Sustainable Ambition Forum - 12.07.21
Stop. Go.
As we start to close the year, I think this View can be a good reflection—to start to consider what you can cut out to make space for what might be new in 2022. What will you stop so you can then go?
The Sustainable Ambition View:
Stopping activities can be just as powerful as starting them.
Why it matters:
There are times when we know we need to move on or are ready for that next thing, yet we can’t create space for it. It’s hard to stop doing a project or activity that we committed to, but if we don’t we’ll never make time for the new.
Behind the thinking:
When one is ambitious and living a full life, it’s easy to end up with a full plate.
Yet there are times when we get an inkling or an itch to move towards something new, towards what’s next.
Or, we start to get tired or bored with what’s been holding our attention up to this point.
It’s hard to put down something we started, but surrendering or putting a project down can be freeing.
We only have so much time. Where do you want to put your attention now?
What’s next:
What has run its course for you? What can you put down? What do you want to stop?
What’s calling you now? What do you want to move towards instead?
If you want to take action in the direction of your new goals or ambitions, how can you reorient your priorities to start to take action on those first and put other tasks aside?
What one small step can you take in the direction of where you want to move?
Below in the round-up, we continue the theme of stop and go, including featuring two podcasts—one focused on going back to work after a baby and life+work as a parent and the other on taking a strategic approach to a job search and the interview process if you’re looking to leave your current job and find a new role.
With that, be well, all! Remember to be present this month and stretch the time out. Let’s not move too quickly into the new year.
Kathy Oneto
Founder of Sustainable Ambition
The Round-Up
Want to up your satisfaction with your current work? Stop any negative downward spirals. Go towards reframing your work to up your happiness through purpose, engagement, resilience, and kindness. Read more.
Get inspired by others who found their next act. Inspirational stories from those who stopped a former trajectory to go towards what called them next.
Find better productivity tips. This article (a long read, but interesting) would say to stop with the to do lists (or at least putting too much on them!) and start time blocking to reduce the stress that comes with ending days with a list of undone tasks. Want to try out some other productivity tools that might work better for you? Review this great round-up of productivity tips from Pocket.
Calling it quits? From our friend, Christine Bader at The Life I Want, wise counsel to leave a job well to give you the peace to move on to what’s next.
Shift some self-care time towards other care to help you recover. Jamil Zaki, professor of psychology at Stanford University, emphasizes there are limits to self-care and encourages us to add in other-care to help us recover from impacts of the pandemic.
Stop overwhelm. By moving towards showing yourself grace.
Let it go. When to drop routines when they aren’t serving you anymore.
Returnship programs to support workers that stop then want to go. Appreciated this podcast and the work the guest is doing to support those returning to the workforce. How I wish that more companies were evolved enough to have such programs. I do hope it catches on and becomes a trend.
Put a stop to burnout at work. Tips from Gallup to move towards making sure employees are engaged in their work, supported for better work-life integration, and encouraged to leverage their strengths.
Ready to make a career change. It takes more than just thinking. As Herminia Ibarra says, “We rarely think our way into a new way of acting. Rather, we act our way into new ways of thinking — and being.” So if you want to stop and make a change, learn what’s important in a transition to go in a new direction and have it stick.
The Sustainable Ambition Podcast - Episodes 38 & 40
Join me for conversations with experts, authors, and friends on
what it means to live with Sustainable Ambition.
Episode #38: On Parenthood+Work & Mindful Returns with Lori Mihalich-Levin
I was thrilled to be joined by Lori Mihalich-Levin, founder and CEO of Mindful Return, to talk about parenthood+work and helping parents navigate this stage in life and career. Lori champions parents having a more mindful return going back to the office after welcoming a baby and offers an e-course that supports parents through the transition. And, her research shows that it delivers results! Highly recommend this inspirational interview.
Listen on Apple here or on our website here.
Episode #40: On A Strategic Job Search that Works with Claudia Miller
If you’re in the midst of a job search or want to be prepared for your next one, hear Claudia Miller, recognized by Business Insider as one of the Top 23 Most Innovative Career Coaches, talk about taking a strategic approach to your job search to have you stand out from others, command the attention you deserve, and land the role you’re seeking.
Listen on Apple here or on our website here.
You can also find the podcast, subscribe, and listen on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast.
A Question for the Holidays:
How do I want to shape the experience of my time this holiday?
How can I slow time down in the moments that matter? When do I want to focus on the quality of my time vs. the quantity? How do I craft my experiences to feel a specific way asking: How do I want to feel this holiday? What can I do and how can I be to feel that way?
Find Your Guide:
Find the perfect guide to match your journey.
“Great acts are made up of small deeds.”
— Lao Tzu
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SUSTAINABLE AMBITION™ IS ABOUT CRAFTING A FULFILLING CAREER TO SUPPORT YOUR LIFE FROM DECADE TO DECADE.
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