Wow, it’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the penultimate month of the year. And what a situation we find ourselves in. I’m feeling very aware of the multiple stressors that people are facing right now, and that they are not only many but also varied, especially for those in lockdown areas or those being severely affected by mandates ... [Read On]
Start With You Means Having Sovereignty Over Yourself
When I rebranded my business to Start With You back in 2015, it was after a lot of exploring and soul-searching, primarily about why I do what I do and what it’s really about. (I can highly recommend Simon Sinek’s book “Start With Why” and his online resources to help with this process, by the way. Oh, and it wasn’t until the following day after ... [Read On]
These ain’t normal times, peeps (watch out for subliminal stress)
This week, one of the coach directories I belong to, Get Coached, posted a poignant message:You are not ‘working from home’. You are at home, during a crisis, trying to work.While I’m not a fan of dramatic words like ‘crisis’, it’s hard to argue with it right now.We all have a lot on our minds. There’s a lot going on, a fair amount of uncertainty ... [Read On]
Lockdown Resources to Help You Thrive
Dear ones, Here in New Zealand we've found ourselves plunged into a very sudden level 4 lockdown and whilst it was very much on the cards, it’s still very jarring and very disruptive. There are a lot of very’s in that sentence but I guess that’s the nature of the week we’ve had! Here are a range of free resources at Start With You to help to ... [Read On]
Sometimes the practical tools are just not enough
I’ve always been quite a practical person – able to fix a blown fuse or repair a piece of broken china, or organise a kitchen to work well for the cook. And when I think about it, this actually pervades my approach to personal and professional change and stress transformation. As soon as I started specialising in stress and resilience for instance, ... [Read On]
How those work challenges help you step up as a human
A number of years ago I wrote an article about how our work journey is part of our spiritual journey, and partly what I was saying is that the work challenges we face are often growing us not just professionally but personally too. These days, for me, separating out our personal and professional selves is virtually impossible. I believe the whole ... [Read On]
Worn Out? Stressed? It Could be Covid Stress.
If you’ve not been feeling quite yourself lately, feeling low, stuck in a lot of stress, or have lost your motivation or mojo, welcome to humanity. You’re not alone. And it could be Covid stress or some form of the ‘Covid blues’. We’re in a pandemic. Life has changed. And it’s affecting people in many different ways. Numerous people I’ve spoken ... [Read On]
Our Tolerance for BS in Our Lives is Plummeting
Back in April 2020, mid-lockdown, I wrote about how we are revaluing what matters to us and that it will enrich our lives. We have been and it is. And it’s true now more than ever before. Lockdown generated many aha moments for people about how they want their life to look and work for them, and what kind of new normal they want. The ongoing ... [Read On]
Hiring a coach is an act of courage.
Gentlemen, this one is for you. Yes, I offer coaching for men, and at least half my coaching clients are male – business owners, directors, leaders and professionals. One of them was telling me yesterday about two recent conversations with male friends of his about their challenges around stress and mental health. He was feeling really good ... [Read On]
What’s your idea of an ideal week?
I have Wednesday’s off. With the odd exception, Wednesday is a completely non-work day for me. I’m a big fan of the four day week. It’s a shift I’ve seen a number of clients make over the years. I have a number of clients who have gone from a very strict 45-hour week running 8am to 5pm or thereabouts, to flexing their hours between work and ... [Read On]