What do you actually want?

Welcome to Wisdom Wednesdays (Friday this week) from Owl & Key

Each week, enjoy a quick guided reflection to help you unlock what's next and bring your Strategic Plan for Life into reality. 

Let's dive in!

I’ve had multiple hikes and heartfelt conversations lately circling the same question:

What do you actually want?

Not what your boss expects.
Not what your budget spreadsheet demands.
Not what your parents, your partner, or even Instagram say you should want.

I’m talking about the quiet truth buried underneath all of that noise—the real you. The part of you that knows. The whisper you’ve ignored. Or the fire you’ve tried to smother.

The only way I know how to consistently access that clarity?

By getting super honest about:

• Who you uniquely are

• The core values that drive you

• And the life experiences that would make your life fulfilling

This is the foundation of being intentional. And when you do it, everything starts to shift.

Why this matters for you

There’s likely an area of your life where you’re operating on someone else’s expectations or an outdated belief. I'm always finding new areas with every changing season of life.

You know whatever it is is not right for you now. You know something has to change.

But you might still be stuck in the swirl:

When? How? What’s next?

What most people do (and why it doesn’t work)

Most people double down on what’s logical. What’s proven. What feels less risky. They keep building around things that don’t actually matter to them.

But here’s the truth:

The real risk isn’t choosing something new.
It’s staying stuck in something old.

Because over time, that "safe," “sensible” path becomes a life full of misaligned choices. And by the time they realize it, the cost is far greater than they imagined.

The Unlock

The moment you decide to live with intention… you start designing life and work around what actually matters.

• You’re no longer the founder or leader making every decision based on revenue targets—you’re designing the business or career around your life.
• You’re no longer the overcommitted parent saying yes to everything—you’re creating boundaries that protect your energy.
• You’re no longer letting your calendar control you—you’re curating it to support the work and life that fulfill you.

This is what it means to lead a values-aligned life.

Clarity for what's next

Knowing what you truly want is the hardest part. But once you do, everything gets easier.

Your options start to emerge. Opportunities randomly pop up that you couldn't have anticipated. Things fall away without pain.

Because you’ll know what to say yes to—and what to gracefully walk away from.

A Client Example

I once worked with a client who was doing everything right. She was performing, achieving, constantly pushing toward the next milestone.

And then one day she said:

“I realized I’ve been climbing the ladder. But my ladder is on the wrong wall.”

So she rebuilt.
She restructured her calendar.
She declined unnecessary meetings.
She protected time for her health, her family, and her most important work.
She focused on what she actually wanted.

The result? A more energized, grounded version of herself—and a team that followed her lead. The ripple effects were undeniable.

Your Turn

Where in your life are you operating on autopilot?
Where are you climbing someone else’s ladder?

This week, I invite you to pause and check in with yourself.

What do you want?
Not someday.
Now.

And when you’re ready to design the next chapter around that truth, we’re here for you.

🖤
Krista
& the Owl & Key Team

✨ P.S. In need of some immediate clarity and momentum? You can now book a session with me! We'll be adding our other Expert Guides to the list here soon, so keep an eye out!

• Not ready for a session? You can also buy the book, get the digital experience or bring us into your organization to work with your team or speak.