Are you looking at your calendar with the best of intentions? Do you envision a neat, cozy finish to projects, full of insights, post-mortem documentation, and good feelings all around?
It’s a nice dream, but let’s be honest. Most of the time, the end-of-year reality is much closer to the airport mad dash in “Home Alone”!
That’s why some things will need to hit the “We do not care” bin. Have you seen the Shorts on social media, where a woman addresses everything from too much laundry to thermostat battles? (For dealmakers, a similar club has sprung up on LinkedIn.)
The “We Do Not Care Club” is essential for a workable exit strategy. You can aspire to perfection, but being overly fussy will just make you (and everyone else) miserable.
The “We Do Not Care” clubs reminded me of a colleague who had a tough end to a promising job.
Nadia got caught in a power struggle after her team was unfairly blamed for slipped deadlines. Suddenly, she was out.
When a mutual friend caught up with her 6 months later, he was full of scalding hot tea. (No surprise, the problems only got worse after Nadia was let go.)
But the punch line was that Nadia was unbothered. She had redirected her energy to a new consulting business, and business was booming. She listened politely but changed the subject by replying, “It’s amazing to me how little I care about anything you’re saying.”
That exchange gave me an a-ha moment. Keeping anger, resentment, and grudges alive takes mental attention, emotional investment, and a physical toll. You pass the exit strategy masterclass by taking stock, then elegantly cutting the cord.
So, what’s in your junk drawer? Here are three ways + an AI prompt to tidy up what’s stealing your attention:
There is no getting around hard times, but they’re only wasted if you fail to learn from them. That’s why the November series, Pass the Masterclass, has focused on ways to turn common mistakes into empowering wisdom. We’ve discussed life lessons such as the power of being truthful, asking inconvenient questions, and de-escalating little spats before they turn into a 3-alarm blaze.
Now, take a minute to reflect on the “didn’t see that coming” moments you had this year. Each of them holds a Wicked-style “For Good” moment worth taking with you. Skills like clarity, creating structure, and managing what you can control aren’t only for your benefit—they also translate into a marketable How. So, give yourself credit and turn around supposed failures into accomplishments.
For instance:
* The person who breadcrumbed information? You passed the masterclass on problem-solving during ambiguous, fast-moving situations.
* The project that didn’t go to plan? You passed the masterclass on creativity and collaboration, where you partnered to push through.
* The endlessly cranky co-worker? You passed the resilience and integrity masterclass, getting things done in spite of them.
* And all those ho-hum presentations? You’ve passed the masterclass of understanding the value of storytelling, preparation, and designing targeted communications for your audience.
End spinning over the past or ruminating about the future and put things in place—that’s how you prepare yourself to welcome in what is new, fun, juicy, and meaningful. Take charge like the creative, wise CEO of your life—a Soul Boss—and leave the year as the best version of yourself.