Focus on Re-Evaluation

This week I travelled to Leicester to speak at the inaugural Wigmore Wednesdays Leicester event. My talk, What We Inherit, What We Choose, What We Leave Behind, explored the stories, beliefs and experiences that shape us, and how we can become more intentional about the legacy we create.

Purpose is a topic that consistently sparks deep conversations because it invites us to pause and consider an important question: Am I living a life I've consciously chosen or one I've simply inherited?

What continues to amaze me is the depth of the conversations that follow. The topic often evokes an emotional response because it connects people to something fundamental: who they are, what matters most and how they want to live and lead.

Following the talk, I was asked about working with teams and providing 1:1 purpose coaching. It's always encouraging when these conversations move beyond inspiration and into action. Purpose isn't just something to think about; it's something to live, lead and embed into our work and relationships.

Several people also shared what had landed for them. One conversation in particular stayed with me. This gentleman shared with me that he felt lost, not because he lacked opportunities or that he wasn't successful but because he found himself continually agreeing to three-to-five-year projects which no longer excited him. They were familiar, what people expected of him, and perhaps most importantly, what he'd always done. As we talked, it became clear that he wasn't struggling with capability, he was struggling with alignment. How many of us do the same?

We say yes because we're reliable. We say yes because we don't want to disappoint people. We say yes because we've become known for something. We say yes because it's easier than confronting the uncertainty of what we might truly want. Then one day we realise we've built a life around expectations rather than intention.

The challenge isn't usually a lack of direction. The challenge is creating enough space to hear ourselves beneath the noise of everyone else's expectations. Purpose isn't about finding a magical answer hidden somewhere in the future. It's about reconnecting with who you are, what matters to you and allowing those things to guide your choices.

The conversations after my talks often become emotional because many people recognise themselves in this struggle. They know something needs to change. They simply haven't given themselves permission to explore what that change might look like.

Before making your next commitment, ask yourself: Am I saying yes because this is aligned with who I am and who I want to become or because it's what I've always done? Your answer may reveal more than you think.

After the event, I stayed in Leicester and spent the morning exploring the city. Thank you to Pankaj Mistry from Invest in Leicester for his thoughtful recommendations. The Richard III exhibition was beautifully presented and a reminder that what we inherit informs our story but it doesn'tt decide its direction.

Focus on Re-Evaluation. Focus on Why.

REFLECTION WITH ACTION: Where in your life are you continuing out of familiarity rather than alignment and what would it take to pause and re-evaluate it?