(Excerpt from Jeff Nischwitz’s soon-to-be-published book, Just One Step: The Journey to Your Unstoppable You)
Last month I shared my perspective on the metaphor of snow globes – specifically, the need to regularly shake your snow globe to avoid settling. This month I want to address another reality of the snow globe metaphor in your lives – the importance of watching over your own snow globe.
My friend Robin Sacks wrote a wonderful book called Get Off My Bus!: How to Get Clarity, Get in the Driver’s Seat, and Get Moving in Your Life! (Outskirts 2010), which encourages us all to get certain people off of our life bus. In other words, to get off your bus, the people who discourage you, deplete you and get in your way. It’s a simple and profound concept – getting people off your bus – and I recently realized that when you kick them off your bus, you’ve got to do one more thing. You have to take back your snow globe when they leave your bus.
How do you know that someone else has your snow globe? Simple – because it feels like things are out of control in your life or business. What I’ve learned about snow globes and life is that when you shake your own snow globe, it can be uncomfortable (new or different is often uncomfortable), but it’s not chaotic or stressful. However, when you feel like things (including you) are out of control, then you’re letting someone else (or circumstances) shake your snow globe.
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What I now know to be true is that when we shake our own snow globes, we do so with an empowering sense of healthy control. Since most of us are naturally control freaks, it’s vital that we control what we can, which includes our snow globes and change. Too often, we are reactive or wait for things to happen, and only then do we take action, but we’re responding to what’s already happened. Instead, when we act out our leadership by looking ahead and anticipating and then create our own shifts and changes, we feel in control, and the outcomes are nearly always more positive.
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If you’re wondering how the heck these other people got their hands on your snow globe, the answer is simple and sad – you gave it to them! Yes, you heard me right – you’ve given your snow globe to other people, and surrendered it to the vagaries of circumstances. By the way, in nearly every case, you didn’t consciously or intentionally give up your snow globes, but you did give them up.
Sometimes we give up our snow globes because we want to avoid personal responsibility for our lives and our outcomes. Sometimes we give them up because we’re afraid. Sometimes we give them up because we’re simply tired of being responsible. Many times we give up our snow globes to the people closest to us either because they asked us for them (usually unconsciously), or we believe that handing over our snow globes to someone else is an act of love or an investment in the relationship.
No matter what the cause or circumstances of you giving up and handing over your snow globe, it’s time to reclaim your snow globes (all of them) and to take personal responsibility for them and for their shaking. If you’re feeling all shook up, look around and take back your snow globes!
Jeff Nischwitz is the Founder of The Nischwitz Group (www.nischwitzgroup.com), a speaking, consulting, and coaching company that helps lawyers and law firms accelerate their results. Jeff works with law firms and their leaders in four core areas: ensuring your firm’s future with succession planning and future leader development; building business development cultures and accelerating revenue growth; engaging, empowering and entrusting your team; and navigating the practice of law with less stress and more peace. Jeff is the author of three books: Think Again! Innovative Approaches to the Business of Law (American Bar Association 2007); his leadership book, Unmask: Let Go of Who You’re “Supposed” to Be & Unleash Your True Leader (Motivational Press 2014); and his newest personal development book, Arrows of Truth: Simple Shifts for Personal Transformation (Eagle Heart Press 2017), a companion on your journey of life and leadership. You can connect with Jeff at jeff@nischwitzgroup.com, 216.956.6587, or www.nischwitzgroup.com. If you’d like to receive Jeff ’s Daily Wake, Up Calls every morning via email, join our community of different thinkers by signing up at https://tinyurl.com/nischwitznewsletter.
