By Jennifer Borba von Stauffenberg
I thought reaching our 10-year anniversary would feel like some sort of an arrival, but for me personally, it feels more like a time of reflection, recalibration and a little celebration.
I remember the significance of hitting the five-year mark. My closest family and friends joined me for a toast about exiting the startup stage and I relished in becoming a mom that year, slightly fearful I would suddenly fail.
Now at 10, I’m pretty certain failure is not an option, so my mind has fixated on a different milestone — I will be forty in a few months and this feels a little more like my career halftime than a 10-year anniversary.
I spent the first 10 years climbing the ladder, the second 10 building my business and now what? How will I make these last 20 even more powerful?
I have been asking myself the following questions and thought I would share them with you.
Why do I do what I do? This question has always been incredibly important to me and should be to anyone committed to living their life purpose. I do this work because I know when it’s done right the world gets access to information that will improve lives. In some cases, it can actually save a life. That’s worth working for.
What kind of legacy do I want to leave? I’m not sure I actually have this answer yet, but what I do know is that it hasn’t happened yet. In my second half I hope to make the kind of impact that will last for generations.
How do I want to be remembered? This question sometimes makes people uncomfortable, but the truth is that at any moment, I could become a memory. Do I like how people will remember me now? I hope so, but what do I have left to do? So much. I have always dreamt of utilizing public relations and social media to reward the great ones. My creative juices have been flowing on this for months and I will soon be sharing more.
How can I be even more inspired to do this work? This question is a great one because your mind answers it without effort and for me, the answer is read, research and listen. I have been listening to audible books and podcasts on every commute, reading articles and following all the people who inspire me from Michelle Obama to Brené Brown to Serena Williams to Reese Witherspoon, Oprah and Ellen… this list goes on. Who inspires you?
What would I like to achieve? The sky is the limit. I don’t have a clear answer yet, but I have some ideas. I want to change peoples’ lives. I want to educate people on ways to live a happier life. I want to help entrepreneurs and climbing professionals to live out their dreams and make the impact they wish to make. I want the thought leaders that helped me to help others and reach the stages they want to reach. Stay tuned. Even though this is my 10-year anniversary, it’s just the beginning of my second half.
While you might not be reflecting on your second half, maybe you are reflecting on the second half of this year or this week. These are great questions to keep you on your map.