All journeys begin somewhere.
And some, end up somewhere.
And others open up new journeys you never saw coming.
But the big question, at least in my mind, is
Where to start?
Or how to start?
Well, I have heard some different advice over the years.
Things like, “Begin with the end in mind”.
“Start as though you’re already halfway through”.
“Start at the end and work backwards”.
There’s probably sound advice in all of those.
But something Marcy Jackson, co-founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal (“CCR”) said recently, struck a chord with me.
It sounds small.
And I think that’s why it hit me.
Because small is courageous.
Marcy said, of the CCR’s journey of 25 years, that it all began “close to home”.
Close.
And
Home.
There is something powerful in both of those words.
My journey, the dream of The Will Johnson Journey, all began with Accountants and burnout in mind.
It began with my ‘crucible moment’ when I realised I could no longer juggle the high pressured job
The overseas travel
Being absent on my children’s first days of school
And having little energy left to be a good partner.
And sadly, I am not alone.
The statistics around burnout in the accountancy profession are shocking.
Some studies show that over 90% of accountants are feeling burnt out, stressed and overwhelmed.
Hence my mission.
But that mission, to support accountants, got sidetracked.
One of those journeys within a journey.
I put all my free time and effort into organising a retreat for men. Because men need support too!
But that did not pan out as I had hoped.
And so, I was back at the drawing board.
Wondering, how do I rekindle the passion for the original mission?
Well, on Friday I went for a walk and talk with Ian Sanders.
Ian has had a big effect on me, not least because he knows what burnout feels like too.
And in conversation with Ian, I realised I had drifted far from that original dream.
Being sat alongside the Thames Estuary might have helped!
I remembered that what fuels me is my passion for people.
Seeing them at their best.
Being their most beautiful, authentic selves.
And doing it without sacrificing themselves along the way.
My walk with Ian was 75 miles away from home. Not exactly close.
But it got me back up close to the things that make my heart sing.
Things I am passionate about.
And perhaps that’s what home is.
Close to the things that make our hearts sing.
And maybe that’s the most important place to start any long journey.
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Thank you for reading!
#courage
#transformation
#mindset
#accountant
#burnout
Courageous Accountants – The Will Johnson Journey
The Ian Sanders Co. Helping leaders and organisations spark change
Morning Will. You sound inspired and that’s a wonderful thing. That idea, that insight or whatever it is will never leave you; and it sounds deeply honourable and special. I very much hope you find your Tribe — as Seth Godin would say — and can share your passion for the aliveness to be found in the work beyond climbing the career ladder and adorning oneself with a bushel of meaningless and at times faux labels. Take care my friend, Julian
Thank you, Ju.
Well, I have learned that much like the Thames Estuary, my energy ebbs and flows. Which is something I have wrestled with over the years and which I am only now starting to find answers to.
And in the past weeks, a few things have happened, that have brought a little focus to things. A stronger more confident hand on the rudder.
I plan to write a bit more in Thursday’s Newsletter.
Thanks for commenting!
Will