My first-grade son was recently asked to make a Venn diagram for class. I am pretty sure I did not know what a Venn diagram was until college, but I digress.

One of my favorite Venn diagrams is the one with the circles representing the following:

• What you are good at
• What you love doing
• What the world needs
• What you get paid for

And in the middle is the sweet spot. You are living at your best when all the elements align.

Magic.

Let’s think about this in three ways:

• As it relates to yourself
• As it relates to your staff
• As it relates to your organization

Self:

• How much of your day are you doing something you are good at?
• How much do you love your work, how you spend your free time, and overall the life you have created for yourself?
• How are you being of service in your work and supporting the world in something that is useful?
• Are you able to pay your rent, eat healthy food, and splurge on occasion?

After some reflection, you may see one or more of the areas that could use some adjustments. How might you take a baby step in that area to move yourself closer to the middle?

Staff:

• When is the last time you asked your team members what they really love about their job?
• When have you really recognized them for what they excel at?
• When have you really looked at those two factors (what they love and what they are good at) and considered what your organizational needs are?

Is there a way to move each employee closer to their own personal center? Might that make them happier and more effective? Might that ultimately make your organization more impactful, and might you then be able to give them the nice salary increase you have always wanted to?

Your organization:

• When is the last time you put the mirror up to your organization?
• What does it do really really well?
• What is the organization passionate about?
• What does the world need from you?
• How can you earn and raise enough money to stay in business?

When the board, staff, and other key stakeholders ask and answer these questions honestly the organization can take baby steps towards being closer to its best.

The world needs you at your best, your staff at its best, and your organization at its best. What small adjustments can you make to start moving closer to your best?