Sustainable Ambition Forum - 02.15.22
I was recently at Heathrow airport, and as I was walking through the exit gates from customs I was reminded of re-watching the movie Love Actually over the holidays. I love that movie in particular for the opening scene narrated by Hugh Grant. It’s set at this moment—walking off a plane and meeting one’s family and friends upon arrival. He says, “Love actually is… all around.” It gets me every time. A tear is shed. I may be a bit sentimental, but it really is a beautiful reminder… Love actually is… all around. For a somewhat silly movie that has questionable cinematic value, that scene reminds me that there is simple goodness in the world, that love exists more than we realize, and that joy and enjoyment can be experienced if we allow ourselves to become more present to it.
What if we were to foster and seek out that love beyond just in our relationships?
Some of us wonder and feel like we don’t know what we want to be doing, or we think what we come up with is generic (I’ve been there). But oftentimes when we get quiet or we look more closely, there are clues. There is insight in the details. What if we were to dig deeper to be more present to what we love doing and being?
In this month of love, I’ll invite you to consider 3 Questions:
1. What is your heart calling you to do?
I was asked this inquiry last year during a coaching session. It stopped me. My head often reigns. It helped me be reminded to get quiet and listen for what my heart is calling me to do now.
2. What does your heart need?
Since last year, I’ve been craving creative space. I decided that my heart needed time away and a change of scenery after hunkering down at home for almost two years. That’s what took me to London for two weeks, spending a lot of time in seven different libraries such as the British Library shown above, to dig further into my creative work.
3. What do you love to do and who do you love to be?
I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, and in this episode with Kaira Jewel Lingo she mentioned this beautiful quote by Theologian Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” I loved this! What makes you come alive?
Here’s to loving what we do a little more each day.
XO,
Kathy
The Round-Up
Reading: I appreciated Tammy Gooler Loeb’s (featured in our podcast below) new book, Work from the Inside Out: Break Through Nine Common Obstacles and Design a Career That Fulfills You. The book addresses the main obstacles that many people face in career transitions that keep them from reaching fulfillment and is a wonderful mix of awareness building, storytelling through others’ experiences, and reflection and exercises to move you forward towards finding more love in your work.
Listening: If you’d like to hear a bit more about my own career journey, listen in when I joined Tammy on her show. I share how curiosity has guided me early on and continues to today in finding love in my work.
Watching: Marcus Buckingham, the strengths and workplace guru, has a new book coming out on Love+Work. You can watch an HBR webinar where he introduces the book and if you want to learn more and be a part of the launch series find details here.
Smiling: A little visual fun with emojis to scale. What’s not to love?
The Sustainable Ambition Podcast - Episode 46
Join me for conversations with experts, authors, and friends on what it means to live with Sustainable Ambition.
Tammy Gooler Loeb is a career and executive coach, podcast host, and now author. Listen in to hear our conversation on her new book, Work from the Inside Out: Break Through Nine Common Obstacles and Design a Career That Fulfills You. Learn Tammy’s insights from years of coaching and over 150 podcast interviews, many that are integrated into her book, to inspire you to be curious and open up to the possibility of finding work aligned to you that is more satisfying and fulfilling.
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.
Now Available!
The Sustainable Ambition 12-Month Workbook+Planner:
Your Life+Work Resilience Rx
Bust burnout and keep it at bay! Create a better plan to help you stretch yourself while also sustaining yourself. Aim, Act, Assess, and Adapt throughout the year to build your life+work resilience. Learn more >
The Monthly Progress Practice: February
At the beginning of each year, we share our Monthly Progress Practice. Progress is made through small, consistent action. Practice makes progress. We offer a monthly guidance on small actions or inquiries to inspire positive change this year.
Our guidance for February: Sustain yourself. What is a small, daily action you can take to keep you operating at your best? A daily gratitude practice. One minute of deep breaths. A daily walk. You choose!
Find Your Guide:
Find the perfect guide to match your journey.
“Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.”
— Rumi
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SUSTAINABLE AMBITION™ IS ABOUT CRAFTING A FULFILLING CAREER TO SUPPORT YOUR LIFE FROM DECADE TO DECADE.
It is centered around articulating your personal definition of success and achieving that without burnout while honoring your personal aspirations and ambitions as they ebb and flow over time. The end game—more fulfillment and ease in your professional and personal life, while still being ambitious.
We offer 1:1 Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, or Career Strategy Coaching, as well as VIP Leadership Brand Sessions and Workshops on a range of Sustainable Ambition topics. We also provide tips and inspiration, advice on career management over the decades, guides on key Sustainable Ambition topics of interest, and coverage of tools and inspiration.