Give-up

For the next 5 minutes, let’s elevate your career.

In today’s email:

• What will you give-up for your goals?

• Encourage

• Get-up

• Will this matter in 10 years?

• Yvon Chouinard as career coach

ON YOUR CAREER

What will you give-up for your goals?

It’s easy to dream and write big goals. It’s harder to make the sacrifices to achieve those goals. If we’re already working hard and smart, we need to reduce or give-up something.

I want to finish writing my book Triple Intelligence Leadership so I reduced time watching sport and drama on streaming services. I now watch Netflix while I ride my stationery bike. So binge-watching series is dead for now. My sports consumption now is only for big games or to attend live with friends. These changes liberate more than 300 hours per year for writing.

Is there anything else that you will give-up to achieve your big career goals?

COMMUNICATION

Encourage

The Hall of Fame singer Patti Smith said, ‘I've always thrived on the encouragement of others.’ She’s not alone. Most of us do better when we’re encouraged. A word of encouragement from a teacher may change a child’s ambition. The encouragement of a leader may inspire their team to reach their potential.

All of us can encourage our colleagues. And it’s free. It’s useful when someone has had a setback or they are delivering great value. Encouragement is likely to be well-received if it’s authentic.

Is there anyone on your team who would benefit from your encouragement?

PRODUCTIVITY

Get-up

Hunching over our computer encourages mental and physical fatigue. We need to get-up. Regular movement throughout the day increases blood flow to the brain which promotes alertness. Our eyes are also less tired because they focus on different distances and stimuli.

By taking short breaks to stretch, walk, or perform light exercises, we promote a positive mood. This enhances our creativity. We can set the alarm on our phone to remind us to get-up. A healthy and productive hack.

1 MINUTE TO LESS STRESS

Will this matter in 10 years?

Longer timeframes provide a useful perspective on the severity of a problem. Most arguments, perceived insults, and worries fade with time. Many to the point where we forget them. We can waste a lot of energy on wanting circumstances and people to be different.

When we feel stressed, it’s worth asking ourselves, ‘will this matter in 10 years?’ If the answer is ‘yes’, then we want to act. If the answer is ‘no’, we can be comforted that the negative emotions will dissipate. Lengthening our time perspective brings serenity.

CAREER WISDOM

Yvon Chouinard

Yvon Chouinard (1938 - ) is an entrepreneur and self-described blacksmith. He spent his youth in Southern California where he was an avid rock climber, free diver, and surfer. Chouinard’s business interests followed his love of the outdoors. At nineteen, he began making climbing gear and selling these from the back of his car. The gear was popular but not profitable.

In 1973, Chouinard founded Patagonia which made outdoor clothing. He has been compared with Steve Jobs in his commitment to product excellence and simplifying customer choice. Patagonia’s success is also attributed to Chouinard’s commitment to the environment. His leadership attracts like-minded employees which reinforces the brand’s values.

In 2022, Chouinard transferred ownership of Patagonia to a non-profit organization to combat climate change. This donation was valued at $3 billion. This is what he and his family were prepared to give-up to achieve their big goals. Some of Chouinard’s wisdom: