31.05.2023

Seeds, Roots and Growth | Relief | What 3 Words?

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy (good or bad) - a word
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

HOW ALIGNED AND BALANCED IS YOUR SH*T?
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LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

Seeds, Roots and Growth

My sister bought me a funky ‘grow your own herb’ kit for my birthday. It’s reminded me of being a child and growing cress seeds at school in an egg shell. While it’s a simple thing, there’s still something magical about watching - in a relatively short time - seeds grow. Each day that these little seeds developed, I noticed that the emerging herbs were all leaning in the same direction; the direction always being up and towards the light - just as we are taught at school about phototropism.

I decided to go back and look at this a little more, as the roots always go in the opposite direction. I didn’t know that this is called gravitropism; roots always respond to the Earth’s gravitational attraction. In addition to this, roots will work themselves around obstacles to ensure continued growth. So, what does this teach us about life and business?

We all (as individuals, teams, projects and businesses) have roots - the things that provide stability and allow development. They are how nutrients are taken up and transported - in our case, our nutrients can includes the likes of experience, values, lessons, connections, cash (in the case of businesses!), resources - and most certainly, support.

Equally, for growth to occur we all need to turn our faces to the light - I guess this can be represented by strong leadership, clear vision and opportunities.

Plants begin as seeds - as do all great leaders, business ideas and teams. From the seeds, we grow roots - where the support system originates and deep work begins.

Leaves and flowers begin to bloom and grow - the things we can see, touch and admire; the beauty and results of the process that flourish in the external world.

Each of these three phases require nurture, care and awareness - even the stages that can’t be seen, because if we aren’t continuing to grow we are in decline (NB even ‘plateau’ is a slow decline!). You can’t enjoy the growth without strong roots and you can’t have roots without seeds - and brilliant ideas!

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s

Relief

This word appeared this week while talking to someone about firing clients! We can often delay turning down work and clients because we feel we “should” be thankful for work - but what if it’s the wrong type of work or client? Being able to decide that something isn’t working and cut your losses is important - especially when you can do it with dignity and grace. What follows this is a sense of ‘relief’.

The word RELIEVE originates from Latin RELEVARE meaning "to raise, alleviate, lift up, free from a burden". The word was formed from RE - an intensive prefix + LEVARE "to lift up, lighten". Before we feel relief we can be caught in the heaviness of burden.

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

Reach Out

As I continue on my ‘kindness’ project, I love to reach out to people that I know - not always well, with some being personal connections and others being through work or other interests. After ‘lock-down’, I realised I’d not reached out to a large number of people for a couple of years - as happened to many of us. I’m loving reconnecting with those I deliberately feel I can add value to. My suggested action is for you to reach out to someone, to call them or reconnect.

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“What are the 3 words I [and you] would use to describe me?”

I’m currently reading a super book by Dorie Clark. In ‘Reinvesting You’, it begins by suggesting that the reader takes some time to research their strengths, not from one’s own perspective, but by asking those that are known and trusted around them.

This week’s question is for you to answer and then for you to ask a few people (5-10 would be ideal) that know you in various contexts. What 3 words would you use to describe yourself, and what 3 words would they use. How close are these words?

I’d love for you to send me your own stories about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

Simple Thank You

I may a regular payment for my physical training. I signed up and agreed to do this and always make sure I’m on time to pay for my next block of training sessions. I’ve noticed that my coach, on the same day as I pay, always send a short note of thanks. This does two things - confirms that he’s received the payment (and I didn’t mess up!) and that our relationship is appreciated. A simple thank you is never really simple, it’s powerful and always worth a shout out.

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

My gift to you this week is a visual poster for ‘Sh*t Sorting Process’. We created this to help people have conversations about all the stuff we accumulate in our lives and businesses - and the importance of getting things under control and sorted.

This visual is available to you for free (for 7 days) using code: AWARE when you check out. Access is via the link below.

The artwork featured in this section is all copyrighted and for private use only. If you wish to use these online, in blogs / features or in presentations etc - we are happy to discuss licences. Please get in touch. The downloads do not have watermarks.

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

SORT YOUR SH*T TASTER SESSIONS

SELF & CONFIDENCE, RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY BUSINESS, PURPOSE, CAREER, BUSINESS COACHES…

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?