Going round the world requires you to travel 25k miles. In April I travelled 8.8k miles, all the way between 2 continents….and travelled back a few weeks later (another 8.8k miles). Just one more trip back and I would have gone the full distance around the world. That’s how far I have travelled physically, but mentally, I think I have travelled further. Here are 3 things that resonated with me last month.

A. One word which I kept coming back to – context.

Context is really a beautiful thing because it helps us value things better. I came across this notion in one video by Matt Kelly, part of a 40-day series leading up to Easter. Stephen Covey’s 2nd habit of highly effective people re-enforces this notion. In his terms context is taking a step back and seeing the bigger picture. So where does context come into the story? The simplest end scene of a movie becomes really meaningful when you have seen the rest of the movie. Two colleagues work better together when they get to know what each of them is strong in, then working towards making the most of the collaboration. More importantly, context is necessary when taking big decisions in life’s journey. Putting things in the right context helps make more meaningful choices.

B. One feeling which I started to make friends with – uncertainty

Sometimes though context is not enough. Even after you do all the thinking some questions remain, particularly those related to the future. In these instances uncertainty abounds! The feeling of uncertainty makes me feel less in control and able to plan. However, uncertainty opens up wider options and from that angle it gives us alternative way forwards to the ones we would have considered. One book I snacked upon in April was “The 9 Lies About Work” by Marcus Buckingham. When discussing leadership Marcus suggests how in absence of certainty a leader should be focused on cascading meaning and purpose to excite the rest of the team.

C. One question to bring it all together – “what are you?”

In the words of Eddie Fenech Adami, a Maltese politician and the 7th president of Malta, “there’s a project for each and everyone of us. Life is about understanding what that is and accomplishing it to the best of one’s ability”. And this is where context and uncertainty dance together. If context gives value to things along the journey and uncertainty is the invitation to make the future of that journey exciting and full of purpose, the two can dance together.

One afternoon in April I met up with one of our business leaders at Vodafone. She challenged me with one question I couldn’t answer straightaway – “What are you?” Are you a salesperson, a strategist, a marketeer? Answering that question does not mean you exclude any piece of work which does not fit in the chosen profile. Rather it helps in understanding how to lead in different situations, by being aware of what you’re confident to achieve, and where you’re more out of your comfort zone and need guidance and support. It gives context to the big decisions along life’s journey (at work and beyond) and purpose in the moments of uncertainty.

Help needed to run a half marathon with purpose!

In May I will be running the Sydney Half Marathon. Some context to this – I am trying to make the kilometres count and am fundraising for Kids with Cancer Foundation. Click here to support the kids