ZenGuide

I love this annual event! Earth Hour encourages everyone on earth to switch of their lights at 8.30pm local time for an hour - tonight, Saturday 26 March. The aim is to take a stand on climate change. It began in 2007 in Australia and has become a global phenomenon - last year, “A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off.”

(Thanks to my friend Mei W. for sharing the above video with me)

The aim of this year’s Earth Hour is “to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.”

Why do I love this event? When the lights - and other electronic gadgets go out - we are left with ourselves and each other. We must fall back on our own resources - conversation, old fashioned games (like Charades), our own thoughts, our selves. The softness of candle light replaces the harsh glare of electric lights. We are reminded of the dark - it is part of the natural world and the cycle of life. We can see the stars and contemplate the universe. We can contemplate eternity - a time before humankind, and also a time beyond humanity. It can be fun, awe inspiring, scary, moving.

Isaac Asimov’s haunting short story Nightfall is a cautionary tale that comes to mind during Earth Hour. It tells the story of a fictional world which has never known darkness - it has several suns so there is constant light. Except once in 2000 years. In that one moment, the planetary bodies line up in such a way that there is an eclipse and there is total darkness. Civilisations have risen over generations on this world - and fallen every 2000 years when nightfall occurs, because the people are so terrified by the darkness, they panic and go into a tailspin of mutual destruction.

Historian and archaelogist Ian Morris* references the term Nightfall as a metaphor for the moment when our civilisation here on Earch may collapse and humankind be wiped out. He reminds us how fragile the stability of our globalised and interconnected world is - our economies, our food distribution system, our reliance on depleting fossil fuels for energy, our dependence on natural forces remaining benign… Looking around us today at the crisis in Libya, unrest in the Middle East, the disaster in Japan, the volcanic ash from Iceland last year, Haiti’s and China’s earthquakes, flooding around the world, Nightfall seems to hover on the edge of our world of bright lights and noisy electronic wizardry. This year, Earth Hour can be a time to reflect more deeply on the turmoil and tragedies besetting our world and what each of us can do in our small part to make a difference. Our blazing lights and electronic toys comes at a cost, to the Earth and also to our consciousness and humanity. Will we party away in an illusory cocoon of neon lights till Nightfall takes us by surprise or can we re-connect with ourselves, each other and this fragile Earth to keep Nightfall at bay?

~~~
*In his book Why the West Rules for Now.

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

Like many round the world, I’ve been watching the unfolding disaster in Japan with horror and pity. It is impossible to imagine what it must be like to lose everything so suddenly, even as we see the devastation in the news. My heart goes out to the people and communities affected by the tsunami and subsequent disaster.

It is incredibly impressive to see the resilience and courage of individuals and whole communities, trying the best to live through each day with such dignity.

If you are moved to do something to help, Play for Japan is an online portal working with the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund to bring together events raising funds for the Japan disaster. You can see a list of fundraising events that are already scheduled on their Events page - there are concerts, gigs, rugby tournaments and even reflexology. If you have an event to raise funds to help the Japan disaster relief efforts, contact Play for Japan to tell them about it. And, of course, keep checking the site for events that you could go to and donate your funds.

The site was set up by a friend of mine, Michael Spencer of Sound Strategies, a musician involved in bringing music and the arts to business. He has close links with Japan and is a prime mover behing the annual Spitalfields Japan Festival.

You can also see who else is raising funds for Japan at the Play for Japan Youtube channel. Here is one of their videos, featuring violinist Taro Hakase:

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

So, it’s now March. How many of your New Year’s resolutions are you still keeping? For many people, each new year starts with a raft of good intentions - but often, by the time we are a few months into the year, the momentum is lost and we have given up on all those promises to ourselves.

Part of this failure in momentum can often be because our heart was never in it in the first place. Think back to your resolutions. Did your thinking sound something like this? “I ought to lose weight. I should go for more runs. I should go on a diet. OK, so let’s write these down in a list.

1. Lose weight.
2. Run
3. Diet.

There, done.”

It looks like a list of chores, doesn’t it? Chores are never very inspiring - because they are things you ought to do or should do. Where’s the excitement in that?

If you’d like to review your resolutions and really go for them, I’d like to suggest that you re-frame them into something that’s really going to get you thrilled and energized whenever you think about them. Oh, and also: KISS them - that is, apply the Keep It Simple, Stupid principle.

As I touched on in last week’s post, I distilled my New Year’s resolutions into a theme: Nurture and Nourishment . It’s easy to remember (so meets KISS) and there’s a nice ring to it. And it conjures images for me of abundance, healthy food, supportive friends, laughter, great art and literature, a fit and healthy mind and body. It feels inspiring, fun and exciting. At the same time, I don’t have to refer to list of action points. All I have to do, at any moment, whatever I’m doing, thinking or saying, is to ask myself: “Is this nurturing or nourishing? (to me, to others, to whatever is around me)”

So with the “lose weight” example above, if that is one of your resolutions, how could we reframe it into an inspiring and positive theme? It might be “Healthy and fit” or “Active and full of energy”. Focus on the delightful outcome that you would like to achieve, rather than the mechanical steps to get you there. Those steps will come naturally - have trust in that - as you fill your mind and heart and life with a theme that thrills you and wake each day, live each moment inhabiting that theme.

What is your theme for this year?

~~~

Photo: thanks to life is good (pete) on flickr.com (CCL)

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

I’ve spent much of 2011 so far offline - not blogging or podcasting, not tweeting, not Facebooking. To many who know me, this has come as a big surprise - I’m a social media fan, after all, and I’ve written a book on social media, no less! So, no, it’s not because I’ve suddenly had a change of heart about the benefits, advantages and joys of blogging. It’s part of reshaping how I want my life to flow this year.

All these online activities are about creating content, communicating, putting myself, my thoughts and ideas out there. I’ve been doing it every day or every other day for several years now and it’s about giving, sharing, connecting - an outflow of creativity and energy. Reviewing 2010 during the Xmas period and looking ahead to what I wanted in my life for this year and I realised that I needed an inflow of energy. Two words came into my meditations and they have now became my theme for 2011: Nurture and Nourishment.

They are just the right words for my coaching practice as I take on the role of nurturing and nourishing my clients. It feels like a privilege to be given this role by them as we work together towards the fulfillment that they want to bring into their lives and businesses.

Equally, they are important words for me to inhabit in my own life - as a coach here at ZenGuide, in my management role in the City and in my personal life. So I make a habit of asking myself often this year: what is nurturing and nourishing me? Or, how is this nurturing and nourishing me? Because, without nurture nourishment myself, how can I presume to nurture and nourish others?

Going offline for a few months has been part of this nourishment plan. I’ve also trimmed some of my obligations and commitments and prioritised how I spend my time. All this has given me the space - in both time and energy - to replenish my creativity, to stare into space, to redevelop my deep thinking, to enjoy time away from the computer - spending time outdoors, running, in my garden, with friends and family - and to enjoy being digitally silent while absorbing others’ creative content in the form of books, films, theatre, real life conversations. Books I’ve read and shows I’ve seen have prompted me to look at this world and my ordinary surroundings in a new way. Running has got me fitter again and reminded me how much I love that pain and exhiliration of pushing myself physically. Spending time with good friends, making new friends and hanging out with the people I love makes me feel connected and fulfilled. I’ll be sharing some of these moments and insights with you in upcoming blog posts.

So going forward, I’ll be blogging again but you may not find me so often on Twitter or Facebook. I hope that my posts will bring some of the fruits of this year of nurture and nourishment to share with you.

I hope that you’ll also share your Zen moments with me. What nurtures or nourishes you? Do leave a comment - I love learning from other people’s experience!

~~~

Photo: thanks to pbev on flickr.com (CCL)

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

For all of you digital natives and visitors, one and all - Happy Holiday Season!

Thanks to Roger at Groucho on the Rye for first sharing this vid with me.

I’ll be taking a break away from the computer now to enjoy the winter festivities. See you in 2011!

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

This time of year is usually wildly busy for many of us. We’re also focused on what’s coming up in the near future - Christmas, New Year, parties, family gatherings, buying presents…. Taking a moment to look back at this last year can help us appreciate all that this closing year has brought to our lives - and remind us, in the midst of this hectic time, what life is really about.

Many people around this time are working on their Christmas newsletter, summing up the year in pictures and words for their friends and family. The news is generally light and fun and even though there may be sad news of life transitions or passings for some, these round robins are usually of a nature that you feel comfortable sharing with acquaintances, colleagues and associates.

What about taking this opportunity to create a more personal, private review of the past year just for yourself? Jot down not just the holidays or family gatherings or career successes but also things that may not have “news” value to others but had meaning for you. Here are some questions to help you reflect:

• What - or who - moved you?

• What was thrilling? Not just obviously thrilling experiences like white water rafting, but what quieter moments were also thrilling?

• Who touched your life this year?

• How were you amazing this year?

• How was your partner/ spouse/ family amazing?

• What were you grateful for this year?

Let’s see what my brainstorm list looks like…

Spending time with my nephew as he grows up into an articulate, talented young man; eating our first home grown tomato of the year; connecting at a deep level with the inspiring and passionate souls on my professional coaching training course; seeing my partner build and grow her web design business from scratch; not hiding my tears when I am moved; finding a home for the stray kittens that had found refuge in our garden - and more ….

If you feel that you’d like to share any of the items in your list with me and the other ZenGuide readers, please do add a comment!

Next time: Making the most of New Years resolutions

~~~

Photo: thanks to Manjith Mainickara from flickr.com (CCL)

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

This is the first of an occasional series to inspire you if you are thinking of starting up on your own, whether as self-employed or a freelancer, or as a solo professional running your own business. With the holiday season coming up and a new year soon to start, this post could help you develop a motivating vision for a new business that’s uniquely your own.

Sometimes, when people I’m chatting to at a party learn that I’m a business coach, a wistful look comes into their eyes and they say, “I’d really like to start my own business”. For some people, you know exactly what your business would be. For others, that vision is not so clear yet.

This blog post today is for you if you’re not clear yet about your business idea but you just know you want to be your own boss or you’re longing to bring into the world something that is uniquely your own.

The first step is to take away the pressure. For now, don’t worry about whether this business is going to pay the bills or be sensible or practical. There’ll be time enough to sort all that out. Our minds can be more creative and we can be more in touch with the vision that we would love to create for our lives when we are relaxed. So let’s just have some fun with your imagination for now.

Brainstorm what you love spending time doing, what excites you, what makes you laugh. What kind of people do you like to spend time with? Don’t think in terms of jobs or job titles - those are boxes and we want to be outside the box in a free open space. Don’t censor yourself. What activities give you a rush?

Now, which of the feelings, activities, concepts there leap out at you from that sheet? Circle a few of them - five or so, not more.

Next, holding those five or so elements in your mind, think about how they could become a vision for your business. Think in big concepts, a big vision, not job titles or industry segments.

So you might jot down something like this:

“The business I create will be fun, adventurous and will have something to do with the outdoors.”

Or

“The business I create will allow me to be creative with food and work from home.”

This vision is the starting point. You may find that you will tweak it from time to time as you continue on your journey towards becoming your own boss. For now, think of it as a guiding light, showing you the things that stir your passion and excitement, as you begin to explore the practical, real world opportunities that will eventually transform that vision into reality.

And I’ll be continuing on that journey with you through future blog posts on the different steps along the process of setting up your own business. You can subscribe for free to receive a weekly email notification of new blog posts or via a blog reader - or just check back from time to time (I usually update this blog on Wednesdays)

~~~

Photo: thanks to Matthew Fang from flick.com (CCL)

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

In life and business, change is inevitable. How you respond to it is up to you. Does change unnerve or scare you? Or do you see it as an opportunity for new possibilities? In this current climate of uncertainty, developing flexibility and adaptability around change is a must.

Evolution of Language and Text

I visited the British Museum’s exhibition on Evolving English over the weekend. It tells the story of how the English language developed out of Old Norse and Frisian when the Vikings and Angles came over to these islands over a thousand years ago. In those days, the oral storytellers were the ones who passed on the history and legends of the tribes, conveying their stories from mouth to mouth. And written text was sparse, reserved for holy talismans and magic runes and carved or etched into stones or bones or gold.

But after a time technology evolved and parchment, pen and ink came to Britain and the greatest English heroic poem was written down. The only surviving manuscript of Beowulf was on display at the exhibition. It brought tingles to my spine to see the fire damaged paper, in the handwriting of an unknown scribe from more than a thousand years ago, setting down a legend that was even more ancient.

Writing continued to evolve into the gorgeous illuminated manuscripts of the high medieval period.

And then Caxton came along with his printing press.

What was intriguing was to see a copy of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in beautiful handwritten Gothic script - and then later, a copy of it again in printed form, one of the first books published by Caxton.

There were many other treasures on display, including a note in the own hand of Henry V as well as Jane Austen’s original manuscripts. There’s also a section on digital media like Twitter and how that is changing our use of language. If you love books. language and history - and how that all relates to our lives today, this is the perfect exhibition to visit!

Adapting to Change
But the theme that emerged most strongly for me was the evolution of the technology of communication, and how the changes presented opportunities for some artisans and craftspeople while destroying the livelihoods of others:

• While early writing eventually brought an end to the role of the oral storyteller gathering his audience together in tribal feast halls, it opened up the whole industry of scribes. It’s fascinating to wonder: did the oral storytellers adapt and learn the new technology or did they fade away? Did they reinvent themselves as wandering minstrels and other performers?

• Those who took advantage of the new technology became this new profession of scribes. This skill and the ability to transmit complex information to many in an enduring format helped societies grow and businesses to develop. The technology reached its highest form as art and communication in the illuminated manuscripts that gave purpose, meaning and livelihood to thousands of monks.

• The printing press meant that information could reach even more people even faster. How did the scribes respond to this change? By trying to smash the presses or to become part of the new revolution? Were they able to speed up their manual writing skills and become secretaries and transcribers? Or did they become obsolete?

• A new profession of printers, publishers, edtiors and writers evolved out of the printing press. A new market of book readers emerged, requiring warehousing, distributors, booksellers and more. The great universities of the world grew out of small scholastic establishments and the whole world was transformed.

• What now for the publishing industry, academia, the way we communicate and even the fates of nations, with the rise of digital media - not just electronic books, but instant publishing tools like blogs, Twitter, and much in the news this week, wikis like Wikileaks? While publishing houses wring their hands over copyright issues and a declining book buying public, digital professions are emerging: search engine optimisation consultants, social media advisors, companies offering self-publishing packages to new authors, professional bloggers… and more.

You and Change

Whatever your business, career or industry, where are you and your business on the continuum of change? Are you fearful that changes in your sector or in technology or in your age-old market is going to make you obsolete? Would you rather not think about it? Do you take the approach that: things are fine now so I don’t need to worry about it?

Or are you on the look out to see how you can adapt what you are doing - the services you are offering, the skills you have - to take advantage of change? How can you add to your skills or services? Where can you diversify your market?

The thing to remember is: it’s not just the change you face today - but the change that is always with us, that you need to factor into your business or career strategy. So it’s not about treating change as if you’re taking a crash diet course - you know, those lose 20 lbs in 6 days courses (ie solve your change problems in a week and be done with it) - but rather to accept managing change as a regular habit.

• What are you doing as a regular habit to monitor change and evolution in your business, career or sector?
• What adaptations/ innovations you can bring in at each step along the way to address or even anticipate those changes?

~~~

Photos:
Beowulf manuscript, thanks to Washington & Jefferson College
Change, thanks to AndYaDontStop from flickr.com (CCL)

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

I wonder if we all celebrate enough? Do we save joy just for those special occasions once a year - birthdays, New Year, Christmas? Or for the rare big event like the end of exams or closing a big deal or getting a new job?

Celebration - especially in the company of friends, colleagues and family - can give us joy, a sense of community and purpose: all strong foundations for a happy life.

For writers

As National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo) draws to a close, all you tenacious and brave writers who have been taking part in this writing marathon are in my mind. How will you mark the end of this epic month and what you have achieved during this time?

When 01 December dawns, look back at where you were on 01 November and see how far you have come. How many are the words you have written. How you juggled your time and commitments to keep this commitment with yourself and your creative process. What stories from the trenches of novel writing under pressure can you share with your friends and family - the great moments and the tough ones?

There may be a strict voice inside you who may not allow you to celebrate if you have not met the target you set yourself. I say: ignore that wet blanket voice! Wherever you have reached in your novel writing, that is the place that is right. If that highly critical saboteur voice won’t go away, rather than beat yourself up, jot down some thoughts about how you might have done things differently in order to have met your goal to the fullest. Then put them away as learning points for next time.

And go on and celebrate what you HAVE achieved!

In your business and career

Do you only ever celebrate at the annual Christmas party? Or when your company wins a big contract? Or when you get a pay rise or a new job?

What about marking the milestones along the way? What small successes can you think of that make you smile or feel up inside?

Why celebrate these small successes?

The positive glow from expressing and sharing the joy of even a small achievement can stimulate positive energy for the next actions along the journey to the one big success - and may even make that journey easier, swifter and more energizing.

The milestone celebrations don’t need to be big, expensive or flashy - a shared box of chocolates, some doughnuts, a glass of wine at the end of the week: something that brings your team together in recognition of work well done, and continuing to be well done.

In your life

Do you raise a glass every evening to the good moments of the day you’ve just had? Even in the lousiest day, there is something to be grateful for! It’s a small way to end the day with a smile, no matter how small, rather than a darkness in your heart.

What else could you celebrate along the way? Brainstorm a list with your family and friends - and in a way, the sillier and quirkier the better! The list itself can bring you some fun and laughter as you tap into your creativity.

Share the ways you celebrate

I’d love to hear about the ways you celebrate - the big stuff for the significant occasions and also the little stuff along the way. Please add a comment and let me know!

~~~

Photo: thanks to bfick from flickr.com (CCL)

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here

I was having dinner with some friends the other evening and one of them was thinking about changing jobs. He had been in his current role for close on 12 years at the same company and felt that it was time for a change. Round the table, we all had different work profiles - a self-employed consultant, a full time employee at senior level, a freelance webdesigner and me (working part time in the City and also a self-employed coach and consultant) - so we had a range of perspectives on what looking for a new job means. Our conversation got me thinking.

What do we look for in a new job?

There are the usual “external” things: salary level, location, big corporate or smaller firm, medical insurance, pension scheme, how much responsibility, who’s your boss, who are you boss to, challenging/ interesting work. We all have a mental checklist of these items and know that we want ideally and which ones we could compromise on.

But how often do we think big when it comes to changing jobs? What about taking advantage of this moment of transition to take stock of where we are in our lives and where we’d really love to be? To refresh our thinking and reconnect with our creative, passionate selves?

I’m talking about asking ourselves different questions when it comes to a possible new job. As well as wondering, “Do the benefits include a company car?”, ask yourself, “How would this new role give my life meaning and purpose?”. Or “How does the company culture fit with my values?”. Or “How can I use my creativity in this new career?”

What’s the point of asking these big questions?

Because someone whose life has meaning and purpose and who can fully honour their values in everything they do, will be more naturally motivated in their work and happier and more fulfilled in their lives. Yes, the “external” package is important. I’m not suggesting you ignore them. What I hope to inspire is an additional perspective on how you can design your future. Our lives are more than our jobs - but we spend much of our lives at our jobs. So asking the big questions can help you approach your new job in a way that opens up opportunities for happiness and satisfaction beyond the “external” checklist.

What do YOU look for in a new job? What will you not compromise on? What’s not so important for you? Please add a comment and share your experiences.

~~~
Related info:

What is Coaching?
Career Development

Photo: thanks to AlicePopkorn from flickr.com (CCL)

~~~

The contents of this blog, including this post, comments and links, are subject to this Disclaimer - please read it by clicking here