One Shared Lesson at a Time

Welcome to the 114th edition of “In Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.

Story of the Week: “One Shared Lesson at a Time"

I kicked off a recent workshop of mine with a question that usually gets people thinking beyond the day-to-day:

"What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?"

There were more answers, all different, but the feeling in the room was the same. It was a mix of honesty, vulnerability and wisdom earned the hard way. And it made me think: Why wait to share these reflections only with our past selves? Why not share them now, with our teams, our families and the people we lead?

After three decades of learning, leading and listening, this is what I would tell my 25-year-old self:

1. Personal Advice: Don’t take yourself so seriously. You pour energy into things that, a week, a month, or even a year, won’t matter. You shed tears over what someone said. You spend sleepless nights thinking about what might happen. Then one day, you look back and wonder why you ever gave such things so much power. Most situations aren’t as big, or as bad, as the mind makes them appear. So, laugh more. Forgive faster. Let it go sooner.
2. Professional Advice: Dare to try. That person you admire? They’re not necessarily more talented than you, they just decided to take the first step. They dared to begin. They risked a “no.” They risked looking foolish. They risked failing. And when they did fail, they didn’t stop. They learned, adjusted and tried again. So, start. Be brave. Learn. Adjust. Repeat.

If this advice (and my original question) helps you, imagine how powerful it could be if you passed it on. Not in a meeting or in a manual but in the way you lead, listen and show up… for your team, your family and yourself.

That’s how we grow cultures worth being part of.

One shared lesson at a time.

Words of Wisdom

“You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” Jim Carrey

“Don’t be afraid to share what you know, because you know it better than anyone else!” Bob Buckman

A Question to Ponder, dear friend.

What’s one piece of advice that you would give to your younger self – and one that you might still need to hear today?