This is our new beginning. We get to start again.
Together we RISE in April. You're never gonna keep us down.
I’m back. To be fair, you probably hadn’t noticed the absence of my newsletter last Wednesday. And if you did, you're a wonderful person.
I had COVID after attending a business dinner. I’ve been self-isolating on Aloha, my houseboat, thinking about work and kindness, as I do. I’ve had to recover, pick myself up, and start again. Apt, really…
This is our new beginning. We get to start again.
The kids are shouting. One of them can't find her charger, and her phone has died. How are they going to talk to, like, anyone when they're at school today?
The kitchen is a mess, with the remains of late-night snacking mingling with a half-eaten breakfast.
Your partner is grumpy because he's got to go into the office today and resents it.
You're a mess — you're in trackies, and your hair is all over the place. You've got a project catch-up call in 20 minutes. No doubt you’ll notice another food stain on your top twenty minutes into the call, again
Even if you don't have kids, most workday mornings are a collision of your life with the reality that you've got to do something to earn a living, and that means there are things you have to do. Like straightening your hair, at least, before a video call.
Sitting on a beach contemplating the sunset, as in the header photo to this newsletter, will feel like a million miles away for the majority of us as we launch ourselves into another work day. Beaches are for holidays, right? When do we ever get the time to contemplate? To be by ourselves to think? To, just, be?
In the noise of life it is not only possible, it is essential to find stillness.
To seek out those moments when we stop, calm ourselves down, reflect and recharge.
I said this to somebody the other day. “Easy for you to say. Magnus,” he replied (using my first name to make his point more strongly), “you get to live on a houseboat and talk to people about kindness all day.”
Other people's lives, so often, seem easier.
I don't have kids to get up for school. I can wake up, make myself a coffee, and sit at the front of my houseboat feeding the ducks.
Some of my friends run successful businesses and live in large houses (yes, plural).
And many of the younger people I know are fulfilled, running impact-focused startups.
But they're homeless and house-sitting as an occupation to save money.
The multiple businesses and houses? Multiple headaches.
And, as I wrote about in my first newsletter, for a long time I was waking up every day wishing I hadn't because my thoughts immediately went to the stresses and unpleasantness I knew I'd be experiencing at work that day. As I did every day.
Even now, work is hard. I'm building my own business, as well as encouraging others, based on the idea that kindness to self, kindness to others and kindness to the planet is the way to build a business that creates a positive impact on people, profit and planet. Most people don't get it. People seem to think that business has to be tough, competitive, and a zero-sum game where there are only winners and losers. As I often reflect, “you have to be crazy to build a business based on kindness.” Yet, every week, I meet people who are. So, here’s to the crazy ones.
Yes, life and business can be hard. We live in uncertain times. With unexpected curve balls being thrown at us all the time — pandemics, wars, economic volatility and, now, AI that can replace our work.
But life has always been hard.
The youngest of five children, born in Warsaw in 1867, her life was not easy and she died as a consequence of her work. Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, and was the first person to be awarded the Nobel price — twice. Apparently she used to walk around with test tubes of radioactive materials in her lab coat. Her work killed her. She once said:
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”
Centuries ago, the Stoic philosopher king, Marcus Aurelius, once said:
“The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.”
And Ernest Hemingway wrote:
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
Strong at the broken places.
When we are working in a job we shouldn't, as I was. One that is in conflict with our values (as I wrote about in the last newsletter), that is making us unhappy and sick — that is time to get out. Because when we are broken, it is way past time to be strong.
When my job ended, my life, as it was, disappeared. A year later, after much facing up to things, emotional turmoil, and pain, I was living on a houseboat, single, and running my own business. I was forced to be strong in the broken places.
Grumpy kids. Grumpy colleagues. Trekking into the office to do a job that sucks our soul. We're confronted with all of these things and more every day. Grumpy kids, we can sort of steer a bit and sit it out. The rest…
We have a choice. We always have a choice. In fact, we have three:
We can accept it.
We can change it.
We can leave it.
Actually, four — we can wish it were better and do nothing about it. The worst choice.
The only way out is through.
Life will rarely deal us the hand we want.
And that's exactly as it should be. Because, by facing up to the realities of our lives and making the choice to change or leave, we become stronger and move forward.
We get to RISE.
And that, starting today, is what I'll be talking about in this newsletter, in videos, and on social media all April. I'll be sharing ideas and practices to support us to: Work better, live more. #WorkKind.
This is our new beginning. We get to start again.
Even in our trackies.
RISE
RISE is the courageous act of getting back up and going on. It's about embracing vulnerability, cultivating resilience, and pursuing growth in the face of life's challenges. By embodying the spirit of RISE, we unlock our potential to create meaningful connections, foster self-kindness, and navigate adversity with grace. Embrace the transformative power of RISE, and we'll not only enrich our own lives but also inspire those around us to do the same. When we RISE, we're not on our own.
All of my content for April is on this idea of RISE.
I hope to inspire, help, and support you in rising — whatever that means to you.
I hope to help you on your individual journey. Just hit reply and we can find a time to talk.
I hope to be inspired by you.
And I hope to see you inspire others.
Together we RISE in April.
More than ever before, together we can dare to rise above our fears, doubts, and limitations. We can embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and fulfilment that will forever change the course of our lives.
As the song* says:
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down
Together, we RISE in April. You're never gonna keep us down.
* The song also says “Pissing the night away”, which isn't exactly going to help us the lives we should be living!
Let’s now get practical and look at some ways we can deal with the first three aspects of RISE. Here are some ideas. And, yes, I know it’s easy to say but harder to do. But over the years, sometimes reluctantly, I’ve done all of these things, and I’ve seen them done by countless others. I know they work.
Getting Back Up and Going On
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” — Oprah Winfrey
Setbacks and failures are a natural part of life. Here are some ways you can carry on:
Practice self-kindness by treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend.
Take time to reflect on what you can learn from the experience. Consider what went wrong, what you could have done differently, and what you can do in the future to avoid making the same mistakes.
Instead of dwelling on the past or feeling defeated, take action to move forward.
Reach out to friends or family for support and encouragement.
Take time each day to practice gratitude by reflecting on the things in your life that you are thankful for, even in the midst of difficulty.
Embracing Vulnerability
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” — Brené Brown
You can pick yourself up on your own or with the support of others. Here are some ideas:
Practice self-reflection and journaling to better understand your emotions and feelings. You’ll be amazed the insights you’ll get from just a few minutes writing down what’s on your mind.
Engage in mindfulness and meditation practices to become more present and open. If you’d like some ideas and recordings; I’m happy to share.
Set personal boundaries and communicate them openly with others. Kind people have “boundaries of steel”.
Share your thoughts, emotions, and fears with trusted friends or family members.
Share your vulnerabilities with colleagues. Being “the first” to open up is incredibly powerful and a huge kindness to the people you work with who have their own struggles but are often reluctant to be open about.
Cultivating Resilience
“You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate.” — Elizabeth Gilbert
“You’ve had your training. Time to get on with it and be more resilient.”
I haven’t heard these words myself, but plenty of people have told me that they’ve been told this at work. As if it were now their fault that they can’t deal with the shitty workplace culture that leadership and the people team are tolerating.
Resilience takes personal work and group support. I’ll be talking more about it throughout April. In the meantime, here are some quick ideas:
Be realistic about what you can achieve and in what timeframe. Break stuff down into manageable chunks, so that you’re not failing every day you’re working on something.
The foundation for resilience is taking care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. This includes getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and finding healthy ways to manage stress.
Double-down on your purpose — the “Why” you are doing the work you do. Having a sense of purpose and meaning can help provide motivation and direction during difficult times.
Building and maintaining positive relationships can help cultivate resilience in both you and others. Offer emotional support to those around you, and seek support when needed. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, we can help one another develop the strength and resilience needed to overcome adversity.
When working in a team, focus on building a culture of resilience by encouraging open communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. By working together to overcome challenges and setbacks, teams can develop greater resilience and achieve success even in the face of adversity. You’ll be there for each other when you need it.
Next week, I’ll share some practices and ideas around pursuing growth in the face of life’s challenges, seeking feedback, and adapting to change. If you have any ideas you’d like to share ahead of that, simply hit reply and let me know.
Together, we RISE in April. You're never gonna keep us down.
Work better, live more. #WorkKind
This is the Why for this newsletter. A happy day for me is one in which I hear your stories of how you #WorkKind. So hit reply or message me with your ideas, experiences, and stories.
Please, also:
We’ve got your back. You just don’t know it yet. Check out the #WorkKind Community.
Follow my stories, ideas, and practices to help you thrive on the socials that suit you.
And, most importantly, be kind to yourself today.
See you next Wednesday.
Magnus