Why we built unblock Yourself
Growing up, I had a front-row seat to what hard work really meant. My dad was an old-school entrepreneur who built his business on a foundation of service to others. This value wasn’t just about customers but extended to partners, community members, and team members. It was clear that successful businesses thrived when they prioritized the well-being and growth of everyone involved.
I carried this principle into my work in the fast-growing technology sector. Over 13 years, I achieved significant milestones, including one IPO and two acquisitions. I built local and international communities of practice, mentored startups, and consulted across various ventures. While I found success and genuinely enjoyed sharing best practices, I felt something was missing and that I wasn’t fulfilling my true purpose.
A pivotal moment came in January 2022. At the time, I was leading a team of 25 people in our business that was growing rapidly - our revenue had increased by nearly 400% in the previous year, and the company had doubled in size. While these achievements brought excitement, they also left the team exhausted. Vacations didn’t provide the necessary relief; workloads simply piled up during time off. It was clear we needed a new approach.
To kick off our new fiscal year, I proposed a shift in how we conducted our Annual and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs). Instead of focusing solely on metrics and business goals, we decided to prioritize personal growth instead. We swapped out a review of business metrics and goals for the year ahead, and turned our business QBR into a personal QBR.
In our first session, team members shared their personal goals, identified milestones, and established success metrics—just as they would for business objectives. Each person presented their plan to the group, and we agreed to meet again monthly to track progress and for the team to offer support to one another.
The results were staggering. At the end of the quarter, team members presented their achievements, which ranged from weight loss and mended relationships to newfound confidence and personal growth. The sessions were filled with emotion—there were tears, cheers, and deeper connections made as each team member shared what they had accomplished. Trust within the team soared, communication improved, and everyone was more engaged. As for business objectives, not surprisingly, we saw record achievement of objectives as well. Our team had zero attrition and exceeded all performance targets.
We continued this process into the next quarter and saw team dynamics and business results continue to improve, even as the business grew more complex. Team members showed resilience and energy, and the results exceeded expectations once again. By the summer, organizational changes occurred that caused us to pause this process, but the impact of what we'd started had taken root. Over two years after stopping the process, a former team member shared that they still use the quarterly template to plan their personal goals. What began as an experiment turned into a transformative process that helped individuals and our business to thrive.
Reflecting back, I realized this personal QBR process was the culmination of the values I learned in my childhood: serving others and helping them grow. It was what I was meant to do all along. Ironically, designing and leading the team through this process helped me UNBLOCK myself, and led us to bring this idea to life in another way.
Whitney and I have built Vienna Waits with the mission to help one million people live with intention. Our first program, UNBLOCK Yourself, is designed to build resilience and guide people through meaningful change. Inspired by the personal QBR process, it helps people to:
Crystallize their "why" for seeking change.
Define clear objectives with key milestones.
Establish a supportive community for accountability and success.
Make meaningful progress on something they’ve been stuck on
If you aspire to live a more present, intentional life and are looking to get started on the journey to change, consider joining UNBLOCK Yourself. With just 15 hours of live delivery over a 3-month period, you can embark on a journey that transforms your life for the better—forever.