CoCreative Future

Are you exactly where you are meant to be? The problem is I think that many of us are caught up in the flow of what’s expected: that we can find ourselves sleep walking through work and life never having the time to consider;  am I climbing the right ladder? Am I striving for the right thing?  Is this actually what I want? I was cosied up in front of the fire watching MasterChef the professionals last night and one young contestant did so well that Marcus Waring (one of the judges) said it was probably the best skills test he had ever seen in his 10 years on the show.  She was really choked and chuffed.  When she came out of the kitchen they did the usual exit interview and she said she felt somewhat overwhelmed but had a huge sense that “this is who I'm meant to be; this is where I’m meant to be; this is what I meant to be doing” Wow!  So young and to be so clear about her path and purpose in life.  For many of us it’s not that clear and it takes time, self-reflection and self-awareness to uncover that for ourselves.  And in the meantime, if we don’t take that time we can end up climbing the ladder than someone else, or society or some hidden pressure that we’ve not uncovered is driving us in the wrong direction.  Deep down we kinda know but we often keep the lid on it. But it feels uncomfortable, like we’re in conflict with ourselves. What happens if you ask yourself that question today? Are you where you are meant to be? Believe me, I know it can be challenging to answer - I’ve been there.  I also know that finding the right ladder can take time and it helps to have support and challenge and sometimes some structure through which to explore is helpful.  I've had loads of help along the way and I’ve coached hundreds of people on this very topic and journeyed with people to find their north star, purpose, true direction, correct ladder, who they are meant to be - whatever you want to call it. Today I (mostly) am where I want to be. And if you’re curious about exploring that you can find my CoCreate your Future reflection workbook in my profile with some information and starting points to get you thinking. “If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.” Stephen R. Covey

Are you in a mental blizzard? Busy, stressed, overwhelm, feeling stuck.  The neuroscientists called it cognitive overload.  Basically we can’t see the wood for the trees, the way forward. I think of it like the snow in the snow globe when it’s all shaken up and there’s a blizzard in there.  No wonder we can’t see the big picture, the way forward. We have to allow the snow in the globe to settle to the bottom.  Then the full picture is revealed.  Then you can see the way forward. So if that’s you right now - here’s 4 tips: 1. Go somewhere quiet (even lock yourself in the loo) and focus on your breath. The 3-4-5 breathing technique is simple and good. 2. Go for a walk without your phone 3. Get paper and pen and just write the stuff that's coming into your head, get it all out. Then throw the paper away (or even burn it!) 4. Reconnect with what’s important by downloading my FREE reflection workbook - CoCreate your Future - which I designed especially to help you slow down and start thinking about what matters to you.  Here’s the link: https://lnkd.in/eEirwfa2 #createspace #cocreateyourfuture #coaching #5treeschallenge

I once hired a "superstar" with an incredible CV. 6 months on, the whole team was in chaos... My mistake? I over-indexed by skills and experience. As a first-time founder, I thought that's what mattered most. I was growing quickly. I wanted people who knew more than me. But I missed something crucial: soft skills. Or as i prefer to call them, core skills. These often-overlooked qualities can make or break a team. Here are the most undervalued skills I've learned to prioritise: 1/ Being Easy to Work With ↳ Makes work a positive place ↳ People actually want you around 2/ Honesty ↳ Builds trust quickly ↳ People know they can count on you 3/ Growth Mindset ↳ Always open to learning ↳ Sees challenges as opportunities 4/ Moves Things Forward ↳ Gets things done, no fuss ↳ Speaks louder than any résumé 5/ Avoid Drama ↳ Focuses on solutions, not problems ↳ Brings calm to the table 6/ Consistency ↳ Delivers reliable results every time ↳ People trust you to follow through These skills might seem basic, but they're the real drivers of success. The net effect compounds in both directions. A team full of people with these skills are unstoppable. Without them? One weak link can topple the entire operation. Thanks to Chris Donnelly for inspiring this post. In his words: "Be the person who makes things easier, not harder." 👇 Which skills do you think are crucial? Share below 🍰 Repost to share with your network. ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ I'm Sophie Deen, I write about raising 21st-century kids and creative entrepreneurship. Sign up for my newsletter at www.sophiedeen.com