100 Coaches Week 22.13 Be Inevitable
Living in the Northeast for most of my life, I have enjoyed the seasons. It is one of the Northeast's greatest attributes. Seasons seem inevitable, and as many a sage has said: "for everything, there is a season." While I know that spring is coming, the sub-zero late March temperatures make me question when. Today there is still black ice on the sidewalk, and the wind rattles the windows. On the other hand, the sprouting flowers in the beds next to the sidewalk and throughout Riverside Park assure me that it's around the corner.Â
Inevitability may work for seasons of the year, but it wreaks havoc in so many other areas. Inevitability is an inherently disempowering idea. It takes away our agency and discourages us from thinking. When we believe the outcome is inevitable, we don't challenge it. When we look back and conclude that the consequence was unavoidable, we are presuming we can conceive of nothing that could change it. We rob ourselves of the ability to learn from the past. When we look forward and assume that the outcome is a foregone conclusion, we dismiss our ability to imagine a better future result. The inevitable is unavoidable; it is sure to happen. And while there are certainly some things that have always been considered inevitable (death and taxes), it is easy to think of innovators working to make even them not so.
Labeling something as inevitable is closing off the possibility. History is littered with ideas deemed inevitable by most and challenged by others. March is women's history month, and people have filled books with what is and isn't evitable for each sex. There was a time when patriarchy was deemed inevitable, that women couldn't lead, work, write whatever. And then some challenged the inevitability of that idea and proved it wrong. We see the inevitable littered all around us in conversations about the climate, the economy, leadership, relationships - you name it. Inevitability describes a future that we cannot imagine. If we learn anything from history, it is that many things we cannot imagine today will be our reality tomorrow.
The opposite of inevitable might be heroic. Many of the stories that inspire us the most are people who were told something was inevitable and refused to believe it. Wilma Rudolph, who was temporarily paralyzed in her left leg and wore a brace as a child, was told she would never walk, yet she won an Olympic medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics). Susan B. Anthony didn't accept that male-only voting was inevitable. More recently, Greta Thunberg was told that climate change was inevitable and decided she could do something about that.
In life and leadership, we need to decide how we want to frame the challenges and opportunities we face. If we see an obstacle as inevitable, we cease to use our imagination, call in our resources, and find a way to change the outcome. We deprive ourselves of agency. If we see a positive outcome as inevitable, we may fail to secure the victory, achieve our highest, or explore an even better result. Instead of conceding to the inevitable, maybe it's better to admit we are just not willing to put in the effort to change the outcome. After all, we cannot do everything. But wherever possible, let's try to be inevitable rather than succumb to inevitability.
100 Coaches Selected as the #1 Coaching Development program by GlobalGurus
Seven years ago, Marshall had the idea that he would teach 15 people everything he knew, and the only cost would be that those people would teach 15 people everything they knew (someday). Marshall's principles of paying it forward and giving what you can without guilt or obligation became the touchstones of a community of over 350 people who are among the most sought-after and talented leaders, leadership experts, and executive coaches in the world. The community is the foundation of the 100 Coaches Agency which connects those gifted people with leaders worldwide who recognize that part of leadership is the never-ending pursuit of personal growth.
Sanyin Siang, winner of the 2019 Thinkers50 Coaching Award, and Nankhonde Kasonde-van den Broek 2021 Thinkers50 Coaching Award winner are among the members, along with many other award winners. And now, Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches has been recognized by GlobalGurus as the #1 Coaching Development Program globally. Thanks to Global Gurus for the recognition, Bill Carrier and the other leadership members for their remarkable and generous work in growing the community. To each and every member who has been instrumental in the growth and development of the group. And to Marshall Goldsmith, for his vision to initiate the community, providing the core principles from which it grows and his knowledge and unflinching generosity that sustains it. (full disclosure: I was co-founder/CEO of 100 Coaches until Feb '22 and recently created 100 Coaches Agency)
Returning to the office, with purpose: Let's make life delicious by Pamay Bassey.
On February 1, 2019, I made a professional commitment to learn something new every day and share it with my organization as the new chief learning officer at The Kraft Heinz Company. On January 31, 2020, I completed 365 days of learning as part of an effort to model what it looks like to #LearnLikeAnOwner and #MakeTimeForLearning in an organization undergoing a learning transformation. As a result of that year of learning, I gathered 365 valuable lessons — which I share in my new book, "Let's Learn Our Way Through It, Shall We?" — which I wrote to encourage others to commit to their own personal and professional learning journeys.
What made my life delicious in a world so thoroughly affected by COVID-19? The things that I have been most grateful for? The things that I depended on to keep me sane while so much of the world was drenched in uncertainty? For one, the empathy that I developed for myself and others — for my team, my friends and family, and for members of my community that I focused on helping in the ways that I was empowered to help. The walks by Lake Michigan and through the Chicago Botanical Garden allowed me to connect with nature — and the rides on my Peloton bike connected me with friends who were focused on health and wellness from home. The technology allowed my colleagues and me from around the world to connect, learn together, and check in on each other. Music. Fresh cut flowers. Long drives with my windows open. Talking more often with my family and sorority sisters, and friends from college.
The rhythms of work and life will shift as we familiarize ourselves with a world that has been transformed by our collective experience during one of the most challenging times in human history. Remembering your purpose can help you to navigate those changing rhythms. I count myself lucky that in remembering my company's Purpose, I can remind myself: Let's Make Life Delicious. And if I remember that – and my glasses – things will likely work out just fine. (read the entire article in Chief Learning Officer here)
Taryn Marie Stejskol: The Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People
Growing great people through the application of The Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People in order to enhance leadership and resilience. Resilience Leadership (RL) is about supporting people in recognizing their worth and value, believing in themselves, appreciating their inherent strengths, recognizing their skills and talents, and being more resilient in order to reach their full potential. When we are operating from a place of full potential, we have the greatest capacity to positively impact our world. (to find out more email info@100coaches.com)
Quote of the week from Greta Thunberg
With love and gratitude,
Scott