The calendar changing from 2020 to 2021 isn't what will make this year different. What will make this year different is YOU.

2020 is over! But sadly, there has not been much change in the world in 2021.

Circumstances and world events are actually not that different...mutating strains of the virus, insurrection at the US capital...things are definitely still feeling rather "2020-ish" in 2021. So what is going to make a difference in 2021? You are.

We just finished a virtual "mini-treat" that we put on for our Navigate program enrollees, and I felt so inspired by the energy and transformations that were happening there. The experience really drove home the idea that you will be the driving force for a different 2021...how you show up, how you view your own career, how you move forward.

Here are some of the ways our Phoenix Cohort in the Navigate program illustrated this idea:

Making Choices for Their Writing Practice

Many of our participants shared their pride and surprise at being able to clear the decks to make this mini-treat happen. As we all know, clearing a whole day to invest in your writing isn't an easy thing. Making choices like this to support your writing practice and your career is a huge step, and it makes a difference!

Incorporating Reflective Practices

In the mini-treat I use guided co-writing and other reflective practices to help participants approach their careers differently, and see things that might be holding them back. Reflective practice is vital to understanding yourself, and what you really want from your life as an academic.

"What are choices that you're making that are keeping things the same?" -Cathy Mazak

Controlling the Narrative

If 2020 taught us anything, it is that there are many (many) things that are out of our control. But when it comes to our careers, there are a lot of things that are in our control. How do you tell the story of your career? How do you think about it? You control your career narrative. You control what you make of the situations you're in. You control the development of your pipeline, reflective practices, prioritizing your writing. You determine what to focus on next, what steps to take, and how to incorporate everything you've learned up to now into your career trajectory.

"You control your narrative."

Thank you to all of our Phoenix Cohort attendees and our wonderful coaches for making this mini-treat such an inspiring experience!

Pulled in a thousand directions and can't seem to carve out time to write? Download my 10 Ways to Make Time to Write cheat sheet for ideas to implement today!

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This episode was first published at cathymazak.com/episode68.