Last week I was Irritated.
Something was bothering me and I could not pin it down.
Then I realized I was because I was trying to ship content without a super-clear idea of what I needed to say.
I was annoyed because I lacked clarity.
Why Clarity Helps
If you don’t have a clear idea of what you want, you spend a lot of time doing things that don’t matter. You get irritated more easily and things don’t flow well.
If you don’t have clarity, you second guess yourself.
Life’s too short to ignore this problem. To make your work and life matter more you need to seek clarity, especially if you are at the end of a creative cycle like I was last week.
For me, the end of any creative endeavor is where I reevaluate and solidify my new learning and beliefs. At the end of the cycle, I can take my new Truths to the next level and take on the next challenge with greater strength.
I start with a Problem, take Action, realize the Results, then revaluate my new Truths and Beliefs. It’s a framework that helps me to never get lost while creating.
We need to seek True North.
This List Will Help You Get The Clarity You Need
In fact, you will be amazed at what taking just 20 minutes to go through this list will do.
Yes, you could spend a lot more time than 20 minutes, but a quick run-through on the first pass will help you see what matters.
Step 1 to Get Greater Insight
Go through this list quickly and see what jumps out to you. Be curious and see what resonates. Which question makes you want to dig deeper?
High Level Clarifying Questions
- What’s Your True North?
- Who Are You?
- What Is Your Story?
- What Values Do You Hold?
- What Deeply Motivates You?
- What Matters To You The Most?
- Who Matters To You The Most?
- What Material Things Matter To You?
- What Words Define You?
- What Brings You Joy?
- What’s Your Deepest Belief?
- Where Do You Connect?
- What Is Your Why?
- How Would Your Friends Define Your Uniqueness?
- Where Do You Spend Your Time?
- Where Do You Lead?
- How Do You Follow?
- What’s Your Greatest Gift?
- What’s Your Biggest Hope?
- How Would You Prioritize These Questions?
Step 2 – How to Get the Most Out This Clarity Exercise
My favorite way to answer these questions is to do a quick blitz.
Answer them all intentionally but quickly. Sit down with a large sheet of paper, your favorite pen, set a timer for 20 minutes, and get cranking.
Better yet, shut the door, download the free and awesome Otter.ai transcription & recording app, and use both your writing and speaking brains for this exercise.
To Finish Your Clarity Session Strong
Take a short break, then follow up with a few clarifying questions.
What questions resonated with you the most?
Where would you like to go back and dig deeper?
Then go back and ask the big ones.
Who Are You?
What’s Your True North?
