Dear friend,
Happy Chinese New Year
When I was young, becoming an adult was the ‘end’ goal. It meant being done with studying, gaining employment, moving out, and ‘adulting’. I believed in the common misconception that once I became an adult, I’d be done ‘growing’ up.
But that could not be further from the truth.
I began my entrepreneurship journey in 1991 along with my cousin and brother building businesses in Eastern Europe and eventually across war-torn Africa. I operated as a true achiever focusing my time and energy building a family enterprise together.
When I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, it shifted my life in a trajectory that I could never have planned for or imagined. I lost the ability to trust myself as my body caved in on me. It challenged my ability to make decisions, moving me from a quick, effective decision maker to a democratic leader that didn’t make any decisions but instead created space to facilitate the process for others to decide.
It’s taken me over a decade to rebuild the trust in myself to take the lead and make the hard decisions that strategic leaders are expected to. The cancer followed by divorce shifted me to the next stage of adult development but shattered my inner confidence in the process.
Research in human development has found that adults move through predictable stages of growth. These stages allow for adults to deal with more complexity, see more perspectives and be more aware of their own thinking.
In other words, we continue to grow even through adulthood.
We all operate from a center of gravity – we tend to think mainly from the current level of development we’re in, and when we grow through the stages, we transcend and include them.
As you look back on your life, can you identify specific moments that shaped and developed you to who you are at present?
Going through the STAGES assessment has given me awareness of where I stand, and insight to know what areas still need support and development. It’s helped me better understand and relate to my team at Qineticare, my loved ones, friends, and the families we serve. I nudge you to consider experiencing the STAGES assessment too.
As we embark on the year of the Tiger, a symbol of strength and bravery, I wish you growth and fulfillment in all areas of your life.
With love and gratitude,
feisal