Hi Friend
What an extraordinary week. I got to spend a day at the OKHR SHRM Conference. Monica spoke and did a killer job. I have loads of friends who I got to see. It was incredibly rejuvenating. Dena, who runs the conference (& many others) was telling me that she reads this Weekly Instigator every week and talked about my squirrel picnic table. It was so funny! I’m always honored when you invest your time in reading my words. I sometimes forget that you are actually reading.
As you know, I write because it’s good for me. I hope for you it causes a smile and one new consideration. “That would be enough.” In Minneapolis this week I saw Hamilton again. It still moves me. I also had breakfast-as-lunch with my business coach who lives there. We regular dine at the Original Pancake House and feast on the 49er flapjacks. #SoDangGood
I also hosted a virtual conversation with a team who has utilized Lencioni’s Working Genius. I read the book a while ago and without taking the assessment rather easily divvied up my genius, competency and frustration. We talked about how this model is different than other personality assessments, in-so-much that it’s more about the progression of work and getting stuff done; Compared to understanding how to communicate more effectively with a colleague, which is what many of the tools offer.
I like getting stuff done.
I like communicating effectively.
I like understanding my & other’s motivations.
Mostly, I like learning. Though nothing is new under the sun, there continues to be a gajillion modern ways of expressing current ideas. Many are unique and original. It’s one of the primary attractions of TikTok. #Trends align people around doing something they’ve never seen, heard or tried before. Have you attempted something new, recently?
Is It New or Old?
I’m sure I’ve shared this with you before. I dread being someone who regurgitates an old truth as if it were a new revelation. In the personal development and motivation space, I often see that. I fear being that kind of person so much, it prevents me from offering more content. Yet I also see how people benefit or learn from content I think is plagiaristic.
I want to adapt a thrift-store way of thinking. It’s all used but positioned as “New-to-You“. I suspect knowledge is obtained similarly. It’s a weird mix of pride and humility, perception and honoring that fuels my limiting beliefs which prevent me from generating more new-to-you content. What limiting beliefs do you have?
Confidence & Identity
I feel extremely confident that this weekly letter is original, insomuch that I haven’t even considered it before sitting down. I don’t always feel confident that it’s well written, useful or even enjoyable – but since I do it every week, I lean more to the assurance of consistency over quality.
My identity is certainly revealed in these ramblings. If you’ve been reading this for a while, I imagine you know me pretty well. I’m unguarded and transparent in this external processing. I suspect because I’m not trying to “teach” you anything, but simply learn myself, I feel very secure.
Instigating Ideas…
1. Take an assessment of any kind to remain self-aware.
2. If you remove a limiting belief what then could you do?
3. What gives you confidence?
Because I do process out loud, I’ve been talking about an upcoming scenario that I’ve put myself in which I feel a bit insecure and out-of-place about. I don’t have my usual excitement. I’m intentionally participatingbecause it is uncomfortable, stretching and in my head, a place I don’t really fit.
I find myself being critical about the event, before I’ve even participated. That’s contrary to who and how I am. It’s happening because of limited beliefs about myself. I’m fully aware my judgments reflect me, not this event. These perceptions attempt to steal my joy now and diminish my return; as well as hinder possible relationships.
Limiting beliefs are thieves that plunder our soul!
I’m gonna take my shot and get in the room where it happens, despite my prohibitive thinking. By faith & will, you and I can choose to supersede our smaller selves!
I hope this week you identify thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back from becoming all you are designed to be. Also, I encourage you to evaluate where you’re being critical towards someone to consider what that says about you?