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I heard this book mentioned a few times recently and, as someone with more than a passing interest in music and the arts, I couldn't resist diving in. Here’s a brief review of the Tao of Bowie, and a strong recommendation to gift this book to anyone in your life that is curious about self-discovery, and how a few powerful ideas can help shape your work, career and life.Those who are Bowie fans probably already know he was a bit of a cultural and spiritual magpie, adept at change and re-invention. What may not be so evident was the shy individual, battling life's challenges alongside the rest of us.“We each articulate the big questions in our own way: some of us are looking to make some sense of life that seems to be spinning out of control; others are angry that we haven't got what we wanted out of life; still others are confused because we have got what we wanted, but don't seem to be enjoying it.”What is Really Real? From Buddhism to the Matrix, alter-egos to heroes, the Tao of Bowie explores some challenging concepts in a very accessible way, and grounds these with solid examples and exercises that help the reader make sense of their own journey.“If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.” -David Bowie<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/image_2b0ae3d96a.png"><figcaption>The Tao of Bowie: 10 Lessons from David Bowie's Life to Help You Live YoursBy Mark Edwards</figcaption></figure>

I heard this book mentioned a few times recently and, as someone with more than a passing interest in music and the arts, I couldn't resist diving in. 

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Coaching, and the Tao of Bowie

It's worth checking out this fascinating <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_h_pink_what_regret_can_teach_you_about_living_a_good_life">TED feature by the author Dan Pink</a>, on how to better understand our regrets in order to harness their power, help find new direction and inform our choices.If only I had taken the chance..If only I had followed up with ..If only I had done the right thing ..As a practicing coach I frequently speak to clients who express situations that they regret and that trigger negative behaviours, impacting their ability to make decisions about their future.Good coaching can help to reframe these situations, creating time to reflect, accept and learn from them, improving clarity and action planning.If you value coaching and would like to work with me, or are just coaching-curious please get in touch at <a href="mailto:Steve@StripePerformance.co.uk">Steve@StripePerformance.co.uk</a>

It's worth checking out this fascinating TED feature by the author Dan Pink,  on how to better understand our regrets in order to harness their power

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Regrets, I've had a few

Let’s face it we all get stuck from time to time. One of the reasons I became a coach was because I enjoy helping people work to through their challenges and become more focussed, self-aware and productive individuals.My professional coaching work often involves working with clients to clarify their motivation to change, create breakthroughs in their thinking and take steps to move forward. There are a number of useful questions and techniques I use to support this process – here are a few you can try on yourself.<h3>What is my motivation?</h3>If you have a goal you are struggling with, take a step back and clarify why it’s important to you. Does the goal inspire you? What will change as a result of you achieving your goal, and what will change if you don’t achieve it? Some people are more motivated by the consequences of not achieving a goal, rather than focussing on the benefits – which are you? Sometimes you need to dig pretty deep to uncover your true “why”, but the simple process of reminding yourself is often very motivating in itself.<h3>What reduces my motivation?</h3>Gaining awareness of what slows down your motivation can provide clarity about what you need to increase your motivation.Are there times of the day or week that you feel more motivated or productive than others? Is this in the morning, or evening, or perhaps when out walking? Use these times to your advantage as they can often help you shift gears, and think or act differently.<h3>What is likely to get in the way?</h3>Whilst we would all love to believe everything in life will line up perfectly, it’s important to be realistic and prepare for the unexpected. Take some time to think about potential barriers and how you will handle them if they do appear.This is much broader than considering obvious limiting factors such as time and money - you also needs to include and focus on your own thoughts, beliefs and behaviours which are just as likely to hijack your motivation and goals.<h3>How can I overcome those obstacles?</h3>Now that you have more clarity on the challenges and barriers you may face, you can make a plan to overcome them. This may include breaking up a large goal into many smaller more digestible steps, creating new habits and identifying who can support you along the way.Who do you have in your life that could support you? There are often a surprising number of people hiding in plain sight, willing and able to offer advice and resources or simply help you maintain enthusiasm and motivation.Consider whether working with a qualified coach would benefit you in maintaining perspective and focus on this plan.<h3>Can I look at this another way?</h3>Sometimes it can be helpful to look at your motivations and goals with a different lens. How will achieving your goal change other people’s lives? What will be the impact on your significant other/family/friends?For example if your goal is to retrain for a new role or get a promotion, are there skills and experiences you will gain along the way that will benefit others? Sometimes taking the focus off “you” can help you feel more committed to your goals.If you would like to know more, or work with me as a coach, please get in touch<a href="mailto:Steve@StripePerformance.co.uk">Steve@StripePerformance.co.uk</a>

Let’s face it we all get stuck from time to time.  

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Remember Why You Started

A recent TEDx podcast caught my attention, and lead me to think about why so many people in leadership roles are time poor. What are the underlying factors and choices that are being made that are contributing to executive busyness?The podcast research suggested that of 10,000 executes interviewed, 97% cited long term strategic thinking as the key to their success, yet in a parallel study 96% said they didn’t have time to set aside and think strategically.What is going on? Why are 96% of leaders not doing the thing they say is critical for success? The answer may lie in what is not being said.My coaching clients often discuss time management and prioritisation challenges involving punishing meeting schedules, overwhelming inboxes and numerous other demands on their time as reasons why they struggle to achieve their goals.These are certainly real contributory factors to a busy schedule (and are also not entirely controllable), but I think there are other factors to consider - the everyday, often subconscious, choices that are being made that hijack free time, and keep people busy.<h3>Busyness as status</h3>Being busy can be a form of status. Showing or telling people how busy you are is a way of reinforcing how important you are, and for some people that can be a hard feeling to let go.<h3>Busyness as the status-quo</h3>If you are constantly busy, then being busy is what you know. What would you do if you were not busy? Addressing this question can be harder to answer than just staying the same. Often people just don’t know how (or havn’t thought about how) to do things differently, and as a result just do more of what they are already doing, hoping that will eventually achieve what is needed.<h3>Busyness as avoidance</h3>Sometimes there are more fundamental questions to consider – am I still in the right role?, or even in the right career? After 20 years of being busy, people sometimes don’t recognise that the industry and world of work has changed around them. Staying super busy can be a coping mechanism to avoid facing such uncomfortable realities. &nbsp;

A recent TEDx podcast caught my attention, and lead me to think about why so many people in leadership roles are time poor.

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Are the things that keep you busy taking you where you want to go?

Have you ever felt like a complete fraud despite all of your obvious accomplishments and track record? Maybe you have reached a point in your career where you are unable to keep going at the same rate, and putting on an act wondering when you’ll being exposed.Imposter syndrome is a common experience for both men and women, characterized by feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence to the contrary. It can be crippling, especially for those who are high-achievers, and it can impact self-confidence and ability to perform at your best. However, coaching can be a helpful tool to address imposter syndrome and develop strategies to overcome it.Here are some ways that working with a coach can help with imposter syndrome:Identifying behavioural patterns: As a coach I can help you identify patterns in your thoughts and behaviours that contribute to your imposter syndrome. They can help you recognize when you are engaging in negative self-talk or self-sabotaging behaviours that reinforce your feelings of inadequacy. Once these patterns are identified, I can help you develop strategies to interrupt them and replace them with more positive and supportive thoughts.Developing self-awareness: Coaching can help you become more self-aware and better understand your strengths and weaknesses. By understanding your strengths, you can learn to appreciate your achievements and recognize that you are not a fraud. By acknowledging your weaknesses, you can identify areas where you need to improve and develop a plan to address them.Setting goals: Coaching is great way of helping you set realistic goals and developing a plan to achieve them. This can help you focus on your strengths and build your confidence. By setting goals and achieving them, you can prove to yourself that you are capable and competent.Providing feedback: A coach can provide feedback on your progress and help you recognize when you are doing well. This can help you build your confidence and recognize your achievements. Additionally, your coach can help you identify areas where you need to improve and help provide structure on how to do so.Building a support system: As a coach I can help you identify and build a support system of people who believe in you and can provide encouragement and support. This can include family, friends, colleagues, and mentors. Having a support system can help you feel less alone and can provide a sense of validation.In conclusion, imposter syndrome can be a tough experience to deal with, but coaching can help. I can supportyou can identify negative thinking patterns, develop self-awareness, set goals, receive feedback, and build a support system. So don't let imposter syndrome hold you back - you are capable, competent, and worthy of all the success you achieve!

Have you ever felt like a complete fraud despite all of your obvious accomplishments and track record? 

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Self Doubt

It’s common to see colleagues and loved ones who appear consistently overwhelmed with the unrelenting demands of life, yet continue to push through in the hopes that something will change. In today's post-pandemic world, stress and anxiety in the workplace is increasing, and while we've all experienced periods of feeling overwhelmed, what happens when this stress becomes chronic and unmanageable?Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to stress factors. It's common for leaders to power through periods of exhaustion, feeling a responsibility to serve and support their team positively. However, the pressure, isolation, and weight that come with being in a leadership role can become overwhelming and cause detachment and reduced efficiency that can have a ripple effect throughout an entire workplace.As a coach I often come across the signs and symptoms of burnout – here are some you may recognise:-"I have always been an ambitious, motivated individual but now I'm questioning what it’s all about""The organisation I joined years ago is not the same as it was, everything seems harder and it’s draining me"."There are not enough hours in the week to get everything done and my wellbeing is taking a hit""I work harder to please others rather than taking care of my family""Simple things are requiring more effort and I'm losing my mojo."If any of these sound familiar, it's important to take action before things get worse.Obvious actions can include taking time off work to rest and recharge, and prioritizing self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.Seeking professional help such as coaching can also be an effective strategy for managing burnout, as it can help individuals identify the root causes of their burnout and develop a plan of action to address those causes, and prevent it from recurring.Burnout is a serious problem that can have long-lasting effects on mental and physical health. By recognizing the early signs and taking action, individuals can regain control of their work and personal life. Remember, it's okay to ask for help and prioritize well-being, as this will ultimately benefit both the individual and the organization in the long run.

It’s common to see colleagues and loved ones who appear consistently overwhelmed with the unrelenting demands of life, yet continue to push through in the hopes that something will change.

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Have you got enough in the tank?

We all need help from time to time. Someone to work with us through significant challenges. To help us become more focused, more agile, more self-aware. To help us grow.

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