Want Instant Calm? Ask Just One Question

Time to read: Less than one minute

The world as you know it has turned upside down.

I hear from clients that they are worried about keeping their jobs, stressed to see their 401ks dwindle, and sad about the state of the world. All of that while also trying to stay focused and homeschooling children.

Today I have one question to ask yourself when you start to spin. (Thank you to Eckhart Tolle for this question.)

First, pause for a minute.

Then ask: Is there a problem right now?

If there is no immediate problem, let the worry and stress go.

If there is a problem, address it.

I love this question for 2 primary reasons:

1. It brings you immediately into the present moment which is the place to be to find calm and peace.
2. It reminds you that you have everything you need to handle whatever happens next.

As a talented and experienced worrier, I know that my worry is a waste of energy. Most of the time, the things you worry about never come true and when bad things do happen, you will be ready to handle them.

Keep this question on speed dial then email me to tell me how it helps. You can also pop into our Facebook community Corporate Rebel HQ or join The Corporate Rebel Daily, a free 30-minute check-in at 9:00 CT, M-F to help you ground and be productive in your new normal. Sign up once, and join when you can. I'll be there every weekday waiting for you.

On the weekends, I'll be in bed.

With rebel love,

Christina

What Should You Do In the Face of the Unknown?

Time to read: 1.15 minutes

This is my pantry. When things are out of control, I do food.

It's been a weird week.

That is the understatement of the century.

You're glued to the news. You wake up to new information each day. Guidelines and recommendations change minute to minute. Kids are home from school. You're working from home. It's confusing and stressful.

I've found it hard to know what to do or how to be.

Daily life has been stripped of all activity which brings us back to basics.

Here are four bedrock basics that provide a firm foundation when the world has gone haywire. I return to them again and again. I hope they give you comfort as this pandemic unfolds.

1. Connect. Most of you are working from home which can be isolating and lonely. Starting Thursday March 19, I'm hosting a daily call at 9:00 CT for 30 minutes so you have a place to touch base, ground, set intentions and connect with others. Sign up once and come whenever you can M-F through at least March 27. It's free. Sign up here.
   
   Please share this opportunity to connect with your friends and colleagues, especially people who live alone.


2. Be compassionate. There is and will be suffering and hardship. Your compassion and friendship matter when others are in pain. Be there for your friends and those you don't even know because that's who you are, and it's the right thing to do.


3. Be of service: In the face of interruption like a worldwide pandemic, gaps become visible. YOU can fill these gaps and find ways to be of service. Look for opportunities to step in.


4. Find ways to leverage your super powers. Find new ways to use your expertise. Offer your social media skills to help colleagues stay connected. Use your project management experience to help your department streamline processes when you're all at a distance. Think about skills that might not seem obvious.

Connection is what I do. So, please come connect with me and others every morning at 9:00 CT. Join here.

In the midst of crisis, interruption and change, you matter! You have the power to make a big difference. Find your spot to serve.

With rebel love,

Christina

P.S. Love the Corporate Rebel? Invite your friends to join. They can sign up for this newsletter here.

Holy Chaos, Batman! 3 Things You Can Do Now

Time to read: One minute. You can still join the CR Roundtable here. (It's free!)

Bottom line: This Friday on the Corporate Rebel Roundtable we are talking about surviving and thriving in chaos.

I had plans. You had plans. My family was supposed to be on a plane to Europe for spring break. Airports are in chaos. Conferences are cancelled. Work from home? Stockpile toilet paper? Are you confused about where to be or what to do?

In these unprecedented and chaotic times, here are four things you can do to help yourself feel calm and centered so you can proceed forward.

1. Know yourself. I am comfortable with a high level of risk. If I'm going to be exposed to this virus, let it be at a waffle stand in Amsterdam instead of the Mall of America. I will always trade risk for experience. Others cancelled vacations to California a week ago. Make choices based on your comfort level and be ok that you know what you need better than anyone else.
2. Keep your knees soft just like you would on a topsy turvy boat or the train at the airport. (Hello, subway surfing!) The situation is changing minute-to-minute. You have to be ready to flex and pivot at a moment's notice. Don't get attached to any particular plan.
3. Stay present. Focus on the things right in front of you. Your kids still have tests (if they're still in school). You still have to eat. I have dentist appointments and hockey. You're trying to understand your options and make decisions. Worrying about next week or even tomorrow is pointless as you don't know what will be true tomorrow.
4. Connect. With your friends, your family, yourself. Stay connected to your human family. We're all in this boat together. It's time to come together, not to point fingers, blame, and stir fear. One way to connect is at the Corporate Rebel Roundtable on Friday.

As a coach, you come to me when you feel uncertain: when rumors of layoffs start to swirl or you get a less-than-awesome performance appraisal or you want to change directions in your career or get back into the world of work after a break. The virus is just one of many possible disruptions to your plans. The lessons you learn from this charged time have the potential to be far-reaching and life changing (in good ways).

This Friday on the Corporate Rebel Roundtable we are going to talk about not just surviving but thriving in times of uncertainty. Let's gather together during this time of chaos.

I'd love to see you there!

Please sign up to join me live on Friday March 13 at 11:00am CT for a rich and meaningful conversation about work. Join here.

Please share this link with your friends, colleagues, and business partners. Everyone is welcome!

I can't wait to talk with you live.

Wash your hands.

Christina

What Does Covid-19 Teach Us?

Time to read: 1.35 minutes.
If you missed the Corporate Rebel Roundtable last week, you can still join here. (It's free!)

Covid-19 is all over the news. Last weekend, I noticed that people had purchased all the black beans and spaghetti at my neighborhood grocery store. A friend said Costco was out of toilet paper. People are canceling flights. Companies are asking employees who travel out of the country not to come back into the office for 14 days upon their return.

What does all this mean for the Corporate Rebels?

IMHO Covid-19 serves as a stark reminder that you are not in control.

You can have your 5-year or 10-year plan and then something comes along and changes your direction. That something may be a health scare, a new baby, following a partner's dream to a new location, a layoff, a new boss you hate, or a side hustle that goes viral and becomes your main work.

Covid-19 is making mincemeat of many corporate plans and affecting many individuals across the globe.

So, what is a Corporate Rebel to do when faced with the truth that you are not in control? (Start with a curse: Damn it!)

1. Trust yourself: Know that you always have everything you need to make the next right decision. When you look back over your life, you can see that you figured things out. You knew what to do. You took chances, and things worked out. Or they didn't and you made a new choice. You've got this. Whatever "this" is.
2. Take ownership: Just because you're not in control doesn't mean you throw up your hands and do nothing. Apparently, for Covid-19, you need black beans and toilet paper. (I bought extra chocolate chips. Priorities.) You do your work. You stay up-to-date in your field. You feed your network. You buy spaghetti.
3. Be open to the journey: You never know what will happen next. You don't know where your next opportunity will come from. Even crisis like layoffs or viruses have a way of bringing people together and opening doors. Covid-19 will force some serious conversation about how we do business and who knows what will come from such re-evaluation. This virus is a game-changer.

Promise me you'll still click the link on the Corporate Rebel Roundtable and share it with all your friends even though I am about to share an incredibly useful and distracting link right here. This blog post by Seth Godin is one of the smartest, most insightful pieces I've read about Covid-19.

Now, here's the awkward transition to the Corporate Rebel Roundtable. Please sign up to join us live on Friday, March 13 for a rich and meaningful conversation about work. Join here and share this link with your friends, colleagues, and business partners.

I can't wait to connect with you live.

Wash your hands.

Christina

P.S. Invite your friends to the Corporate Rebel Roundtable. They can join the Roundtable here.