Points of Leverage: 1st Edition

I’m launching C-lever – Points of Leverage (POL) specifically for you, my coaching clients.  My intention for POL is to provide you with information, resources and inspiration to help “you do you” even better and more joyfully.  Bi-weekly, I’ll be sharing with you my journey as a fellow entrepreneur, coach and human and what I’m finding fun, helpful and inspiring.

What I’m reading –

  • Fearless  – The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown– by Eric Blehm  – Thank you Jon Wilkenfeld for this recommendation, inspired by our dinner/workshop on Fear.  I’m encouraged and inspired by reading true stories of courage and perseverance and boy, does this one deliver!  Plus, I’m fascinated by Navy SEALs.  (If you are too and want a laugh-out-loud read, try Living With A Seal. I used their workout as one of my annual challenges.  Tough, but so good!)
  • Born a Crime – Stories from a South African Childhood – by Trevor Noah.   This book is fantastic!  5 star reviews by 6,000 customers on Amazon.  Trevor Noah is perhaps more brilliant, adaptable and entrepreneurial than he is funny.  (And he’s very funny).  He was quite literally Born a Crime.  His mother was black, his father was white and during apartheid, when he was born, black and whites having sex could get you 5 years in jail (if you were the black one of the couple).

What I’m watching –

  • The Amazing Mrs Maisel –  I don’t watch much TV, but when I do, I want it to be good and to transport me from my day to day.  And this Amazon Video Series doesn’t disappoint.  The acting is sensational and the script is comic genius.  5 star reviews by ~ 18,000 customers.  (clearly 3x more people watch TV than read

What’s keeping me going –

  • Apple AirPods – I can’t believe it took me so long to get these.  (A gift from my hubby for Christmas).   I’ve been dinking around with wired headsets way too long.  These fit snug in my ears and sound great.  I can listen to my audio books while I run or walk Libby, our labradoodle.
  • Nature Wise’s Organic Ashwagandha Energy Drink –  Coffee doesn’t agree with me, diet cola drinks make me sleepy, and I don’t love tea, though I drink it.  I LOVE these energy drinks that I discovered at Camp Maverick – the Entrepreneur sleep-away camp.  I can only drink one (and I should probably only drink about ¾ of one, because I get pretty amped up.). It’s got 60 calories and 15 grams of sugar, but so worth it!

What I’m asking myself –

  • How do I be with someone who doesn’t accept me as I am?   – That’s a tough one.  I’m still noodling my way through that.
  • How do I apologize and take responsibility for what’s mine in a conflict, without taking everything that’s being heaped upon me?  –   I was tested with this recently.  It was incredibly challenging to keep my cool while I was being berated and devalued.  And really tricky taking responsibility for what was mine in the conflict, when so much more was being attributed to me that I was being expected to apologize for.  Ugh.   I think I did all I could do, and I’m still rethinking it.

What I’m trying –

  • Notice, Name and Accept without Change Exercise – I do this a part of my meditation practice.  I notice and name every aspect of my experience, my emotions, my sensations, my thoughts, my distractions, being present and curious and accepting of each.  And even if I’m uncomfortable or in pain, instead of changing something or resisting it, I notice it, name my experience of it and accept it.    I’m still putting this in practice and I’ve found it to be remarkably powerful at helping me to process through feelings, notice my thought patterns and helping me manage through aches and pains.   Try it during a 5 min sitting practice.
  • Use it or Lose it – In a recent conversation with my Mom, she shared with me that she can no longer jump.  Why this came as a surprise to me, I don’t know.  I guess it never occurred to me that at some point I might not be able to lift my body from the ground.   To be fair, she’s 86 and she learned she could no longer jump while in an aerobics class where the instruction was to skip (which requires both feet being off the ground at the same time).   So this year, I’m planning to do things I don’t typically do.  I’m considering ice skating (I didn’t learn growing up.  I would have to take lessons), tennis (I love tennis and it’s been ages since I played), dance (I’m not a good dancer and don’t have the occasion to dance often and I love it).  I’m going to use my body while I still can.  I turn 59 this year, hopefully, and I want to move my body in all the ways I can, as long as I can.  BTW, I was further inspired by Dick Van Dyke’s performance in Mary Poppins Returns.  At 93, he can still sing and dance.  Amazing!!!!

If you liked this, let me know and feel free to forward it to someone who might benefit.  And if you didn’t like it, let me know.  I’ll take that in.

Hugs.  And Happy New Year.
Alison

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Author Bio

Alison Whitmire

CEO and Executive Leadership Coach, Advisor and Consultant, “Deeply Committed, Helping CEOs See Clearer, Do More”

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