When people are asked their favorite number between 0-9, most pick lucky 7!

I’ve always been an even number fan. My favorite number is 8. I like the roundness, symmetry and divisibility by 2.

What does this have to do with leaving (big) law or figuring out what else you could do with your life?

Two things (here I am again with the even numbers…)

1. Clues to figure out what you could do next are all around you.

YOU are the key. Start paying attention to YOUR FAVORITE likes, interests and obsessions.

Examples from WILL members: Gina is a huge Beyoncé fan, and longs to empower women. Ruth is obsessed with a spa in Canada and yearns to open a similar spot in New England, and Danielle dreams of starting a business in collaboration with women in Ethiopia.

These are CLUES that might not translate directly into a j.o.b., but point to some of the elements and values they hold dear.

When you start paying attention and not dismissing YOUR unique interests, you open up to inspiration for your next iteration.

And yes, you CAN have a next iteration. You are smart, competent and hardworking.

If you can do what you’ve done to get to where you are, you can do ANYTHING!

2. Groundhog Day is coming up. This year, 2/2/2020 (2+2+2+2) = 8, my favorite number!

If you haven’t seen the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, I suggest you watch it. There’s a sneaky wisdom in it. (Spoiler alert…) By paying attention and trying one new thing each day, Bill Murray ultimately liberates himself from a repetitive time loop.

How do you experience Groundhog Day?

I’ve been thinking seriously about this for myself… the places I’m stuck, that I complain about but don’t change. (Argh!)

Writing this has given me pause, a chance to look back and observe where I am doing this in my life. Then I apply two of my favorite refrains:

• Progress, not perfection.
• What we pay attention to grows.

What do I want to pay attention to? I invite you to join me in this Groundhog Day activity to help refocus on what we DO want to grow.

Take something in your life that didn’t go as well as you would have liked or is irritating you.

Perhaps something you are stuck on and having trouble letting go. It could be something you said, or did, or how you handled something.

Imagine that you could do it all over again! Write down…

1. What worked? Give yourself credit for what did. Typically we hyperfocus on the negative.
2. What didn’t? Be honest and kind with yourself.
3. What would you do differently next time?
4. What new normals do you want to put in place? What standards do you intend to uphold for yourself?

This is kinda painful, and kinda good, right?