I’ve been writing this weekly blog for ten years, the first one was published on February 1st, 2015. It is much longer than I imagined and this probably explains why I have been wondering of late, is it time to quit? Is it time to stop setting aside some of my Sunday to write this blog? We all face these kind of decisions. Some people make the decisions quickly and move on. They seem to effortlessly flit from thing to thing but they also probably wouldn’t stick at something for ten years. Others like me, find it difficult to call it a day. Why is it so hard?
Is It A Binary Decision?
As I have been wrestling with this decision, I’ve looked at it as an either or decision. Do I continue to write or do I stop? What are the pros and cons of each. I would get some time back and I won’t miss the anxious feeling of not knowing what to write about. I will miss the comments and positive feedback, especially those insights that encourage me to think deeper. As I’ve weighed this up, perhaps I’m looking at this all wrong. Is this really an either or decision?
A Different Type Of Decision
We tend to look at decisions as a choice between A or B. Do A and stop B, or vice versa. What if it isn’t a question of A or B. What if it is really A and B? This is the concept Barry Johnson wrote about in Polarity Theory. Instead of looking at decisions as one thing or another, polarity theory considers a continuum where the question is how much of each is appropriate. This is a balancing act that shifts over time.
A Question of Balance
At the moment, my motivation to write is diminishing, even as I am typing away on my kitchen island, the words flowing easily. I might miss it but I do know I have a lot of other interests that I will gladly do instead of writing. The real test is not now but how I will feel as I move forward. As noted above, it is a question of balance. Is it time to take a break and restore my motivation? There is only one way to find out.
This will be my last blog post for at least a while. I don’t know how long that will be and whether I will come back to it. Time will tell. If you miss my weekly posts, I encourage you to check out my very large inventory of previous posts on the Oyster website under Leadership Insights.
Thank you for being a terrific audience!
To be continued…
Andy,
Thanks so much for all the valuable content and everything I’ve learned from you over the last ten years!.
Enjoy your break and maybe I’ll see you back here again!
You could just post when you fancy doing so. Or when you are gripped by something exciting or that you have to say.
Anyway, good job. 10 years, that’s something.
Randy, first — thank you. I’ve truly enjoyed these posts and have often passed them along as valuable to the next generation of leaders that I care about.
You are exactly right to question yourself regarding how to spend your precious time. I lost a younger brother last year — quite unexpectedly and just before he was going to cut back and take more time. We have no guarantee of another single day, so make the most of what you’re given.
I hope we can still catch up occasionally. Randy
Thanks Andy. For the previous posts and also for modeling what the process can look like for thinking through making a change. Brava!