Tag Archives: Authentic

Do you need a bit of inspiration about your work life? Check this out

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Last week I went to a business club offered off the back of Cranfield University’s Business Growth Programme (of which I’m a proud graduate).

I’ve only been to two meetings but both times I left feeling inspired, supported and excited about the future. The group knows that I’ve decided to leave my companies to figure out how I can follow my heart instead of my head.

It’s interesting as we discuss normal business concepts such as how to get more clients, HR issues, the practicalities of running a business, etc in addition to deep concepts such as:

  • what is it about running our business that truly makes us happy?
  • can we encourage more magical moments in our business and personal lives?
  • how can we make sure we wake up every day with inspiration?

Times are definitely changing in the world of business! It’s not all about making a profit, finding good employees or simply trying to make the Times 100 Best companies list anymore!

It’s much more…it’s about finding a way to love what you do so that the love spreads to everyone you touch.

Anyway – during our business meeting one of the members suggested that we watched the Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech.

If you haven’t seen this yet, I urge you to take just a few minutes to watch it. I guarantee you’ll feel more inspired about the idea of living the authentic life (or should I put ‘being the real you more often.’)

Have a GREAT DAY!  x

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Keep asking yourself – does this task, activity or journey feel right?

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This whole concept about being conscious of my thoughts and feelings is amazing.  Rather than getting stuck into something and spending weeks (and dare I say years) on autopilot I’m starting to question the value of my journey each day and sometimes every hour.

When I get a funny feeling that things aren’t right, I’ve started to contemplate what’s causing the feeling.  I tell myself that the feelings are an internal reaction to something.  Rather than blame someone or something for the funny feeling I investigate and often find that I’m doing something that doesn’t match up with my values.

For example, yesterday I was requested to attend a meeting where I would have to pretend to be committed, enthusiastic and even visionary.  After the request came through I felt a knot in my stomach, my shoulders started to tense and I felt ‘funny’.  At first, I blamed the person who asked me to attend the meeting.

But after sleeping on it things I realised that the issue was inside me – pretending to be someone I’m not goes against my values.  Once I realised what the real issue was, I simply told the guy running the meeting that I’m happy to do it but I’m not going to be committed, enthusiastic or visionary.  He can then make the decision if he wants me there or not.

And lately…while I’m working on a project I’ll ask myself, ‘Kim – are you enjoying this?’  The answer isn’t always yes – the task may not be enjoyable, but there’s often value in it and I can make a conscious decision to carry on doing it (or not).

Again – I keep coming back to the same conclusion.  Enjoying the journey doesn’t mean that I’m happy every second of the day.  It means that I’m conscious of what I’m doing and I am choosing to do or not do tasks according to my feelings and values.

I once read in a book that feelings are a guidance system – they tell you if you’re going off-course.  I finally understand this concept!  If you can pay attention to how you feel…and if you’re not feeling right…there’s something going on that needs to be looked at.

Anyhooooooo, do you periodically ask yourself if you’re enjoying your journey throughout the day?

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Is it possible to be the same person in all situations – to be authentic all the time?

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I’m conscious of the fact that my website is about enjoying the journey of life and the subject matter is very general.  The site is not about enjoying work or enjoying your family or any other segment (in isolation).  It’s about enjoying as much as you can in every area of life as much as possible.

Writing on such a wide topic is however somewhat difficult. Perhaps I need to recreate my menu structure into family, friends, work, health, wealth and spiritual?  But that defeats the purpose of my site…

The website is suppose to be about integrating fulfilment into every area of my life and if I start to segment it I fear I’ll end up where I was in the past – having a great social life and bad love life or a fantastic day at work and terrible time with the family.  Segmentation caused me to differentiating my life whereas my new aim (I think) is to have them all to flow together.

I don’t want different values and behaviours for different life segments.  I don’t want to be one person at work and then switch to another person at home…I want to be the same authentic person towards everyone.  But I’ve worn so many hats for so long – is there a Kim that is the same across the board?  Is there a Kim that is capable of flowing rather than segmenting life?

Interesting question.  I just don’t know.  I’ve spent so many years acting…(not on purpose – of course!).  I also have held this belief that work is crap but you need to get on with it so that you can enjoy other things.  My issue is that by the time work is over I’m too tired to enjoy anything.

So…is it possible to be authentic all the time?

What if I could care about everyone like I care about my daughter?  What if I could smile at everyone as if they were my best friend?  What if I could give to people in need as if they were in my immediate family?

And how about having a great time at work, going home and having a nice evening with the family and then out with friends for a nice meal?  In the past, I had a hectic, stressful day at work, went home to a glass of wine to numb my anxieties and hit my bed by 8pm ignoring invites from my friends.

Hmmmm, I really like the idea of enjoying each segment of my day in addition to being the same person throughout.  I wonder if it’s possible to live life this way?

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