Fresh Energy Keeps Your Work Relevant - and You, Sane!

🎉 We’re thrilled to be on the illustrious Moses Nalocca’s podcast: Expert 2 Experts - also released on Tuesday! You’ll be able to catch it here. Goodness, but running a business - even just running your life! - is exhausting, right? So much to think about; to tee up, so many factors.

Which is why we’re talking this week about FRESH ENERGY: the ability to tap into a new perspective or a nascent feeling of enthusiasm, even when you feel as jaded as three-month old pavement gum. “Where focus goes, energy flows”, to quote the human dynamo that is Tony Robbins. We have to focus and ‘Yes, And’ and everything else follows.

It’s the improviser’s blessing, the Yes, And mindset. There’s a special energy when we accept and build on what we’ve got. Take niche and ideal client work (IMPROV Inc.’s calling right now). We’ve recently devised a new activity to get people enthused again about their businesses, and it’s been going down a storm. Trust the process! Your business will thank you.

Our workshop in London on Monday 19th May is called Seize the NICHE. It’s full of positive energy and clear direction for you and your business. Let us help you (and a group of like-minded entrepreneurs) work out your niche, ideal client and the connection that holds your expertise, passion and authenticity in harmony with theirs.

“Identify your problems - but give your power and energy to solutions” Tony Robbins, motivational speaker

Something new… 

We (Paul’s family) have two new puppies. Meet Bramble and Willow. This is a complete gear change. 

It’s not so long ago that Bear left us at the grand old age of 15 and a half. Dog walks became short and slow. Bear asked nothing of us and was completely moulded into our daily life; all commands and routines to a tee.

Bramble and Willow: a prime example of positive energy that simply needs firm direction. Puppies!

Now we have two rocket engines that are full steam when on ‘go’, and zonked when not. They don’t know any commands and have no routine, and oh boy, they can widdle for Britain - wherever they want, whenever they want!

New habits are forming out of necessity for the whole family. It’s funny how one can pivot dramatically when one has to. It’s a good reminder to know we can shift. Perhaps even better, is to know you can shift without the necessity too.

“The more you talk about problems, the bigger and more difficult they seem to become”  Paul Z Jackson, grandfather of applied improvisation

Something we navigated…

Recently we were on a call with a number of collaborators - the WoW - Women of Worth superstars, no less (follow them, you won’t regret it!) The WoW family are all dynamic, dedicated and incredibly talented in their various fields. It’s that dream situation: we don’t know each other very well yet everyone’s walking towards a common goal: to create a great festival together (Authenticity in Action) and combine our energies on marketing and sales innovation.

The issue? There’d been a set-back and we had to find solutions from thin air. What was remarkable on that hour-long call was how calm and kind and pro-active everyone was. No-one got defensive; no-one crashed out. We took careful and considerate steps to find the answer to some tricky logistical questions. It was the most beautiful real-world demo of a ‘Yes, And’ mindset.

Something ‘solutions focused’…

Speaking of being focused on solutions, I (Vic) have recently spent time with Paul Z Jackson: co-founder of the Applied Improvisation Network and all-round improv legend. If you’re ever in Oxford, do look up Paul and his improv comedy jam and workshops. You’ll have a ball.

Paul co-wrote a fantastic book called The Solutions Focus, which proves that to lock onto future positives (rather than dwell on past mistakes and failures) is the best route to success.

It demonstrates how fresh energy is more easily accessed when we think positive, whereas digging over old problems can cause everyone to stagnate.

Become an expert on the solution, not an expert on the problem.

#AppliedImprovisation #YesAnd #BusinessSkills #PersonalGrowth #agilityinbusiness #SmallBusiness #solopreneurs #positiveenergy #playfulsolutions