It’s been over six months now since I’ve been contributing to Ladies Corner Magazine.
Writing a weekly column on just about anything I want has been a source of personal and professional satisfaction and accomplishment.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Ladies Corner Creative Lead, Tee Adeyemo, who enthusiastically supports my desire to write about issues that matter to me and encourages me to use my written voice to expand on these issues for the greater interest of the magazine’s readership.
This week, I wanted to focus my musings on ‘bucket lists’.
‘Bucket lists are a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.’
Recently, I relaunched my consulting company and rebranded it with a new logo.
Although the focus had always been on strategic management and innovative problem-solving, somewhere along the line, the mission and vision got blurred, and I felt out of touch with my purpose and my clients.
I also recently blew the candles out on a significant milestone (birthday).
In exploring the next chapter of my personal and professional life, I sat down to reflect on, consider, plan, and execute ‘Version 51’ (v.51). V.51 meant revisiting my bucket list.
Those experiences or achievements I had already accomplished and those I had still to realize.
Not that there was a newfound sense of urgency, but rather, a sense of renewed interest and intrigue, complemented by confidence, maturity, and a toolkit of experience and expertise I knew would come in handy as I contemplated the complexity of the items on my bucket list.
Although one’s bucket list should be ever-evolving, it should be so because of opportunity, or situational setbacks, priorities, or trends – not because we simply gave up on achieving them.
Part of what drives one to make a bucket list is that the items you list are personal. Some may be easy to accomplish or predictable, while others may be stuff you wanted to do as a kid and never had the opportunity to.
Other bucket list items may be weird, which may prompt you to contemplate the overall experience you want to have in that regard, whilst others still could be super important (and should be moved to the top of your list).
But regardless of what is on your bucket list, or perhaps you’ve never even contemplated one – I encourage you to sit down and do some goal setting. The first step to achieving your goals is to write them down.
Next, make a plan, set a timeline, find a way to keep yourself accountable (ex. by telling others of your goals), then, go about pursuing your dreams with vigour. Don’t let fear (or other setbacks) hold you back.
There’s no time like the present.
If I can be a source of inspiration, motivation, or strategic mentorship to help you identify or accomplish items on your bucket list – drop me a note in the comment section below (or hook me up through LinkedIn).
As the tagline to my consulting company, NOTSOLO, states: You need not be alone to realize your goals and objectives.
Our superpowers are rooted in relationship building and optimism. Let’s turn your kryptonite into your personal or professional advantage.
____
Jacqueline Biollo is a management consultant, university educator, and body-positive advocate. Biollo started her career working for not-for-profit organizations, focusing on vulnerable and victimized individuals before she switched her interests to politics, innovative problem solving, and academia.
Today, she’s the Chief Strategic Optimist of NOTSOLO Consulting, dedicated to helping organizations focus on the strategic benefits of people, possibilities, and potential. She is the mother of two adult children and an internationally published full-figured model. Jacqueline is also the founder of an inner-city arts program called ArtStart.
Next up on Jacqueline’s bucket list? To publish her first book. #StayTuned
Photo by RNS Photography
Read more from Ladiescorner.ca
