Have you thought about it? In this economy and in these times have you thought about, What Will You Do Next?
I doubt you have and that’s okay as long as you take a few minutes NOW to reflect on that phrase and answer it… not for me, but for you.
As a presentations coach, I prepare people for their big day, their big speech, their big debut as they step into the light. But I would be remiss, as their friend, if I didn’t look out across landscape of their life and yell into the vastness of what could be and ask the hardest question I know, which is… Friend, What Will You Do Next?
This question is constantly in my head because I see the broken, tearful, washed up results all the time (and it breaks my heart), with clients, in business and recently on television. A while back Oprah had a guest, a moderately known star, who had decided to step out from what she has known and forge a path into the unknown but tested territory with new friends, new home, new world, new life. As I was watched her on the talk shows circuit for a few days and followed her on Twitter (for a day) it was obvious to me that the lights on her career are fading fast.
And what is amazing to me is that weeks after the Oprah show there is only one small news story about her (and no one believes it…lights fading fast). So after her big debut she is left standing alone in the shadow of her once bright future. And from where I sit, it appears to me that no one cared enough to compel her to answer the question – What’s Next Kid.
Because now the talk shows are over, the magazines covers are done and the book tour is launched and she is fading to black.
In an odd way it broke my heart that neither she nor her agent crafted a plan for her future. And because I see this cycle happen so often… my bet is that it won’t be long before she’ll soon stifle back tears because without the spotlight it’s cold and the loneliness will be more than she ever bargained for and harder than she ever imagined. And the most AMAZING part is this… it could have avoided if she had a workable plan in place.
Most people never think about Next because we’re so busy in the Now. But dear reader remember the cameras will leave and the magazines will move on to the next pretty face and the crowd who clamored for you once will shuffle away looking for the next big thing… I see it all the time.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I do not hope for failure in any way for those who find them self on the outside looking in on what used to be their amazing life. My hope, for her and for others, is that they find their footing to change the world as they see fit.
As your coach the survival tip is simple, just like the life raft that will carry you to safety when the ship sinks, you’ve just got to remember to pack it… and that takes advanced planning.
I appreciate the Now but to protect your future please tell me what’s your plan for Next?
Stay tuned… some suggestions for survival will be posted NEXT.
To read more blog post by Deb visit https://debsofield.com
