What's The Best Use Of You

Time to read: 1 min 2 seconds

Lately I've been thinking a lot about purpose, and what it means to spend your day living meaningfully and purposefully. This season of reflection is a good time to consider this question:

What is the best use of you?

You know you are at your best use when you feel "well-used" by the end of most days. When you feel like the way you spend your time uses your unique gifts and talents. When you feel a sense of satisfaction, even if you didn't complete everything or it was hard. When you look back over a week and are proud of the way you spend your time.

The best use of you applies to work and the ways you support your family and friends, raise your children, care for your parents, volunteer in your community, and interact with strangers.

The implication of your best use is that there are also things that are NOT your best use. Like, maybe someone else should crunch the numbers or do the design or direct the difficult conversation.

For example, details are not the best use of me. Communication and relationships are. So, I rely on others in my life (my assistant, and my husband) to manage details while I handle sticky situations and awkward conversations. My husband is relieved. And so am I. It's a win-win.

We need a world where each of us is performing to our best use each day. What's yours?

How Are You Compensated?

Time to read: 46 seconds

As we speed toward the end of the year, 'tis the season of year-end reviews and raises. I invite you to think about how you are compensated.

You are compensated with money, of course. I have a new side hustle selling vintage jewelry and housewares, and the money is certainly nice. However, if money were the only compensation, I'd be making pennies per hour. If money were your only compensation, you'd be a mercenary.

I hope you make more than pennies per hour. And, consider all the other ways you are compensated: travel, wonderful colleagues, free lunches, learning, challenges, things to talk about, and opportunities.

Most of the compensation for selling vintage items is social for me…the people I've gotten to know buying and selling. It's also good stories…funny things that happen, touching moments, and weird stuff and places.

Expand your thinking about your compensation, you'll find you are paid handsomely indeed!

Still Waiting….

Time to read: 46 seconds

Our monster cat

In the United States, the days are shorter and up here in the North, it's cold. Year-end has its own special bustle of strategic and budget planning and annual performance evaluations all combined with the holidays.

While you are busy planning 2025, I would like you to take a moment to plan your rest. What will you do in the coming weeks to rest and reflect as you prepare to draw the year to a close?

In athletics and physical training, rest is as crucial to building strength as work. So, be as serious and intentional about your rest as you are about your strategic plans and budgets.

Stay warm out there, my friends in the north!

Still waiting….

Time to read: 46 seconds

The actual tattoo on my actual wrist

All around me I see people jumping in to DO SOMETHING. My past self was a quick responder, fast to DO, and quick to draw conclusions.

People do this at work all the time. Reorganization happens…do something! Layoffs…do something.! New management…do something! Change happens…do something!

I've learned that quick action does not always lead to the most thoughtful, effective action. At least not for me. So, I have learned to wait. Watch. Wait. Pay attention. Learn. Wait. Heal. Feel. Listen. Wait.

Then do.

I am thinking about a lot of things and will have many things to say in coming weeks. For now, I invite you to join me in waiting. There is a lot to learn.

You Have Permission To Stop

Time to read: 1 min, 1 second or 61 seconds

All ready for voters. Notice it is STILL DARK outside.

On election day, I was a poll judge from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm watching our democracy in action. All day, people voted like their lives depended on it. We had a line out the door for 10 hours, and many new registrants. The energy was high, and people were STRESSED OUT.

I appointed myself the emotional support animal and sat with voters to help them figure out proper documentation or talking them off the ledge when they had to take off their candidate hats in the polling place (that's the rules, folks). I gave everything I've got and put my best coaching skills to work in the world.

That's what it is for me. Consistency. Be the thing you want in the world, no matter who, no matter where. Nothing changes until you do.

And now, I'm exhausted. I've taken the rest of the week off and recommend that whoever you are and whatever you believe in, take some quiet time this week.

You Have Permission To Stop

Time to read: 1 min, 1 second or 61 seconds

I distract myself with collecting and sharing pretty things

I distract myself with collecting and sharing pretty things. When you are anxious, sad, or overwhelmed, it is ok to stop for a while.

Often, high performing people like you feel like you must push through, keep showing up, and do more. I hear people say that the antidote for their discomfort is, "do something!" Yes to doing things. It's a great strategy.

And, sometimes, you just need to turn off your brain. Watch a stupid movie. Lay on the couch and watch BritBox mysteries (my favorite). Watch the sunset. Talk about fashion with your friends. Snuggle your dog.

It's ok…actually it's imperative…that you let your brain rest and reset. When living in uncertain times, find your distractions. Let your brain rest. So you are ready for the next round of doing.

I'd love to hear about your favorite distractions. Please email me and share!

If you have friends who are anxious and uncomfortable please point them here. They can subscribe and join the conversation.

What To Do With Your Discomfort?

Time to read: 1 min, 1 second or 61 seconds

Feeling anxious and unnerved in the uncertainty? You are not alone.

Last week we talked about walking through the uncertainty surrounded by your people.

This week, when things are uncertain, painful, or uncomfortable, your only option is KEEP GOING.

We make up that it's "bad," or "not ok" to feel uncomfortable which leads you to try to remove the discomfort. People turn to alcohol, shopping, drugs, work, and all sorts of other addictions and distractions to try to feel "ok."

That is not to say that a glass of wine or an evening of Netflix is wrong. (Wait until next week to find out more about that.)

Instead, though, see if you can simply be uncomfortable and let the discomfort be ok. Discomfort doesn't have to derail you from life and work. It can simply be a temporary condition that you live with for a while until a decision is made, a situation is resolved, or the election is over.

Once on the other side, you can start to find yourself and your equilibrium in the new space.

Does that make sense? Please reach out if it doesn't. Or if it does and you have more to say!

If you have friends who are anxious and uncomfortable please point them here. They can subscribe and join the conversation! Sign up here.