- N3 Executive
2020 - Is this your Leap Year?
9th February 2020 mean this is a leap year. Is it your time to leap in your job, career or life? 2020 was my year to leap and having recently read "When to Jump" by Mike Lewis (no relation) it is a great time to reflect on why, how and when you should consider leaping next. I tend to write articles around periods of major reflection and change and on topics that I am passionate about. In this instance 2020 marks a career watershed for me and maybe many others, in that I have chosen to leave the profession I joined over 20 years ago and embark on a career leap.

Approaching any milestone birthday or anniversary we often look back on where we have come from, what we have achieved, where we have succeeded and failed and what we have learnt along the way. All of this contributes to Why, How and When you should review your life and career trajectory and consider leaping yourself. You may recognize that we often work in cycles. For example mine is a 5 year cycle. When its been my decision I have moved role every 5 years. 1999, 2004, 2009/10 and then 2019/20. Following 20 years of studying, hiring and developing leaders around the world I have amassed a lot of hard and soft data concerning what makes, people, leaders and organisations function and what makes people leave join and them. At the last count I had hired for over 200 leading global organisations, interviewed over 10,000 people, (5,000 at executive and leaderships level) and provided over 1,000 hours of 1-2-1 Executive coaching to senior executives seeking a change in career direction or trajectory.
Twenty years ago, I was a DINKY. (Double Income, No Kids) newly married and living in London. I was 6 years into my career and climbing the corporate ladder and I leaped for the first time. In the past 20 years I have moved continent, had two children (now both adults), moved jobs 5 times and moved home 6 times. You can move home, change situation, job and location quite easily and we adapt and grow, however it would be foolish to not recognize that with each leap you change too. We are born to leap and each leap generally changes you for the better, you grow and develop. Now at 49 and entering a new decade and era of work/life I look at the world very differently and have questioned numerous people on their life and work decision and what has informed and influenced their leaps. So here is my quick summary of 20 pieces of the collective advice over the past 20 years that you may want to consider in terms of making a leap forward in the areas of CAREER, LEADERSHIP, LIFE, and HEATH. If you look at your life through the following lenses hopefully it will help guide you to make the best decisions before your next leap.
CAREER:
Its Just a Job - What seems important and stressful today will not be in a year
Relationships are critical - People buy People (period)
Moving country gives you a perspective no one else has
You may compromise standards but values and morals are non-negotiable
Never stop learning - Invest in yourself, because no one else is going to
LEADERSHIP
People join companies and leave managers
Leadership is a contact sport - so not everyone can or should
Change is hard - if you DON'T they WON'T
Inspire first - Win hearts before minds
EQ, and then CQ over IQ every-time
LIFE
Its not what you SAY or DO, its how you make people FEEL
Purpose and your WHY is more important that the WHAT or HOW
Enjoy your kids, they grow up fast, enjoy your parents, they are a long time gone
Work/Life Balance - Choose Life
Spend more times with your Family, Partner and Friends
HEALTH
Do not kill yourself for a job that would replace you in a heartbeat
What does not kill you MAY make you stronger - if you survive
Health is Wealth, Happiness is Success
Mental Health is as important as Physical Health
Stress is a killer