A Year-End Letter from HINGE Founder Kathy Ligon

Hello Friends and Happy New Year!

I have just returned from my annual media blackout in which I allow my brain (and soul!) a rest from the incoming responsibilities for the year ahead.

Last year, I began a new practice I will continue with this year that has helped keep my head clear and clutter-free. Motivation for this new practice comes from this year’s SHIFT Celebrity Keynote Speaker, Greg McKeown, author of the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. In the book, Greg shares an idea to spend about 30 minutes at the end of the year to go over, in detail, your previous year’s calendar with a sheet of paper labeled Positive and Negative. Then, in your Positive column, record any people, activities or commitments that brought you joy and, in the Negative column, record the opposite. I find it useful to not overthink what I am recording but to instead allow my initial feelings and responses to prevail. You will notice themes emerge that will help you identify what should get your time and attention during the coming year and what may be better left for others to focus on. For instance, one of my emerging themes last year was to predominately work on activities that developed my work and team by supporting my clients and not get distracted by the goals of other peoples’ work. You’ll realize throughout the exercise that many times you have to give up the “good” activities and projects to focus on the “great” ones. As much as I would love to do everything—in the limited hours I have—I must focus, or I can’t serve anyone well. In other words, focus on the work that is uniquely you!! 

As I ran through this exercise for 2019, many of you appeared in my Positive column—bringing joy and uplifting energy to my life and work, and for that I am very grateful. I hope that you enter the new year with renewed energy and focus on the essential work that you were uniquely created to do.

Be well Friends,
Kathy Ligon