately put these powerful principles into action, I’ve created this exclusive 7-day “Start Your Engines” Challenge.
Each day, we’ll focus on one core “Power Shift” from the book, giving you an action item, a reflection prompt, and a dose of encouragement to fuel your progress. Get ready to shift gears and accelerate your life!
Day 1: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Your greatest growth lies just beyond the familiar. It’s about taking that first brave step into the unknown.
Action Item (JDI – Just Do It!): Identify one small, non-critical task or interaction that makes you slightly uncomfortable (e.g., introducing yourself to a new colleague, trying a new food, or speaking up in a meeting). Take that step today, even if it feels awkward.
Reflection Prompt: When you feel the urge to stay in your comfort zone, what specific emotion arises? How might leaning into that discomfort unlock a new skill or perspective you didn’t know you possessed?
Pit Stop Perspective: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” ~ John A. Shedd
Day 2: Be Willing to Shift Gears When Necessary
Your greatest growth lies just beyond the familiar, when you take that first brave step into the unknown.
Action Item (JDI – Just Do It!): Choose one routine or habit you’ve been doing “just because” and intentionally change it. This could be your morning coffee ritual, your commute route, or how you approach a recurring task. Observe the impact.
Reflection Prompt: What outdated belief or expectation about how things “should be” might you be holding onto? What might you gain by releasing control and allowing a new approach to emerge?
Pit Stop Perspective: “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” ~ Alan Watts
Day 3: Embrace Cultural Fluency and Global Adaptability
Cultivate a mindset that thrives in a world of diverse perspectives and constant change.
Action Item (JDI – Just Do It!): Explore a piece of media (book, documentary, podcast) from a culture or perspective vastly different from your own. Dedicate at least 30 minutes to truly absorb and understand it without judgment.
Reflection Prompt: Where in your daily life do you encounter different viewpoints? How can you practice active listening and curiosity in these moments, seeking to understand rather than to agree or refute?
Pit Stop Perspective: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” ~ Saint Augustine
Day 4: Create a Career and a Life on Your Own Terms
You are empowered to architect a life that truly reflects your values and aspirations, free from external expectations.
Action Item (JDI – Just Do It!): Identify one area where you feel obligated to say “yes” but truly want to say “no.” Practice setting a gentle, clear boundary today, prioritizing your own well-being or purpose.
Reflection Prompt: If you stripped away all external expectations, what would your ideal “productive” day look like? How can you integrate one small element of that vision into your reality this week?
Pit Stop Perspective: “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ~ Carl Jung
Day 5: Taking a Leap of Faith Can Lead to Wonderful Outcomes You Hadn’t Predicted
Taking a leap of faith means trusting your instincts and betting on yourself, even when others try to pull you back.
Action Item (JDI – Just Do It!): Think of a small, personal “what if” scenario you’ve considered but dismissed (e.g., taking a new class, reaching out to an old friend, trying a creative pursuit). Take one tangible step towards exploring it today.
Reflection Prompt: Recall a time you took a risk that paid off unexpectedly. How can you tap into that past courage to inform a current decision, trusting your inner compass over external doubts?
Pit Stop Perspective: “Leap, and the net will appear.” ~ John Burroughs
Day 6: Learn from History and Its Relevance to Today
Understanding the past and present societal shifts is crucial for driving the future forward.
Action Item (JDI – Just Do It!): Pick one emerging trend or technology that you know little about but impacts your field or daily life. Spend 20 minutes learning something new about it (e.g., generative AI, new sustainability technologies, promising stem cell therapies).
Reflection Prompt: How might understanding a historical pattern or innovation from the past shed light on a challenge you face today? What lessons from history can you apply to navigate future shifts?
Pit Stop Perspective: “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
Day 7: How a Sabbatical Sets Up the Next Steps
True transformation begins when you release the urge to fix, and instead choose to witness, serve, and belong.
Action Item (JDI – Just Do It!): Dedicate 15 minutes to true, uninterrupted rest or mindful observation. This could be simply sitting in silence, watching nature, or mindfully enjoying a cup of tea without distractions.
Reflection Prompt: In what areas of your life are you still trying to “fix” or “control” outcomes? How might shifting to a posture of “understanding” or “serving” transform your approach and reduce stress?
Pit Stop Perspective: “Stillness is not the absence of movement, but the presence of peace.” ~ Unknown
Congratulations! You’ve completed the “Start Your Engines” 7-Day Challenge! Remember, every small shift creates big ripples of change. Keep applying these principles, and your journey will be one of continuous growth and acceleration.
Ready for more? Dive deeper into these concepts in Shifting Gears: 7 Power Moves to Design a Life You Love, Grow Your Career, and Lead with Impact!
I would love to hear from you about your experience with the “Start Your Engines” Challenge! What worked best for you? How did you benefit from implementing these power shifts in your life? Please feel free to reach out and share your insights and successes!