12.07.2023

7 Lessons from Tom | Encourage |Song of Significance

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

7 Lessons from Tom

While my husband and I enjoyed a week’s vacation in Corfu last week, I received a real and very unexpected lesson - or rather, a set of 7 lessons.

Will and I had just had a bite of lunch and were wandering through the bustling and narrow streets of Corfu Town. We were busy taking in the various sites and sounds when Will stopped and pointed to an even narrower side alley that had a flashing LED arrow. It was almost as if this appeared from nowhere and just for us - it could have easily been missed amongst the tourists and numerous tat shops. As we decided to investigate, we spotted a sign further along the alley: “WORK SHOP, OLIVE WOOD, HAND MADE BY TOM”.

We were now stood at the door of a wood-tuner’s workshop. A small, elderly man was working at the spinning lathe, feet covered in wood-shavings. This was Tom. He signalled for us to come inside the ‘Aladdins’ cave of beautiful turned items stacked on rickety shelves on every wall. He slowed the lathe and welcomed us. After initially chatting about the various bowls, candle sticks and other products, I asked how long he’d been working in this particular workshop. He took me to a framed newspaper cutting on the wall and proudly said “for 54 years”. He kindly allowed me to share my own experiences of standing with my own grandfather who was also a carpenter and turned wood. I asked him if he still loved what he did after 54 years, to which he raised his hand to his heart and said “it’s everything, I love it just as much now”.

We of course bought some items during our visit, but Tom wouldn’t take the full amount of money from us. He just wanted to share his craft. We thanked him for his kindness and stepped outside the workshop - and then a wave of emotion came upon me. A tear rolled down my cheek. I felt completely connected to my grandfather, and unbelievably grateful for the gift of the past 10 minutes and a set of lessons:

1. Take the time to spot the unnoticeable

2. Welcome people into your world

3. Be curious and seek to understand others and their story

4. Do what you love, and something that you could do for 54 years

5. Know who you are

6. Align to a sense of purpose - the cause beyond yourself

7. Always be kind

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

Encourage

I feel that being away from the daily routine has helped me to open my eyes wider to the world this week - to be better connected. As such, I spotted a great article written by author Bob Burg about the need for more ENCOURAGEMENT in societies.

The word ENCOURAGE sat with me, and in researching it a little, I found that it comes from Old French ENCORAGIER meaning "make strong, hearten," from EN "make, put in" + CORAGE "courage, heart".

That of course led me to look at the word courage (Old French CORAGE) a little deeper. It means "heart, innermost feelings; temper". I guess to encourage someone is to help them have courage and a quality of mind which provides an inner strength - even when they doubt themselves. We all need that from time to time!

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

Read and Learn

I’m sure you already know that I am a fan of reading - albeit non-fiction. I’m ‘encouraging’ you (see what I did there?!), to read something each day this week. I’d love this to be a book over the week, but even just an article or a blog a day that you can learn something from.

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

“What is the biggest thing you’ve learned this year so far?”

Following on from the action above, I was intrigued to know what you feel is the biggest thing you’ve learned this year so far - given we’re half way through it. For many of us, the greatest learns can appear from mistakes or misfortunes. They often require us to be really honest and self-aware.

I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts 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.

Change of Environment

As you’ll see in the book ‘The Song of Significance’ (see below), the importance of our environment and the right conditions surrounding us are critical. While abroad this week, we stayed at two very different locations - a beach-based hotel and then a city-based hotel. Each environment had a very different feel - and certainly different from the day-to-day vibes of home and work. I was reminded of the importance of mixing up the environment every so often.

We suggest to overwhelmed client’s that improving their physical environment (tidy their desk or step out into nature) will improve the environment of the mind and how they feel. This week’s shout out is the value of deliberately changing your environment.

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

Last week, we had a little ‘technical glitch’ for the give-away of my visual for Simon Sinek’s fab book The Infinite Game. I’ve extended the time period for you to still access this during the week. It’s available to you for free for another 7 days) using the code: JUSTCAUSE

This week’s ‘new’ recommended read and free download is Seth Godin’s latest book: The Song of Significance.

This visual is available to you for free (for 7 days) using the code: REALSKILLS 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?