A Question For the New Year

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What is important enough to keep you from disappearing or selling out?

I Was Surprised to Realize What's Important Right Now

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2020. What a year.

Last week I was talking to a well-known psychologist in the world of parenting. He writes for major publications and blogs regularly. He told me he's not writing these days because he doesn't know what to say. I could relate.

It's been hard to write this newsletter. I've felt like to be worth your 45 seconds, I have to have answers for you or say something profound that will make this situation better. When I've watched 15 seasons of the Bachelor and am doing my best to bake away as much of this experience as possible, I've been struggling with how to make a difference for you.

And, even though the psychologist doesn't know how to help parents with online school, our conversation made me feel 100% better.

It dawned on me... What's important right now is process, not answers. It's helping you find your next step, even when the path is heading into a big unknown. You can navigate this moment well - with intention, kindness toward yourself and others, and clarity about what's important to you. You can bide your time in process, learn a lot about yourself, and figure out how to contribute from here until it's time to be out in the world in a bigger way.

If you got what you needed from this newsletter, stop reading. For the next few sentences, I'm going to invite you to join me for a powerful process that will set you up to let 2020 go and plan for a powerful 2021.

I'm excited for Goodbye 2020, Hell Yes! 2021. You, I and a group of your colleagues will spend 3 sessions uncovering what 2020 has been about for you and using 2020 as a springboard to your next step. This moment is too important to leave to chance. Join me to build a plan for moving forward.

Anyone can join. You can find more info and the registration here.

The early bird price goes through December 11, and the first session is December 17. If you have questions or want to know more before joining, email me.

Doing this process will make all the difference in 2021.

Can't wait to connect with you!

Christina

Happy Bleepin' New Year!

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I hate New Year.

I've always hated New Year.

Here's why: You are expected to wake up on January 1st and be miraculously different. But when you wake up, politics are the same. Your body is the same. It's the same world, layered with false expectations that everything will be shiny and new. I hate that.

Until recently, I've learned to enjoy New Year. (Don't tell anyone. It's much more fun to be the curmudgeon who hates New Year.) Here's what changed and what you can do if you are a New Year hater, too.

1. Change your expectations. Stop expecting everything to be shiny and new. Changing your expectations means you won't be disappointed when they aren't met.


2. Do something different. We started having people over and making sushi or taking sparklers outside in the snow. Throw out any prescribed tradition and make fun in your own way.


3. Go to bed. I never stay up to midnight. I like sleep. I like my cozy bed. If you like staying up, great! If you feel you should stay up, don't bother.


4. Make New Year one step in the larger journey of your purpose. The truth is, New Year is just a point in time on the larger journey of your life. Eight years ago, I started evaluating my year in order to set intentions and goals for the coming year. I love looking back to see how the past 12 months stacked up and by February or so, I have a document that steers the direction of the coming months. This process helps you stay on purpose and be conscious and intentional about what you create in your work and life.

I hope this helps.

I offer The Corporate Rebel Year End Reflection and Plan once a year as a stand-alone process. If you're curious to learn more, hit reply and shoot me an email. We can hop on the phone for a quick chat to see if this is exactly what you need to move forward with intention.

Happy New Year!

Christina

P.S. Do you have a friend or family member who hates New Year? Share this blog with them. If they choose to receive more, they can join us here.

P.P.S. The New Year is the perfect time for a Corporate Rebel Strategic Plan for Work and Life OR a Corporate Rebel Year End Reflection and Plan. Both offer the chance to reflect on 2019 and plan for 2020. Email me for more info.

Happy New Year! Insights from Kenya.

Hello Rebels!

Happy New Year!

I hope your holiday was restful with time for reflection, good food, and the things that are important to you. I thought of you a lot during the time I was gone. Did you enjoy the Unplugged interviews? They'll keep coming once a month from now on. Some great folks are on deck. Stay tuned.

I've been trying to think of what to say after the profound reset that international travel inspires in me. To keep things simple for today, I'll boil it down to three insights:

1. Time away is crucial. Your daily life and work takes so much of your mental space and energy which can leave you feeling like your stress and manic productivity are "normal." When you give yourself time off, you reconnect to your creativity, your bigger purpose, and your sense of belonging in this world beyond just what you do for work.


2. Your life is on a path. I have a deep connection to a little island off the coast of Kenya to friends I've known since I was 9-years-old. Looking back with the hindsight of 40 years, I can see how our connections have profoundly affected all of us and how our connection continues to make an impact in the next generation. I don't understand why all of this has happened and after 40 years, I trust the journey. That leads me to believe that you can trust the journey you are on, no matter what it is or how you feel about it today. You are exactly where you belong. You can trust that.


3. Nothing matters. Wow. That sounds harsh. Let me explain. Most of what you and I worry about doesn't matter. It's wasted energy. Instead, put that energy where it does matter. Into showing up. Into your relationships at work and at home. Into the impact you want to have in this life. You get one go around. Have fun and make it a good one.

Tom Petty said, "Most of what I worried about never happened anyway." Another reason not to bother with the worry.

I'm not a believer in new year's resolutions (they are a set up for failure), and I'm working on the intentions and themes for what I want to create in 2018 much of which will be inspired by my family's profound journey to Kenya.

What is your intention and theme for what you want to create in 2018? Hit reply to this email and tell me all about it.

I'm excited to be back with you all! Here's to a great rebel-y year!

Christina

Do you love the Unplugged Newsletter and Video Podcast? You can share it! Forward this link (http://unplugged.thecorporaterebelseries.com/) to your friends and colleagues so they can subscribe.

Before you sink into your new year's resolution, read this...

It's 2017, Christina! You've eaten all the eats, slept in for a few days, and are now back at the office. Thank goodness 2016 is in the rearview mirror.

Now what?

This process will help you create your now what. I've used this process myself and with my clients for 6 years, and it has created powerful intentions and results each time. It's easy and at the end, you'll have a guiding theme to launch your success for 2017.

Instructions:

Take 3 pieces of paper.

1. On the first page, write down all your disappointments, failures, losses, and breakdowns.
2. On the second page, write all your successes, celebrations, accomplishments and breakthroughs.
3. On the third page, write everything you learned about life and yourself in 2016.
4. When your lists are complete, sit down and analyze them for themes. Look at the big picture. What do you see?
5. While looking at the big picture of your year, use what you see to create the theme/words/intentions that will guide your new year.

Here are some examples to help you:

• One of my clients saw that she spent the year doing what everyone else wanted for her. Her theme for the new year became "Trust myself."
• One year, I noticed that my failures and disappointments list was too short. I hadn't taken enough risk. My theme for the new year was, "Go big or go home."
• Another client had dealt with a significant loss and through that recovery had set a beautiful foundation for a new year of Live! Love! Fly! Laugh!
• One year I spent a great deal of time traveling away from home. My theme for the next year was, "Compassion, Creativity, Come Home."

It can help to talk about your lists with a friend or coach who may be able to illuminate patterns in your successes and failures and help uncover where you are being pointed for 2017. When you're done, hit reply to this email and tell me your theme!

I wish you health, prosperity and happiness!

Happy New Year.

Christina

Find Out the One Word That Will Change Your 2016

Raise your hand if you like new year's resolutions….
Looking around I'm only seeing two hands raised.

Raise your hand if you've stuck with a new year's resolution for an entire year.
Hello to the one disciplined person in the crowd proudly waving her fingers.

New year's resolutions seem like a great idea until you decide not to go the gym this once or you tuck into a big piece of chocolate cake or you find yourself saying yes again to something you don't want to do. You feel guilty until March which buys you enough time to forget the whole thing.

Preempt the guilt this year by giving up on new year's resolutions and instead use this simpler and stickier way to make a commitment to the new year, one you will actually keep.

Here's what you do:

Create one word to define your year. Choose something you want to invite into your life or a new way you want to be. Let it be simple and yet profound.

Here are a few examples from my life and from my clients:

• Joy
• Go Big (ok, you can have two words)
• Compassion, Creativity, Come Home (As needed, you can have 4)
• Commitment
• Connection

Keep it simple, and you will remember it. Then pour your decisions and thoughts through your word for 2016. You'll be amazed at the consciousness and intention one word will bring to your year!

Happy New Year!
Christina