A MeEO. Taking charge of our career and life.
The title sounds great. The question is – how do we get there?
The journey takes time and will be refined over time. Yet, all journeys start somewhere.
Here are 10 steps you can take this week on your path to MeEO.
10 – 10 Minute Steps to Take This Week
1. Vision
Take out a notebook and write the answer to this question:
How do I want my life to look 5 years from now?
Get into the details – Where are you living? Who is in your household?
If you have children, how old are they / how does that impact your lifestyle?
Where are you working?
What role do you have?
Describe in detail what a typical weekday looks like.
2. Financial
With a vision of your life in 5 years, understanding the financials of our household is next.
Spend the next 10 minutes setting up a financial tracking system.
Here is a simple template to modify for your household.
This will be used in your monthly infrastructure system.
3. Case Studies
Think about your work over the last 3-6 months.
What are the key accomplishments?
Do you have case studies pulled together?
What information do you need to collect to wrap up this accomplishment?
4. LinkedIn Audit
Spend 10 minutes evaluating the status of your LinkedIn profile.
Is it up to date?
Do you like your profile photo and banner?
Does your unique difference shine through?
Make a list of the elements that you need to freshen up.
5. LinkedIn Updates
Spend the time in this next segment to make as many of the updates on your audit list as possible.
If you want a new photo, use this time to set an appointment to have one professionally taken.
Or schedule time with a friend for a DIY photo shoot.
6. Introduction
How would you introduce yourself at a professional event?
What if you couldn’t use your title or the company you work for?
How do you describe the type of work you do?
What is the unique difference you bring to the work?
7. Set a Goal
Think about where you want to be one year from now.
What is one big, hairy audacious goal that you would like to look back on and say you achieved?
Now, break it down by defining a daily / weekly habit of getting you there.
8. Connections
Identify a list of 10 professional contacts that you are going to reconnect with in the next month.
Time permitting, document why you have chosen this set of people.
Start reaching out to each of them to schedule time.
9. Say No to Something
Look at your calendar for next week and decline something.
Part of being a MeEO is understanding you don’t have to participate in everything you’ve been invited to.
Practice the art of saying no.
10. Plan Thought Leadership
How can you demonstrate your thought leadership in the next week?
What can you write, engage with, and provide a POV on?
Where will you share this information – live, on LinkedIn, at a networking event?
Summary
There is no “complete” as a MeEO.
Just like the CEO of a business we keep improving.
Developing new ideas.
Planning strategies.
And dealing with the issues as they emerge.