Today in Aotearoa we are celebrating Matariki – the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known by the ancient Greeks as the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters.
It rises just above the horizon at dawn in late June or early July, and for many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year.
(It’s very pretty, if you can drag yourself up in the dark and get to a hilltop before sunrise.)
Here in mid winter, it is a time to reflect, reinvigorate and connect.
But wherever you are, now is a great time to do this, whether you’re in a winter funk, or have time as you bask in the sun.
1. Reflect
Celebrate all your wins. What are you proud of? Awards, projects, exhibitions, jobs, and assignments are all no-brainers but consider everything you’ve started, entered, and been a part of.
Celebrate any marketing you’ve done, work you’ve shared, a good meeting, and even if you’ve simply contacted a new prospect for the first time. Marketing is hard and you can’t be in the mix if you haven’t done this, so damn well done on anything that’s made you more visible.
2. Reinvigorate
What goals, ideas, personal work and projects do you want to reawaken? What have you started that you want to pick up again, or what haven’t you started that you’d really like to achieve by end of this year?
Sometimes the smallest things can have the best results. What’s under your nose that you can take action on today?
2. Connect
I called a photographer recently to check if he was OK, and he said that call was all it took to shake him out of a funk.
Who can you call that you haven’t contacted for a while? Are you overdue on an Email blast? Or what about just DM’ing a few people on social media?
(If you’re a pro photographer who needs help with any of this, it’s my jam. Scroll down for ways to reflect, reinvigorate, or connect with me.)
Meanwhile, have a beautiful and reflective star-gazing weekend.
Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori (Wishing you a happy Māori New Year),
Need help?
1. Watch my free webinar Define your direction to help you get refocused on your goals for 2023.
2. Apply for a free call with me to discuss ways I can help you reinvigorate your brand, and connect with those elusive decision makers.
3. Registration for my next mentoring program closes in mid August and it’s over half full so if you want to be considered please organise a Zoom call with me ASAP. The call is free and at the very least I can answer some questions and help you understand next steps. https://christinaforce.net/