Going Further: The Coaching Newsletter

Welcome to the 2nd Issue of our Brand New Newsletter: Going Further!

I’m sharing my reflections, tips, and tools on how we can all go further. If there is anything you’d like to see more of, leave your feedback with the form below!

“Laurence-isms”

Buongiorno and ciao! I’m writing this while soaking in the sun on the island of Salina in Sicily, enjoying the incredible and breathtaking resort Principe di Salina. I’ve been invited here be the resort’s outstanding owner and have the privilege of speaking with and coaching her team. Being here is such an incredible reminder of what life is all about — incredible food, scenery, and most of all, connections with people from all walks of life. As I’ve been talking with the resort’s staff and the other guests, I’ve learned a lot about people, and my conversations have helped frame my work and coaching philosophy. It’s paramount to broaden our horizons and connect with people from all different places. I’ve often said it’s difficult to be close-minded when educated or traveling. It’s cliche to state we’re not so different after all, yet cliches are accurate for a reason. Here are a few of my takeaways and thoughts.

• Imposter Syndrome (and other feelings) are universal. We don’t often think about how people on the other side of the planet feel, and imagine that their lives are so different (and maybe better) than ours. The truth is that we all experience the same negative emotions — stress, burnout, impostor syndrome. etc… One notable interaction I had was with a guest who recently left his high-paying finance position in Zurich, Switzerland and was entering a new field of commercial real estate. He admitted that he felt trepidation and uncertainty about his capabilities in his new role. This was all the way in Italy, as far from the hustle of New York as you’d expect. Yet, here we are on the most beautiful island, and a man whose life looks completely different from mine has this same feeling. While this means that no one is truly safe from burnout, fear and imposter syndrome, it also means that there are ways to manage all these complex emotions. Here’s the thing about imposter syndrome: it is an over reliance on what we don’t know and a lack of acknowledging what we do know. Example, as Adam Grant states: “imposter syndrome says ‘I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s only a matter of time until everyone finds out.’” To combat this feeling try a Growth Mindset. This mindset states: “I don’t know what I'm doing yet. It's only a matter of time until I figure it out.” The difference: a similar initial feeling, yet with subtle shift in perspective and language.

• Work-life balance isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a non-negotiable. Even though this was a (I’m about to either coin or reinforce a phrase) “workation”, I had to take some time to myself just to enjoy this all. When you’re buckling down hard on your professional goals, it can be too easy to lose sight of all else that life has to offer. My business is fast paced and exhilarating, and I’m always on the go. However, I also have to (or get to) consciously remind myself to breathe in the fresh air and soak in the sunshine and clear waters. How do I do this? I ask myself what gives me peace, joy and excitement in that moment. I also ask myself how I’ll feel in ten years. Will I regret boarding the yacht? Probably not. Will I say I’m glad to have talked to a stranger by the pool and learned something new over writing an article I could write later? Probably. Lesson: enjoy the present, while also protecting your future self’s peace.

• Perhaps the biggest lesson from all of this — you can make your passion your profession and possibly your purpose. I never thought that my love for service and guidance would take me to one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever been, letting me enjoy an Aperol spritz (or two) and freshly cut pasta. Prof Scott Galloway often states that passion doesn’t necessarily equate to a successful monetary career and argues to embrace skill instead. I tend to agree with part of this. If you have a skill you are passionate about then that formula of skill plus passion can equal success. I left Salina feeling gratitude for the opportunity just experienced and the more to come.

Tips for Going Further: Here’s one step you can take to make sure you go the extra mile.

The 30-90 Rule

If you need a quick power nap during the day to get your energy back up, follow the 30-90 rule, where you nap for either less than 30 minutes, or at least for 90 minutes. When we sleep, our bodies cycle through REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non rapid eye movement) sleep, and each cycle lasts approximately 90 minutes. As you approach the 30 minute mark of a nap, you enter the deepest form of NREM sleep. So for example, if you were to nap for 45 minutes, you would interrupt this cycle, leading to grogginess once you wake up. However, waking up before this deepest sleep or after will lead to more restful, productive sleep. I say all this and I am definitively not a napper! Yet, I can appreciate it’s qualities.

Tools for Going Further: The MoSCoW Method

When you’re faced with a long list of tasks but don’t have any idea where to start, try using the MoSCoW method of prioritizing tasks. This is somewhat similar to one of my favorite methods: The Eisenhower Matrix yet there are differences here. There are the must haves (nonnegotiables), should haves (important but not critical), could haves (nice to have), and the won’t have (low priority) items. Try using our template to sort your tasks and conquer that to-do list. 

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Until Then.

Go Further,

Laurence Anthony

This Weeks’s Film Quote