Basic Reflections – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

Three questions before the year ends

Photo by Juan Rumimpunu on Unsplash

The end of the year is near, a great time both to celebrate and to reflect. There are several angles to look at: what we did well, what we could have done better and what we clearly got wrong (much as I dislike the negative framing). I like the word reflection because of the two ideas built into it: action and effect.

Over the year we’ve very likely acted many times. The question is: did we act in the right direction? The answer opens the door to reflecting on purpose. Did we act with our purpose in mind? Action and responsibility are two essential limbs of freedom. Nobody will act for us, and the final responsibility for acting in a given direction is ours.

Did we do what was in our hands? It’s a great Stoic question, and it carries the idea of focusing on what we control. Many goals are set without grounding or clarity about what we can control. Even more important is being clear on what we can’t. Accepting what we can’t control is where we find the peace we need as we take steady steps toward a goal.

Did we make full use of our resources and abilities? This may be the most important question of all. Once we’re acting in the right direction and doing everything in our hands, what remains is to put practically all our installed capacity to work (knowledge, processes and so on). With the year’s end coming, it’s worth reflecting so we can keep acting, focusing on what we need to reflect and meditate on, on the essentials we want to achieve and, above all, on what keeps us on the path.

Warm regards and all the best,

Rodrigo Baccaro

P.S. This week’s VELA:

• What I was watching: The most important thing Steve Jobs learned at Apple. "What can I do to help this person, versus how can I solve the problem myself" (a great coaching mindset)
  – What I was listening to: Beneficios del Coaching en las organizaciones (The benefits of coaching in organizations). A video of an interview Radio Ilumina did with my friend and colleague Natalia Loyato and me about coaching. Thank you to Julissa Sánchez and Luis Fernando Aguilar for the time, the opportunity and for spreading the word about excellent, high-quality coaching
  – What I was reading: La batalla cultural (The Cultural Battle). A great work by Agustín Laje, a political scientist I admire and whose ideas I share, especially on human freedom. Well worth reading
  – What I was learning: Using Caffeine to Optimize Mental & Physical Performance. For anyone whose life revolves around coffee, I hope this is the best episode you hear in 2022 and that you enjoy it as much as I did

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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