The secret to success is in the source.
I’m a “one-woman show” — in essentially all areas of my personal and professional life. Admittedly, sometimes it can get tiring. But most of the time, I’m able to somehow keep going. How? More importantly, why?
I like to envision the flow of a waterfall. For myself and my brand strategy clients, I create what I call “Progression Waterfalls” (or Intention-to-Activation Plan) to ensure everything keeps moving forward. Similar to a “Strategy Execution Plan” but not so masculine, aggressive, and forced, there’s instead a natural flow and momentum that you put into motion from your “source.”
Here’s how you do it:
- Start at the top of the waterfall, what I call your “source”: who you are, your core beliefs, who you came to serve, what makes you unique, WHY are you here?
- Focus that into one stream or big idea of how you can bring that out into the world. I like to do a “One Intention Exercise” at the start of every year and distill it down to one word.
- Now, as it “crests,” split that into 3-4 initiatives that flow from it, and break each of those down into specific tasks with assigned “Who, What, When’s” for clarity and accountability.
- You’ll naturally hit obstacles along the way, and one or two of the smaller flows may change course slightly, bend, or pivot. But you move with the terrain, go with it and around it.
- At the bottom, all the energy you’ve powered pools into a new source, and it can either exist there to support, serve, and nourish what’s around it, or it can become the source for a new waterfall.
The best part is, once you’ve put your waterfall in motion, because it’s coming from your true source, it can’t be stopped (maybe just slowed). So don’t stress or act out of fear and anxiety. Momentum is on your side.
Your waterfalls can be big or small, fast or slow, short or long (maybe it’s a big business or career initiative, or a small birthday party for your little one), but always remember they are naturally flowing, nothing really needs to be forced. It’s a natural force. Trust it, go with the flow and with the power you’ve co-created. Enjoy the dynamic unfolding.
Give it a try!
Psst…this is one of the exercises we’ll do together in my Branding Masterclass series! Find your city and sign up >
*The excerpt above is adapted from Erika’s upcoming book, and is copyrighted, all rights reserved.
Photo by Stephen Leonardi via Unsplash
