Newsletter 15: So…What’s next?
IN THIS NEWSLETTER…
How a 30-second conversation with my 6 year old got me dreaming bigger.
Let’s talk about coaching in 2024 (at 2023 prices for a limited time).
A unique chance to partner with me for a single coaching session and support a great cause at the same time.
SO…WHAT’S NEXT?
The anticipation had been building all morning as we made our way into the theme park. It was just after 10am, and we were finally approaching the front of the queue for our very first roller coaster ride of the day. With the start of the Shrek-themed, dragon-shaped ride only minutes away, I noticed that my 6-year old son Elliot, had gone a bit quiet.
‘Hey, honey.’ I wiped the humidity from his brow and caught his eye. ‘How are you feeling? A bit scared?’
Elliot gave me a sideways glance and a cheeky smile. ‘I’m feeling scare-ited.’
I hadn’t quite heard him over the rumble of the tracks above our heads. ‘Sorry, you’re feeling what?’
‘Scare-ited. Scared AND excited,’ he explained as his smirk expanded into a grin.
‘Yeeeeah. YES. I love that feeling.’
‘Me too.’
I turned to my husband and reflected, ‘I mean, that’s basically the whole point of a roller coaster, right?!’
As we boarded that ride, I connected deeply, in my gut, with how much I truly enjoy feeling ‘scare-ited’. That perfect mix of a healthy dose of uncertainty plus a dollop of laughter and a dash of trust that it will all work out in the end. I thought about how - for me, at least - feeling scare-ited is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Days and weeks later, this 30-second conversation replayed in my head. First, as a cute recollection of the sweet years with Elliot that are passing by so quickly. But then, as a realisation - that feeling ‘scar-ited’ isn’t just a nice-to-have for me - it’s an important part of living a beautifully full life. And then, I connected the dots.
Maybe THAT’S what I’d been feeling was missing in my work for a little while.
For those of you who are new to this newsletter, over the past couple of years I’ve built a coaching practice that I absolutely adore. To be clear, the career pivot and process of building a business definitely started out feeling more scared than ‘-ited’. But over time, as I experimented and came to understand what worked (and didn’t) for me and my clients, I settled into a very happy and calm rhythm. Today, I’m truly humbled to look at my calendar each week to see it full of coaching sessions with so many incredible and inspiring clients. I love nothing more than witnessing these people step into who they truly are as leaders in business and life, and I'm grateful that I get to do it every damn day.
And yet, earlier this year, a little voice started playing up in the corner of my mind. Every so often, I’d hear it whisper, ‘So...what’s next?’
To which a different part of me would answer, ‘Wait, what? What do you mean, what’s next? This is GREAT! This is exactly what you wanted! WHY does there have to be a ‘next’?
And now I had my answer.
Why? Because: scare-ited.
There will always (eventually) be a next because scare-ited is my jam.
So, I allowed myself to wonder: What’s going to give me more ‘scare-ited’ in my work life?
An answer slowly came back to me, and I’m hatching a plan to expand my practice in a new way next year. While the details are still too fuzzy to share, I can tell you that I get that uncertain, laughing, trusting feeling whenever I’m working on it. So…stay tuned!
In the meantime, I’ll be tucking away this little nugget. The next time I’m feeling stumped by the question, ‘What’s next?’, I’m going to remind myself to ask instead: 'What is that I want to be feeling more of right now?’
CURIOSITY PROMPTS
There is real power and clarity in simply identifying how you want to feel. Have a go at unlocking some of that clarity and power for yourself with these journaling prompts.
1️⃣ What feeling am I missing or want more of right now? (This can be overall or in a specific area of your life.) Brainstorm, scribble, sketch, get it all out and then write: I want to feel more _________.
2️⃣ How much do I believe I can have more of that feeling?
If you believe you can have it, proceed to Question 4.
If you are sucking your teeth, telling yourself that now is not the time for you to have that feeling or that you haven’t earned that feeling or just seems impossible and out of reach, proceed to Question 3.
3️⃣ We don’t get what we want, we get what we expect. Anything you’ve ever achieved is because some part of you believed it was possible. So, what is standing in between me and my belief that I can have more of that feeling in my life? Spend as much time on this question as you need until you’ve increased your belief that you can have more of that feeling, by as little as 10%.
4️⃣ What is the SMALLEST step I can take towards bringing even a tiny bit more of that feeling into my life today or this week?
5️⃣ What will I do to celebrate when I bring more of that feeling into my life? (After that, go back to question 2 and repeat.)
WORK WITH ME
Coaching Partnership: I partner with high-performing leaders to hone their authentic leadership style and write the next bold chapter of work and life. My 1:1 coaching programme is now full for 2023, but if you are thinking about coaching in the new year, please don’t hesitate to book a Curiosity Call ASAP. Full transparency: The investment for my foundational coaching programme will increase from January 2024. However, those who wish to commit to a coaching partnership kicking off in January 2024 while we are still in 2023 will benefit from 2023 pricing. (Subject to availability.)
One-Off Coaching Opportunity (for a great cause!) - In honour of World Gratitude Day, I'm offering 5 one-off leadership coaching sessions, with all proceeds going to support Liftery - a social impact initiative that’s reimagining the landscape for working mums. Each of these 1-hour sessions can be purchased at the discounted price of $400. So, if you’d like to focus on gaining clarity and next steps on a specific topic in a power-hour with me - and to support a great cause at the same time - you can buy and book your session here.
Speaking: If you are looking for a high-energy speaker with insightful messages and practical strategies for your next event, you can check out my signature talk tracks here. I’m currently taking bookings for 2024 and you can enquire about my availability here.
In all curiousness,
Joy
P.S. If/when the spirit ever moves you or you have questions - always feel free to get in touch and let me know what’s coming up for you!
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