Anniversary | Learnings | Best bites

Last week, I brought vibrancy to your goal setting by becoming SMARTER. This week, I celebrate the one year anniversary of this newsletter with you, and in doing so share with you some of the best bits I wrote in the past year. You are in for a treat!

But before everything, I received some great messages lately and have seen that people have used and shared some of the tips. Sharing is caring and so don’t hesitate to spark some happiness around you by sharing this newsletter. Good karma builds up 😊 You can just share this link here – here is a good karma link. 

So, time for a celebration! 

A couple of weeks ago someone dear asked me, “Do you not pause and look back sometimes?”

This question made me think. I feel that the picture above of Janus is a pretty good response that reflects my thinking. Look at the past with wise eyes, and the future full of hope and enthusiasm as a youngster! 

In Ancient Rome, Janus was associated with doorways, gates, arches, and temporal transitions. Two faces on a single neck, facing opposite directions, represent his ability to see both past and future. His double face has also been seen as representing the end and the beginning of the year. (Janus> January!)

In short, an occasion to review the year(s) past and contemplate the year ahead.

This is exactly what we are going to do today as I am sharing three of my favourite letters, books, quotes, and questions.

It was SO hard to select them and I feel really excited by the list here today! But I’m torn that I couldn’t share more. 

So let’s go then….

Here are three of my favourite letters:

• One question to rule them all

  • …because it starts with “Why” and in my Executive MSc Simon Sinek was mentioned several times. Plus, this was my first ever letter!

• Your wheel

  • …because it is a very simple and effective tool that will become your compass, guiding you through life.

• This is the only way down

  • …because bumps along the way should excite you rather than scare you, because it is ski season and because the cheese fondue recipe I offered has several new fans!

Three of my favourite books

• Man’s search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

  • …because this is an AMAZING story, because this is a life-changing book and because it is one of the fundamental books of coaching.

• Chatter by Ethan Kross

  • …because we all have someone in our head, an alter ego, a voice, a gremlin, a friend, an enemy, a protector — whatever you call them — that keeps chatting to us.

• Tiny habits by BJ Fogg

  • …because as humans we are all wired to change things, starting small allows us to go big.

Three of my favourite quotes

• “Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” - Tony Robbins (from the letter Say I)

  • …because the right response to the wrong question will lead you to the wrong path and because we fear asking the real questions for fear of real responses.

• “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde (from the letter Wear your clothes)

  • …because we often forgot who we are to comply to fit the mould and because I have this quote on my vision board as a reminder that we are unique and this uniqueness should be celebrated, nourished as our gift to the world.

• “We must be conscious and responsible for our beliefs and behaviours if we are ever to be free.” Brendon Burchard (from the letter This is no monkey business)

  • …because to be free we need to start by thinking that our thoughts are not.

Three of my favourite questions

• What are you grateful for? (from the letter Existential laws)

  • … because it starts with an appreciation of what we have and what life offers us.

• Who is in your peer group? How do they challenge you? (from the letter The fast lane)

  • …because you are not alone and your team and the people surrounding you will be key to your growth, your change, and your success.
    

• If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today? (from the letter Billionaire life wisdom)

  • …because by asking this question to himself Steve Jobs created the biggest company that has ever existed and has changed the face of the world.

There was so much more I could have unpicked from this first year! But, it is just the beginning of the journey so stay tuned as more golden nuggets will come your way this year as we grow together.

And obviously, feel free to reach out if you want to engage on any of the topics. I would love to hear from you and answer your questions about how coaching can help get you where you want faster or help you gain clarity and build whatever you try to achieve. 

Here to help and serve.