adventures in goal-setting: how getting clear on your vision can change the direction of your life

Chloe, our Vision & Goals Program Manager here at lululemon, first started working for the company in 2002 as a part-time educator at our Queen Street store in Toronto after hearing about the job from a friend. She was looking to pay the bills and chill out after finishing her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts before embarking on a career as a (band camp alert!) music teacher. When she was hired, Chloe wasn’t really an “athlete,” nevermind a yogi; however, she soon fell in love with the practice of finding her breath and stretching it out on her mat.

A few months into her role, Chloe realized that part of what made her want to be a music teacher was her love of facilitating learning for people. She began focusing on this and consequently became a Store Manager. It was also around this time that Chloe was introduced to the practice of creating a vision for herself and setting goals. Her first reaction was something like this (something a lot of us can probably relate to):

“I am a cool city girl from Toronto who doesn’t read self-help books thankyouverymuch.”

Chloe soon realized, however, that if she was going to facilitate learning for her staff as a Store Manager, she needed to walk the walk and invest in what she was supposed to be teaching (aka drop the too-cool-for-school vibes and open up to the possibility that Vision and Goals could be awesome). She began by setting a vision for her ideal future life in 10 years and then created 1, 5 and 10 year goals for herself (personal, career and health-focused) that would support her in achieving this vision.

Once Chloe got into goal-setting, she realized that it was working: by intentionally writing down and declaring what she wanted, things started to come together. Zing! She realized that she wanted to train people in Vision and Goals and became lululemon’s Training Manager. How did she know she wanted that job? Because her goals and her passions were clear enough that she knew, she had the confidence to declare her goals, and she was around people who supported her in achieving them.

It’s been, ahem, a few years since Chloe first created the training role in Toronto. Since then her life has been pretty rad: she has moved to Vancouver, become the Head of Retail Training for the company, got married to a cool dude, had a baby, backpacked New Zealand and come back to share why vision and goal-setting is badass once more. She isn't teaching music class - instead, she's living the life she was meant to, with her authentic vision acting as her true north.

key takeways from chloe's journey

1.     surround yourself with people who support your goals.

Sometimes the people around us are happy, supportive, honest and will do whatever it takes to support you achieving your goals. Other times there are people who (for whatever reason) cannot get down with what you are striving for. Surround yourself with positive people who are rooting for you and will give you honest feedback - you will find success more easily, promise.

2.     get clear on what you actually want.

Chloe originally thought she wanted to be a music teacher. She told herself that that was what she wanted, plus she had just gotten a fine arts degree, so she should still do it. When she gained the courage to actually declare what she wanted, it became clear to her what her vision is: owning and running a leadership retreat centre where she creates awesome experiential leadership programming. The courage to have a real conversation with yourself about what you really want (not what should happen, but what is POSSIBLE) is when things will begin falling into place. Speaking of that…

3.     set goals from possible, not probable.

Close your eyes and think about what you really want. Not what might or probably will happen, but what you really want for yourself without any caveats getting in the way. It’s remarkable how many of us are doing stuff that has nothing to do with what we actually want. When we shift into the perspective of possibility, we can begin to discover what makes us happy and what looks like an ideal vision for ourselves.

This month we are getting down with setting vision and goals for ourselves! For more on how to create a vision and set goals, check out these worksheets. Share your progress on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #readysetgoals.

Chances are high you’ve seen Tess' name around Twitter and our Facebook page, answering your product questions or handing out virtual high fives for recent goals crushed. As one of our incredibly social savvy team members - Tess spends her days pursuing the internet and chatting with some of the coolest people out there (like you!). The conversations Tess has every day at work consistently inspire her and recently led her to create a badass goal - "the Ambassador Project".

Have you ever had one of those moments where you wonder “Is this real life?” Those happen to me on the regular in my job. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I work in social media. This vague title (much to the confusion of border control officers and my parents – hi, Mum!) allows me the opportunity to spend my days cruising the internet and chatting to some of the raddest people out here – you guys.  I answer tweets about anything from directions to the nearest store to the best places to sweat in your hood. I’m naturally chatty (ask anyone who’s ever been in a room with me) so getting up each morning to hear about all the cool and inspiring things our guests are up to is such a treat.

One group of people that inspire me daily are our  ambassadors. Now, I fully intend on finishing my degree and eventually winding up with my PhD in physiology but if the opportunity arose for me to be a professional marathon cheerleader, I’d drop the textbooks in a heartbeat. The thing is, I love athletes. I have the deepest respect for anyone who is willing to go all out to try something they’ve never done before. Nothing moves me to keep going than knowing that there are people out there getting up to 4am alarms to run track in the rain, juggling schedules to create workouts or showing up on their mats for their students. I’m a person who turns to sweat when things gets rough. I wanted to spend some time getting to know the people that have helped me through some of my darkest hours and might not even know it. It started with a simple declaration and lo, the Ambassador Project was born.

sweats so far

Yin Yoga – Elle Basten

Spin – Mike Porter

Spin – Natasha Lowe

Hot Yoga with Music– Sasha Smith

Hot Yoga – Heather McEwen

Barre Method – Carolyn Williams

the road ahead

I have a long, sweaty road ahead of me which is perfect for working off holiday shortbread and one too many spiked eggnogs.  After the YVR edition is complete, I’m headed to NYC to stretch, spin and sweat with our ambassadors in the city that don’t sleep. I can’t wait to see all of you on the mat, in the box or on the bike.

Feeling inspired? Get out there and get to know the ambassadors in your neighbourhood. Needing inspiration? You know where Tess can be found and she’d be happy to chat about your goals and sweaty pursuits. If you’re an ambassador and you want to sweat with her, leave a note or shoot her a tweet @thatgirlsix with the hashtag #ambassadorproject. Let’s get sweaty!

what does “vision and goals” mean, anyway?

how V&G came to be at lululemon

As a former competitive athlete, Chip has always been a big believer in setting goals. Prior to creating lululemon in 1998, Chip became very interested in the practice of goal setting and creating a vision - how we as people define and create what we want in our lives. When he saw the power these principles had in his life, he incorporated the practice of vision and goal setting with his team at lululemon. It has been a part of our culture ever since.

why we are sharing this with you

We have seen the power of setting a vision and goals all around us – triathlons, languages learned, health goals achieved, houses bought, job changes (both coming and going from the company)…we’ve seen magical things accomplished that once seemed impossible, or at the very least improbable! We are so passionate about this practice that we want to share it with the world.

the practice of vision and goals

Like yoga, creating vision and goals for your life is a constant practice. Being intentional about how you approach this process will help you get clear about what you want – and how you are going to make it happen.

1.     get connected to your vision.

Find a place you find relaxing and get yourself settled in (think tea, a candle…maybe even sweatpants). Next, close your eyes and think about what your ideal life would be in 10 years if anything was possible. Don’t get caught up in tactics – i.e. “but how would I pay for that” or “that seems unrealistic.” Focus in and think about what this life would look like without caveats.

Pssst....we created worksheets especially for this exercise. Get down on it!

Attention à nos amis francos! Veuillez télécharger les feuilles de travail ici.

2.     determine what your ten-year goals are from this vision (we suggest three areas of your life to begin: personal, health and career).

In order to begin the path to the ideal life you just imagined, we begin by setting ten-year goals. What does this mean? Take a look at your vision. Do you want to sail around the Mediterranean? A few things will need to happen: money for purchase and upkeep, skill…what else?  And what order do these things need to go in for you to be successful?

example:

ten-year goal: I sail the Mediterranean captaining my new sailboat by June 1st, 2023

3.     do the same with five- and one-year goals.

Okay, so here’s the reason we set goals backwards: your five- and one-year goals should support you in attaining your ten-year goals, consequently helping you to your vision. Let’s use our sailboat analogy again.

examples:

five-year goal: I take lessons from the skipper of an America’s Cup vessel by August 1st, 2018

one-year goal: I put $400/month into a high-interest savings boat fund

4.     what can you do right now?

Goals can seem lofty or even unattainable. 50% of the goals on your worksheet should scare you a little – it is when we set these audacious goals that we tap into the life we really desire. This can be both exciting and a little daunting, too.

So what can you do right now? Well, look at your goals. Do you need to be physically fit or have some money set aside to achieve them? Are you accomplishing them by yourself or do you need to enroll other people? Begin planning and executing the things you need to do today in order to get the ball rolling.

vision and goals worksheets

Having a dedicated worksheet or book devoted to your vision and goals practice is key. We have created worksheets to help you brainstorm and ideate on what your vision for your ideal life is, and then also included pages designed to help you create a framework for your goals going forward. Think of this booklet as your vision and goals “hub,” a place for ideas to begin and then take off on their chosen path.

What are your vision & goals and how are you getting there? Share them on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #readysetgoals - we can’t wait to see and hear what you've got cookin'!

create a vision board with

It’s no secret that lululemon is big on goals. We set goals, we achieve goals and, to put it mildly, we are downright obsessed with living lives we love through the practice of goal setting. Sometimes, nothing beats old-fashioned pen and paper when it comes to creating a vision and setting goals but leave it to our Digital Innovation team to find the coolest, raddest, digital tools, for screens big and small.

tools to get inspired

pinterest - desktop, iPhone carolyn - digital innovation manager

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Pinterest is my biggest source of vision inspiration online. From inspiring quotes to eye-catching photos, Pinterest helps me build vision boards for myself in all areas of my life. Currently I’m pinning to a “vision of my life in ten years”, a “my vision of health” board and even a “my career in five years” board.

Pinterest keeps my imagination alive and allows my vision to grow and change with time. I can keep my visions private or share them with friends. Pinterest also has a great iPhone app (actually, one of my all time favourites) so I can keep creating on the go!

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43 things - desktop, iPhone carolyn - digital innovation manager

A true match made in heaven - social and goal setting? Yes please! 43things is an online community and goal setting service (it’s the biggest one on the web) that helps you set goals while meeting likeminded people. The site builds on social relationships so that community members can help each other in achieving goals and get inspired to take on new goals themselves. With Facebook integration, I can see what sorts of goals my friends have set and we can connect through shared or similar goals.

evernote - desktop, iPhone, iPad, blackberry, peder - digital innovation intern

I achieve my goals by breaking the process into five categories: note taking, visioning, goal setting, to-do’s and daily tracking. While Evernote is not exactly positioned as the technology that will achieve my goals, it fits perfectly into the note taking part of my tried and true system. Evernote allows me to capture a picture, a stray insight, a voice memo, a webpage and pretty well anything else right from any of my devices. I love how “in the moment” Evernote is. I can record anything that piques my interest and then come back to it when I have enough time to make sense of how those bits of inspiration play into my bigger picture.

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mindbloom - desktop peder - digital innovation intern

Mindbloom fuses inspiration and goal setting to one by taking you into a place of possibility through an interactive story line. Mindbloom helps create your vision and connects you with the inspiration and tools you need to achieve your goals. I love that the app asks you to identify the areas of your life that are most important to you. Once you identify those areas, Mindbloom shares inspirational quotes and pictures so you can start visualizing an "anything is possible" life. From here, you can set goals that actually speak to who you are. Social integration and goal suggestions are two other amazing features that help jump-start your most fulfilling life.

tools for staying on track

getting dreams done - iPhone carolyn - digital innovation manager

Getting Dreams Done is an iPhone application for goal setting, dream creation and vision boarding. Part of what I love most is that it’s simple to use. It integrates with my iCal and I find that it really operationalizes goal setting in a way that works for me. I use 43things and Pinterest to find vision and goals, inspiration and then use GettingDreamsDone on a weekly basis to check in, track and revise my goals. The calendar helps remind me of my status on certain goals and holds me accountable to achieving them.

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action method - desktop, iPhone, iPad, android, pen and paper kristina - social innovation manager

I use Action Method to keep track of my to-dos or goals for each day. Since I’m in a role where work often feels like play, it’s pretty easy to get carried away. Action Method is a tool that is available in almost every form: website, app and even that good old fashion pen and paper we were talking about. With so much always on the go, Action Method helps me prioritize my goals and keeps me on track for achieving them.

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Technology helps to hold us accountable to our goals because it is easy to share and it integrates goal setting into our day-to-day lives. The more accessible and visible our goals are, the more likely we are to achieve them. Let our DI team in on some of your favourite goal-setting tools.

want more?

• learn how to set powerful goals
• more goal setting 101
• check out some of our other favourite apps

Ciona (an educator at our Nashville store) is a lover of poetry, playfulness, travelling, yoga and the colour yellow. In 10 years you’ll see her producing and hosting a TV show on OWN.

what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

want more?

• read more from Ciona: Rouse Rantings
• create a vision and set powerful goals
• more words of wisdom: read our manifesto

image: flickr-Angie Torres

Think about your life 10 years from now. Where will you be, what will you be doing, what have you achieved? Writing down a detailed vision for your ideal life (being as descriptive as possible) helps to identify the goals you need to achieve to realize your vision. Here is our secret sauce to success; our 6 core concepts for vision and goal setting.

The 6 Core Concepts of Vision & Goals

The lululemon vision & goals training program is based on 6 core concepts.  These are tried, tested, and true methods for clarifying your vision and then setting goals to make it a reality.  Use this program to guide your vision & goals process.

1. Possibility

Set visions & goals in possibility and that are beyond what is likely to happen.  A mindset of possibility allows you to get into creative visualisation and clearly articulate your ideal life without self created limitation.  A couple of ways of getting into possibility:

• Let your past be in the past: We tend to look at the past in order to create our future, yet a goal set from the past will likely create more of what already exists, and inherently has limitations.
• Remove perceived constraints: What limitations do you create for yourself that don’t actually exist?  ‘I don’t have enough money’.  ‘I don’t have the time’.

2. Vision

Your vision for your ideal life will drive your goals.  The purpose of setting your vision is to create a clear picture of your ideal life so your goals become powerful and meaningful to you.  The vision articulates what you are out for in life and your greatest ambitions.  It will give you a reason to get out of bed in the morning – something to get excited about.  Why are you setting goals – where will it get you?

A powerful vision:

• Is set 10 years in the future.
• Is clear and concise with enough detail to feel complete.  A paragraph or two should suffice.
• Incorporates all major domains of your life.  Usually: health, personal, career.
• Moves you emotionally and gets you excited – maybe even a little nervous.
• Uses present tense language.  Write it as if you are already there.
• Is authentic to you and grounded in your passions and unique greatness in the world.

3. Balance

It is important to balance your vision & goals in the major domains of your life.  Having balanced goals leads to a balanced life, while having goals in only one area can leave your desires for other areas unfulfilled.  The three main domains in life are most often: personal, health, career.  These can mean different things for different people.

4. Audacity

Be bold and set goals that are a challenge for you. Dare to challenge assumptions or conventions you have and tackle difficult goals.  Set your goals to be BHAGs:  Big Hairy Audacious Goals.

To decide if your goal is a BHAG, ask yourself:

• Is this goal easy to achieve?
• Is this likely to happen anyways, with little effort on my part?
• Is it a push goal that will move me closer to living my ideal life set in possibility?
• What sense of accomplishment will come with achieving this goal?

You will know if you are truly setting BHAGs in life if you’re failing at 50% of the goals.

5. Format

Formatting your goals in the correct way gives you the greatest likelihood of achieving them.  A goal written with the incorrect format can be wishy-washy and will go un-achieved.

• Trickle back: Start with the end in mind.  Set your 10 year goals first, then move backwards to 5 year, 1 year
• Quantifiable: You must be able to measure your goal.
• Specific: Precisely articulate the desired activity, object, event, or outcome in the goal.
• Present tense: Write your vision & goals in the present tense.
• Affirmative language: State what you want, not what you don’t want.
• Concise: Use as few words as possible; no justification is required.
• By-when date: State when the goal will be achieved.

See the worksheet below for examples.

6. Integrity

Once your goals are set, consider how you incorporate them into your daily life to achieve them.  How do you live with integrity to your vision & goals?  Here are some ideas:

• Create a system to honour and achieve your goals.  Do you use your day-timer?  Do you post your goals on your fridge?
• Enroll others so they know what you stand for.  Sharing your goals with others who are also committed goal setters allows them to support and assist you.
• There is choice every day in life.  Choose the things that move you closer towards achieving your vision & goals, rather than those things that are in conflict.

By writing your goals down you increase the likelihood of achieving them. Here’s a handy vision-and-goals-worksheet to get you started. Ready, set, goal!

want more?

• how to set compelling goals
• how to find balance in your life
• read about the lululemon vision

You’ve probably heard that we are doing some behind-the-scenes renovations to our online store. (What? You didn’t hear? Read more about it.) We have big goals. We’ve been assessing where we’re at and the first step in making our goal a reality is re-platforming our site. (Sounds glamourous, right? It's not.) We need to change a few things - hence, the renovation.

goals need renovations too

Our online store isn’t the only thing needing a facelift these days. Not sure about you, but our goals need constant attention. It’s been almost three months since we talked about setting goals instead of resolutions. We re-ignited things later in January when some of us (and likely some of you) lost some momentum. For those of you who were still stuck, we talked to Soho ambassador Holly to learn more about how dialing in on your values can help set things in motion.

Now it's nearly April. In the spirit of spring cleaning, why not take a look and see if your goals could also use a little love while we renovate online? After all, the goal setting resources on the site is in fine working order during the reno.

Visualize your next ten years before you set out renovating

how to renovate your goals

Have goals in the first place. You can’t renovate if you don’t own the place. You need a 10-year vision. If you have no idea what a BHAG is or you haven’t formally set out to capture your SMART goals on paper, we highly recommend you start. (We mean it. Start now.) Spend some time doing so and then set a reminder to check back on this blog in a few months’ time. Already got some goals? You may proceed.

Assess the situation. What stirred you when you first wrote your goals? Do they still motivate and inspire you? Are you happy with the attention you’ve been giving them or have you let the dust bunnies set up shop in the corners of your world?

Get insight from professionals. Ok, maybe this is more applicable if you’re attempting to redo the kitchen plumbing. Still, it never hurts to talk to those close to you. They may challenge you to dream bigger and take more risks. They may give you that dose of reality you need. There’s one thing to remember though: your goals need to motivate you and you alone. No justification is required.

Draw up some new plans. If you’re uninspired, get clarity on where you want to go, tear up the old blueprints and start fresh. Motivation (unlike that plumber you may actually need for your kitchen) runs cheap. Just spy on some of the big things others are up to. (Carolyn’s enthusiasm is just the ticket. Try not being motivated after reading her blog on goal setting.)

Get going. Renovating goals may not be as fun as swinging a sledgehammer into drywall but the clean-up is easier. Don’t expect it to all be easy though. (Just ask our IT team.) Every renovation comes with its surprises, so be prepared for some bumps along the way.

want more?

• Get your goals on paper. Everyone has to start somewhere.
• Make a stop-doing list while you’re at it. They’re just as amazing as their counterparts.
• Get inspired. Read about what Linda, Meghan and Jenn are up to.
• Follow our progress. Get all the latest news on the online store reno.

 Next to breaking a sweat, goal setting is the best way to up the resale value on one of your greatest assets: yourself. Remember to have some fun while you’re at it. (If you’ve been pining to wear a tool belt on a day that wasn’t Halloween, now’s your chance.) What are you busy renovating?

Our ambassador Holly brings her practice to the Soho community

Before you can set powerful goals, you need to identify what your values are. We asked to get a peek at Holly’s recent pursuits. Her response? “I am in the process of altering my goals AGAIN.” No problem - that's perfect. We explored what it takes to get clarity on the goal setting process. She thinks of it like trying on clothes. We like the sound of that.

Setting goals is a ongoing process for me. Sometimes defining them in words can be daunting. I’ve come to think of it as trying on clothes – there’s no need to commit, you can just see how they fit. By saying your goals out loud and writing them on paper, you try them on. Some fit better than others and that’s ok. Through the process of goal setting, we find our authentic voice and can articulate what we want to live for - but it isn't without effort. It’s something I’m working on right now. It is not easy. Things worth doing are seldom easy.

where to start

Sometimes we can get stuck on where to begin. A good place to start is to identify what moves you. I’ve discovered there are a few themes I live by, like a personal manifesto. They cultivate my inner space and create my outer experience.  They are my foundation for setting powerful goals. 

holly's themes

• The world is coming from you, not at you.    
• Love is more powerful than fear.  
• Gratitude is the greatest currency.  
• Be kind and gentle with yourself. 

I'm focusing on these as I create my future. Time to grab my journal and hit the dressing room, so to speak.

where to go from here

• Get the basics on goal setting. We can help.
• Re-ignite your goal setting fire. Read this post.
• Check out what else Holly is up to in Soho and beyond. Visit her site.

We’re inspired. Still haven’t penned your goals? No worries. Start by focusing on what inspires you. What will you try on? 

We love the “oohs” and “ahhs” we get from our guests the first time we hand them their first lululemon shopper. Instantly guests want to know: what are these phrases, what’s the deal with this bag, and why are you sharing it with me?

In sharing our shopper with all of our guests, we are sharing a piece of our culture and inspiration as a company. We have traditionally printed our shoppers with the lululemon manifesto, which is a series of statements that embodies our company's vision, culture and beliefs.

We love to see our guests carrying our shopper to and from yoga or around town, as it's a constant reminder of our vision to create components for people to live longer, healthier and more fun lives. The lululemon shopper is made of polypropylene, which is a plastic polymer that is 100% recyclable, does not absorb water, and is very durable.

have one already? opt out!

We know many of you already have a shopper or two, or five, and so we’ve added an “opt out” feature at the end of your online transactions with mother earth in mind. So if you already carry your groceries in your shopper, un-check the box that would send you a new one!

carry on and spread love

Our shopper has been spotted all over the world, and it encourages strangers during a six-hour layover to “breathe deeply and appreciate the moment" or to "sweat once a day" on vacation. We'd love for you to send us a photo of where your shopper has been, where it’s going, and how you are spreading love! Send your shopper photos to onlinecommunity@lululemon.com, post it on our Facebook wall, or tweet them, and we’ll share your inspiration with our guests for the next week.

Why not ride your bike to work and share with us how your reusable shopper keeps you green!

Spread the love and carry on! Namaste.

My favourite part of goal setting is envisioning my life in 10 years. After my first goal-coaching session, I sat down with my notes and wrote out a paragraph about what my life looked like in 10 years. WHOA! Right away, I realized that this vision of Future Desirae's life was the missing ingredient in my previous attempts at goal setting. Having a personal, present tense paragraph about my life in 10 years at the top of my goal sheet was the extra spark of inspiration and motivation that got me hooked on goal setting.

Desirae's most recent vision board, as seen hanging on her bedroom wall! Can you spot two yoga poses and her favourite breakfast food?

Now, don't get me wrong -- I love that paragraph as much as I did the first time I sat down to write it, but I've been introduced to another visualization technique that has taken my goal setting (and my bedroom wall!) to the next level: vision boards! I've also heard them called dream maps or just plain old collages, but no matter what you call them, I'm hooked. The concept behind a vision board is the same as a paragraph about your life in one, five or 10 years, but instead of words, you're working with images, which is perfect for a visual learner like me!

how to create a vision board:

1. Find pictures of things, people, places and activities you want in your life. I like to sit down with a stack of magazines (Yoga Journal, O Magazine andW omen's Health always make the cut), some scissors and an afternoon off.

2. Tear out any pictures that resonate with you - some of my favourites include pictures of healthy food, challenging yoga poses, beaches, smiles and books. Once you've created a really big, inspiring mess, it's time for scissors and tape!

3. Grab a bristol board and start arranging all of your photos into a collage.

The end result should be a mish-mash of all of the amazing things you see for yourself in the near or distant future.

As a finishing touch, I like to tie my vision board back to the goals I've set for myself, so I toss some of them on there for good measure. All you need for this last step is a sheet of white paper and something to write with. Just jot down some of your goals, cut them out and add them to the collage! At this point, you not only have an exciting visual representation of your future life, you also have a pretty amazing piece of art to hang on your wall.

And let's be serious, who doesn't love a good arts and crafts session?

Above: Vanessa wears the Remix Hoodie Lux in her tent in Tofino. Who will she affect today?

lululemon's vision is elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness. That's a pretty bold statement, isn’t it?

Individuals sometimes feel we can't make a difference in the world and we wonder what the point is. But this weekend I realized something: how truly powerful and influential I am. It isn’t arrogance, just reality. And I will ask you to read on to find out why.

I made some important calls and got in touch with family back home in Australia. Usually, I "skim listening", where I don't pay a whole lot of attention to what they say, because I think I already know what they are going to say. I think we are all guilty of this, at some time or another. However,this time was different. I stayed in the moment and actually listened to them and I could hear in their voice the impact I had on them.

But you know I'm not just talking about family. You impact everyone around you.

As I waited at the Vancouver airport last night at 11pm, I listened to this guy sitting further along the bench. He did not sound happy, so after he got off the phone I asked what was wrong. Seems there was a problem with his flight ticket, about an additional tax that did not occur when he originally bought the ticket. Heading back home to England, he had cashed in all his travelers cheques and had no money to pay the $53 they told him he owed.

Not being able to get into the city or back in time to go to a currency exchange, he was hugely stressed. He would have to stay in Canada and then fork out who knows how much for a new ticket. I shrugged my shoulders and said, "I will pay for you". This young English guy couldn’t believe it! "But you don’t know me!?" he protested, to which I replied: "So what?"

By that one simple gesture, he got home to his family. And I got an invite to not only stay at his bed and breakfast in England, but his mum also offered me a job! I couldn’t stop laughing at the hilarity of it all and how wonderful life can be, full of surprises. I had impacted his life so greatly. Not just him, but his family’s, my own life and all the people that I tell this story to.

Take a look at those around you, open your eyes and realize you impact them. Make a difference. Act. Do it now!