You Are the CEO of Your Life

As I sit at my desk on a Sunday night a 9:22 pm, scrolling through my social media feed and mindlessly going through my to-do list for the upcoming week, I realized that sometimes, I am so far from being in control of my own life. I feel like a front-seat zombie, following a preset trajectory, with no sense of direction or purpose for some dates.  There’s always a little bit of this and a little bit of that in my day. Tonight, I came across the quote, “You are the CEO of your own life. Hire, fire, and promote accordingly.” It struck a chord within me.  We are all the CEO of our own lives and it’s time to start hiring, firing, and promoting accordingly. Right now. 

Think of your life as a business. Identify the areas that need improvement. Just like a CEO would evaluate the performance of their employees, I evaluated my habits, relationships, and goals. It wasn’t pretty. I realized that I had been spending a lot of time on things that did not bring me joy or add significant value to my life. Maybe you, too, spend too much time binge-watching Netflix or hanging out with energy vampires who have no respect for your boundaries.  Let’s be honest, binge-watching the latest series on Netflix and being stuck with a bunch of dead-end employees who aren’t bringing anything to the table isn’t going to make you a millionaire or successful. Give them the boot and make room for some new hires.

The first order of business for me was to “fire” the negative influences in my life. Clean house.  Say, “Hasta la vista, baby” to toxicity in all of its forms. I distanced myself from toxic friends, stopped consuming negativity like it was a daily dose of vitamins, and cut down on activities that did not align with my values. It wasn’t easy, but I knew that it was necessary for my growth. 

Next, I “hired” and “promoted” positive influences in my life. I started attending events that aligned with my interests, joined an interest group for newer food photographers, and connected with people who are my spirit animals.  I put a premium on practicing self-care, such as healthy-ish eating, exercise, and reading books that inspired me. Assemble a personal dream team of good vibes and positive energy to rally with you. Although I will admit, I do still treat myself to an occasional McDonald’s breakfast because, ugh…it is so good. 

As I implemented these changes, I noticed a significant and dynamic shift in my life daily and energy. I felt more in control, happier, and fulfilled. I realized that when I took charge of my life, I could shape it into what I wanted it to be.

Take ownership of your life. You cannot expect others to make you happy or successful; it’s up to you to create the life you want.  It’s like Marie Kondo-ing your non-tangible life. Set boundaries.  Saying “no” to things that do not align with your values or goals allows you to make space for things that do. Learn that self-care is not selfish—it’s the financial statement of your life and it is necessary for survival. For me, when I take care of myself, I have more energy, patience, and compassion for others. Your greatest investment is yourself.

“You are the CEO of your own life. Hire, fire, and promote accordingly.” It is a powerful reminder that we are in control of our lives. When we treat our lives like a business, we become more intentional and strategic about our decisions. We evaluate our performance and make changes accordingly. Just like a CEO, we have the power to hire, fire, and promote the people and habits that shape our lives. By taking ownership of our lives, we can create the life we want and deserve. Ask yourself, “Who is bringing value to the table, and are you living up to your potential?” Don’t be a passenger; be the driver. Life doesn’t happen to you; it happens to you. Start evaluating your performance, and start hiring, firing, and promoting like the boss you are. Make your life the best it can be, because, in the end, you’re the one behind the wheel.