Step Zero: The 40-year old graduate

Now that graduation has past and most of the congratulatory social media posts are slowing down in intensity. I find myself facing this popular question from family, friends, peers, co-workers (I like and don't), and even my neighbors. So Sasha, what's next?

This is my fault. I've set the tone for being the typical overachiever. The woman who looks for her next adventure just a few moments before completing the current one. People seem to believe that I have a 5, 10, and 30 year plan. I give great advice and always look like I have the answers. People truly think that I simply have it all figured out.

That my friends is a whole entire lie. I may liken myself to Wonder Woman and come across as extraordinary. Truth be told, I am more of the extra ordinary type. I don't have it all planned out. If you really want to know what I have been doing with all this new found available time - I've been sleeping my evenings away.

If I was being honest. I'd tell them all that I am scared to start thinking about what's next. Do I apply for the next promotion? Do I look for a new company to take my degree to? Do I rebrand myself and change careers? Do I move to California for the silicone valley life? Do I leave it all and run to Brussels and start over?

My life is not a scene from Eat, Pray, Love, Tomb Raider, or Carmen SanDiego. My life has always been simple. Just do a little bit better than everyone else. For as long as I can remember, my mother constantly reminded me of this concept. She called it the 2% rule. She would curl her lips every morning, smile at me, and say "mi hija, 2% por favor".

So, what is the next step when you finally get a bachelors degree at 40-years old? I'm going to take that same age old advice from my mom and apply it here. Sasha, just do 2% better than then you did before. I don't have to over complicate my life with extreme changes. I can just keep looking at life through the lens of opportunity and find those 2% shifts that will create value.

Welcome to step zero of my s|hero journey.