11.05.2022

Final Stages | Energy | Meaning of Happiness

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 and positive impact
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

Have you taken the GLAS Understanding Assessment
and received your free report?

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

Final Stages

While talking to someone last week, we were discussing the final stages of projects and how quickly and easily one can ruin and undo the hard work of what has been achieved.

Let me give you a real example from the work I do when I create artwork for a visual synopsis of a book; as I begin with a blank page, I firstly create a border and then add the book title. I did this for a book recently and due to our chaotic house during building work, the page was spoilt with splashes. It was annoying, but wasn’t too much of an issue to begin all over again. A typical artwork of this nature takes me about a week as I read, synthesise and draw the contents of the book - in between other ‘real’ work. If the splashes had happened as I neared the end of the book and drawing, my annoyance would be have been significantly more! The reason being that I’ve invested much more in the piece by this point.

This is the same for many things. The final stages are critical - to finish well and not undo what has happened to get to this point. But, and it’s a big BUT…there are times where this investment can also prevent us from letting go and stopping when needed - even if it’s in our best interest. We’ve all felt that our commitment so far means we can’t pause and question - and if necessary, change course and stop. This can happen in relationships, projects etc - my personal example being when I needed to close our 106 year old family business. That was a huge investment that meant the decision to bring it to a close was incredibly (and rightly so) difficult.

Having said that, even when we need to stop travelling along a certain path of any type, we can always bring the final stages to a close with dignity and grace and then learn lessons before starting on another journey.

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

Energy

My energy word this week is ENERGY! It originates from Late Latin ENERGIA, and from Greek ENERGEIA meaning "activity, action, operation". It is formed from EN meaning “at” + ERGOS meaning "that works". From PIE root WERG - "to do".

When we have balanced energy, we can ‘do’ so much and enjoy our activities, however when we experience imbalanced energy - too little - we can feel stuck and unable to progress. Equally, when we overcompensate and force energy - too much - we can end up feeling somewhat manic and overwhelmed.

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

Do Something Joyous

Life can sometimes be overly serious, so this week I’m encouraging you to bring a little instant joy into your life. Do one small thing that brings you joy - whether that is listening to an upbeat piece of music, a podcast, going for a walk, meeting a friend for coffee, reading a book, watching a film…whatever brings you joy, just do it!

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

“What does happiness mean to you?”

I often discuss ‘success’ with clients and what it means to them, but this week is a slightly different - although related - question. How do you define happiness and what it means to you? How do you connect happiness and success?

These two areas - success and happiness - are fascinating topics for in-depth conversations with colleagues, friends and family.

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

Celebrations

My birthday celebrations have continued. I decided turning 50, especially after the past 2 years, was a reasonable excuse for numerous and varied celebrations. Last weekend we went to a restaurant with 37 of my favourite people for tapas and drinks. It was utter perfection and exceeded my hopes. I felt overwhelmed by the love and laughter in the room and realised that many of the guests have also been people I’ve had the privilege of working with. As the people around me were close friends and family - I thought about the challenges and difficulties they have (and in some cases are) facing, and how proud I feel of them and their resilience.

It led me to think about how we don’t celebrate - or at least acknowledge - our achievements enough. Celebrating big birthdays is really celebrating all that has happened to that point - good and bad, but it really shouldn’t just be birthdays that we do this. Sometimes we need to celebrate just getting through the day!

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

This week, I’ve chosen to recommend Primal Leadership - which was first released in 2001 and is still regarded as a critically important book. Its focus is to help understand the importance and power of emotional intelligence within leadership - starting with how we lead ourselves. The book is by authors Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee.

I’ve also provided a link for the GLAS ‘leadership’ poster.

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

*** ORDER YOURS NOW ***

Order Your Deliberate Year Calendar & Logbook Set

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?