Finding Passion & Purpose
Tags: Passion, Purpose, Growth Mindset, Gtb Talks, Gtb Dearborn

Finding Passion & Purpose

Diane Flynn | Co-Founder and CEO, ReBoot Accel

In September, GTB welcomed Diane Flynn, co-founder and CEO of ReBoot Accel, to lead a conversation on “Passion & Purpose.” Diane discussed the power and caveats of saying “yes”; five behaviors that hold most people back from reaching their potential; proven techniques for unlocking opportunities for growth; and strategies on how to align your career to your values.

Diane outlined each of these points after telling GTB about a time she was stuck on the couch and began reassessing her life’s focus, which, for the last 16 years, had been her family. At that point, her kids had grown up and out of the house, and she was looking for a new purpose. Shortly after this reflection, she got a call asking her back to work. Diane said yes — a yes that was outside of her comfort zone, but a yes that has since led her to create ReBoot Accel, teach at Stanford University, speak on national platforms such as NPR and the Today Show and co-write her very own book.

Diane believes that kind of “yes” can transform a tired life to an inspired life.

Diane’s Caveats to Saying “Yes”

According to Diane, when you say “yes” to a new opportunity, you have to accept that you won’t know where it’s going to lead you. “The journey can be the reward,” so don’t miss it by worrying about what’s next.

Secondly, you’re going to fail, which is only a loss if you don’t learn something from it.

Lastly, saying “yes” requires a lot of saying “no.” It’s essential to turn down opportunities that don’t excite or inspire you in order to have time for those that do.

Saying “yes” requires a lot of saying “no.”

Five Behaviors that Hold People Back

Throughout her talk, Diane discussed the five behaviors that she believes hold people back in their lives.

Lacking confidence. To address this, check your internal “script.” Are you speaking positively to yourself or letting “imposter syndrome” make you feel like you aren’t enough? To combat negative self-talk, keep a note or file near you that reminds you of your strengths. Not Recognizing Your Self-Worth. Instead of questioning your strengths and experiences by asking “am I?” turn it around and say “I am!”. This can be a game changer. Fear of Failure. Don’t be afraid of failure. Practice a growth mindset, a concept created by Dr. Carol Dweck, and view challenges as learning opportunities. Perfectionism. Striving for perfection is holding you back. It’s okay to try new things even though they may not go exactly the way you want them to. Inertia. Movement toward your goals is key. Focus on taking one step at a time to make this less overwhelming.

Techniques for Unlocking Opportunities

Diane’s method of success evolved from her time confined on the couch while recovering from surgery. Being “on the couch” allowed her to do an important personal inventory, examining what makes her happy and fulfilled in life. She then used this assessment to create a personal mantra:

“I want to engage in creative collaboration with people I respect around issues to change lives and build community.”

Diane compares each new opportunity that comes her way to that mantra to see if it’s something she wants to invest her time and energy in.

The next step is to “get off the couch”. Diane references the “bias to action approach” and suggests trying things quickly to keep yourself moving. This is where you find out what works for you and what doesn’t.

Diane’s final step to success is to pay it forward and “share the couch”. To do this, she invites us all to make our own personal assessments. As her mantra proves, she found that one of the things that “fills her tank” is doing work that goes beyond herself and helps others. This kind of work might need the help of an “accountability partner”, someone who will help you stick to your goals and with whom you can share your skills and knowledge.

Before she left, Diane invited us to take the OneYesChallenge and try saying “yes” to an opportunity that scares us but could prove to be life changing.

Watch below to hear Diane’s story and advice in her own words.