Sustainable Ambition Forum - 2.28.23
At the end of this month of love, I’m focusing on what you love and appreciate about yourself. I know, I know. It sounds weird, a bit corny, and perhaps too self-helpy. Is it too much?
But really. Have you ever stopped to think about what you really love and appreciate about yourself? Pause to think about that. Typically most of us are critical of ourselves. We all have an internal judge constantly critiquing.
What if we were to take a different approach to activate the best parts of ourselves? Research shows that acknowledging ourselves has positive benefits, and the impact of affirmations is that people feel more engaged at work and less depleted.
Plus, what I’ve learned over the last two years of interviewing people on the podcast and through my research is that sustainable success resides in being yourself.
This idea came forth in recent podcast interviews featured below:
In E98 with Tricia Montalvo Timm, she talks about her new book, her experience in stepping into showing up as her authentic self, and how our differences are beautiful and valuable. She said:
“...my thesis is that eventually, at some point, you get to the place where the benefits outweigh the risks…. because the only way I believe to be truly successful and fulfilled is showing up authentically.”
Learn more about Tricia’s new book now on pre-order here.
In E99 with Jessica Wan, we talk about the work Jessica is championing around the ampersand life and honoring all sides of oneself, alongside broadening our views of success. One quote from Jessica:
“My hope is that people who had childhood passions—whether it was music or athletics or any sort of arts—know that you can keep doing it at a very high level, but you have to let go of preconceived notions of a very, very narrow definition of success.”
In E88 with Al Dea, Al talks about honoring how and where you want to be ambitious, defining your own success, and putting to use what you do best (your value that is valuable).
“Find the thing that you do insanely well that you can do better than anyone else, and find as many ways to use it in the service of something that is bigger than yourself.”
What if you were to step further into being yourself to find sustainable success? One of these questions might inspire you:
What values do you love in yourself and want to acknowledge? Turn it into a daily affirmation. Really.
What is unique about you that is valuable to authentically bring forward into your personal and professional life?
What side of yourself may be dormant that you want to nurture?
What are you insanely good at and how do you want to add value using that talent?
You can find sustainable success. It starts with knowing and stepping into who you are.
Here’s to honoring you,
Kathy Oneto
Founder of Sustainable Ambition
P.S. Friday, March 3rd is Employee Appreciation Day. A friendly reminder... remember to both appreciate yourself, and if you lead a team, to appreciate each individual for their unique selves and strengths. Acknowledgment is under-utilized despite being highly appreciated. It is simple, easy, and goes a long way. Tell them how they uniquely add value and are valuable for who they are.
The Round-Up
Take the reins and craft your job into one you love. It’s kind of like answering the question you want to answer vs. answering the one posed. Sure you were hired for a job, but what if you could re-craft that job to be one that aligns with what you are insanely good at, as Al talks about? That way it becomes more fulfilling and satisfying for you. Plus, you will then create more value for yourself and your organization. This article offers tips on job crafting considering Process, People, and Purpose. Win win!
Current career path doesn’t feel like you anymore? We learn about ourselves over time, so it’s not uncommon to find oneself at a point where you realize what you’re doing doesn’t fit anymore. How do you know? What might you be feeling? This article offers some clues. Know that it’s normal to find oneself at such inflection points, and it’s never too late to honor what you’re feeling and move towards what’s calling you next.
Do you know your value? What if you could benefit from knowing how others have seen you operating at your best? Okay, this Positive Method approach definitely calls us to step into vulnerability, but it could offer a lasting confidence boost to know just how valuable you are to those around you. Do you dare to try it?
Reading: Body of Work by Pam Slim. I love all of Pam’s work. This book is about how you can craft the story around your “body of work” as some of us start to take our careers down non-linear paths. What is the thread that ties our valuable accomplishments and who we are into a cohesive narrative?
ICYMI: The gift of Morgan Harper Nichols. Okay, maybe I’m the only one who only too recently got introduced to Morgan’s work. If you are looking for powerful inspiration to step into knowing your value, check out what Morgan has to offer at her website here, on Instagram here, and in her new book here.
Join me for conversations with experts, authors, and friends on
what it means to live with Sustainable Ambition.
A round-up of powerful episodes encouraging you to honor your full self, to know that all of what you offer is valuable, and to claim your own ambition.
E98: On Embracing the Power of You with Tricia Montalvo Timm
Tricia Montalvo Timm is a first-generation Latina and one of the few to have attained the triple achievement of reaching the C-suite, joining the boardroom, and cracking the venture capital ceiling. In this conversation, we discuss her new book, “Embrace the Power of You,” which is for those who are code-switching or struggling to belong in the corporate landscape and for those of us who want to support creating inclusive environments.
Listen here or on our website here
E99: On A Call To Lead an Ampersand Life with Jessica Wan
Are you called to honor more than one side of yourself in your life and work? Then this episode is for you! Meet Jessica Wan, host of The Ampersand Manifesto podcast. Jessica explains ampersands as those who are multi-passionate, lead double lives, and straddle two completely different worlds. Listen in to hear Jessica’s story of being an ampersand and how you, too, can step into your full identity.
Listen here or on our website here
E88: On the Agency to Define Your Own Ambitions & Success with Al Dea
Al Dea of Better Work Labs is back to share how he advocates for us to step into our autonomy and agency to define how and where we want to be ambitious and define our own success. Yes, that's right!
Listen here or on our website here
You can also find the podcast, subscribe, and listen on your favorite podcast player here.
Work with Me
I have a few openings in my spring coaching schedule, and I’d love to work with you!
You might be:
Exploring what’s next for work as you stand at an inflection point
Looking to plan your next life and work arc
Seeking to better align life+work
Wanting to dial in your ambitions and your effort
Wanting to make a bigger impact at work and understand your leadership brand
Let’s talk!
Schedule a FREE 30-minute Exploratory Call with me here.
The Monthly Progress Practice: February
At the beginning of the year, we shared our Monthly Progress Practice. Progress happens through small actions, so we offer a monthly practice of small actions or micro-habits to inspire positive change this year.
Our guidance for February: Affirm. Acknowledging oneself works. What are three strengths you appreciate about yourself? What makes you a good leader in your professional or personal life?
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
— Steve Martin