by: Stephanie Gonzalez, CEO & Managing Partner photo by: Jillian Lenser This past – 2020 – year has been transitional and transformational for us all. This time last year I identified my ‘word of the year.’ I chose the word: CREATE. This time last year I had spent almost 6-years at North&Co. as Chief Operator (speaking both figuratively and literally). From inception, my role has been to break-down the various concepts in our vision and breathe life into them through action. Ponder, plan, strategize, design, orchestrate, execute, manage, and track results – and do it all over again – every day, week, month, quarter. So much of my work-life was consumed by generating the right energy to lead and manage the exquisite execution that Brian and I had dreamt of. This time last year I was craving more freedom. Freedom of time, space, schedule. I wanted to find myself in the middle of more creative control. I could not think of a better word than CREATE to help me usher in more of what I wanted. I was sitting on a few ideas – small and big – and I wanted more time to create quiet time, dream time, journal time. Truth be told I was sitting on a few ideas – passion projects – for too many years and last year I hit a point where I was finished de-prioritizing them! What did I do differently last year to find space to create: • Bought a new journal. • Invested in a few new books I had been wanting to read for awhile. • Restructured my day: 1. For decades I would end my day with me-time. My end of day was devoted to winding down from my busy day. Drinking tea, reading, a hot bath and pillow time with Josh. Or, at least, I was supposed to end my day that way. Truthfully, by the time I ended my day – giving the first of my time and energy to my family and my work – I found myself too tired, all too often, and did not commit to ending my day with me-time. 2. SO, I shifted the order. Last year, I carved out time almost every morning to be by myself (giving myself a little space to move and wake-up my body, mind and spirit). Walk, run, listen to a podcast, read, meditate, and listen to my guided viz. There were some mornings that I accomplished all of it. But, most mornings, I was not able to dedicate 60-90 minutes to complete ALL of the listed and desired items. Most mornings I would accomplish a couple and I found that if I was able to dedicate even 15-minutes to one (or a few) of the items I was coming from an entirely different energy space. 3. That different energy space then enabled me to feel motivated and inspired to create. I found myself walking through an entirely different door in the morning. Moving to the blank page did not feel overwhelming. I would take out my journal out and jot down an idea or thought. Some mornings, if I did not have time to open my journal, I found that my mind was so alive to being in create-mode that while getting ready an idea would pop in my head and I would pull out my iPhone and jot an idea in my notes section. As a result: Yes, my year was transitional and transformational. Choosing a word of the year helped remind me of what – I said – I wanted. This year my word of the year is FOCUS. This year I want to become a laser beam, not a light bulb. I want to carve out time to now execute on the ideas, thoughts and dreams that I jotted down in my journal. Thanks to a recent conversation with Josh. He influenced my word. He shared a story about how poignant the word focus was in the life of two icons: Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. I enter 2021 coming from an inspired goal-setting space. Focus will help me achieve the optimal time- and attention-management that I want!