Neon Lioness Coaching

"Whichever season I find myself, I tend to compare to others' growth" 💡

I had this revelation in my last closed group supervision with Annie Lee -- I'm not through the thinking about what's going on with comparison, yet, I think the thinking around this cycle might be useful for some others too.

This quote came at a point where I'd drawn out a simplified version of the growth cycle below, finding it analogous to my own journey, particularly these last 18 months.

I see that for me, the cycle, however fast or slow tends to move round from:

*Seeds* - where I'm considering options, finding myself day dreaming and/or thinking at depth (at appropriate and less useful times) about how to make some kind of change.

*Planting* - after a while ruminating, I find I've come to a conclusion and ready to commit to a direction. For me, this bit also involves a lot of second guessing and procrasti-analysis.

*Watering* - the time when I begin to employ my inner geek, do a load of research, remember that thing I found ages ago, try and recall the detail, make connections between abstract ideas and look up a few more things.
On the surface and for any outcome based metrics, I am not achieving much at all...

*Visible Growth* - often the bit that others get let in on, the bit that looks really put together, where I am able to share ideas, feel in flow, achieving something and I am told how 'inspring' I am (clearly I'm comfortable with this 😬 )

Then in reality, there's a few other bits, where there's cross pollination, a bit of collaboration and the inevitable (ideally done well) ending.

*Resting or Shedding* - this is the bit I'm worst at as there's grief about what is ending, the nerves about what comes next and whether I'll accomplosh anything ever again (just me?!)

This season is also an intense time of reflection:
- What could I keep, let go of and/or adapt?
- What behaviours helped or hindered what I was attempting?
- What next?

Continues in comments

My new read for the commute. What are you reading?

Did you know that everyone has systems?

Those that are uber organised and those that consider themselves more haphazard. And those somewhere on the line in in-between.

Wherever we fall on the spectrum of organisation, we may or may not recognise our own systems.

An organised person, may think they, 'JUST get it done', because it was there to do and, the haphazard may have, 'method to their madness', that isn't apparent on first observation.

e.g.
We likely have a tidiness /overwhelm tolerance; and then a system (whether communicated or otherwise) to deal with our own 'reasonable' levels.

We each have an internal system of decision-making and processing information - whether it's clear to us or not.

In addition to this, we may have a preference for the types of systems we choose to adopt.
e.g. written (analogue) or digital (involving computers/phones or tech).

When we've not done the work to understand our preferences and notice our own patterns, then we're more likely to receive systems from others.

At worst, we feel like we've failed because we can't follow them - "I'm rubbish at tech"; "Systems don't work for me".

At best, we make every effort to use systems, but there's still that ni**le and need/want to tweak; like a lovely pair of shoes, with a tiny stone that only appears once in a while underfoot.

What if there was a service that allowed you to:

- Map the systems you do use (even if you think they don't exist)

- Identify the gaps for what you want to achieve

- Link together the different systems at play in your work or business

- Understand your own patterns of thinking and ways of working better; so that you could begin to assess if a method would work for you, if /how you could tweak it to suit yourself and,

- Communicate your preferences to people you work with, so that you can increase harmony and alignment in your team?

What if I said that is what I do as a Systems Coach?

Would you want in?

If so, DM me to discuss your needs.

*Because this will be bespoke work dependent on which elements you want to focus on, we'll package and price it up together.

This is the last day that my Introduction to Bullet Journalling is £20.24.
It goes up to £42.02 (2024 backwards) at 9pm (GMT) on Sunday 21st Jan.

I'm a Systems (Process and Automation) coach and my mission is to make work and life simple and joyful. This is one of the ways I do that; as I've been bullet journalling since 2014.

If you're unclear what a Bullet Journal is - it's a way of capturing all the information that you're likely to have written on random notes on your phone, pieces of paper, and across several notebooks.

It works as a traditional planner and allows you to create lists, project plans and trackers. Anything you might need can be created within this super adaptable and versatile system.

Many people who try it by themselves get overwhelmed by trying too many adaptations to the system, thinking it's only for arty types and not being able to connect up how it all fits together.
We tackle all that and more in the intro session.

For £20.24 (til 9pm on 21st Jan) you'll receive:
- The recording of an introduction to the system (the basics, adaptations and how it all fits together),
- A PDF guide,
- A Q&A session to tackle you personal circumstances and,
- Access to an exclusive Facebook group.

https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/KZCGSN9ZP8ZAW

This week is the last week anyone will have access to the Bullet Journal Intro and Q&A session at the current £20.24 price.

I've now added a group where you can:
- Have support,
- Ask further questions
- Get ideas for how to adapt Bullet Journalling for your own needs
- Notice your own progress, and
- Crucially, have support/accountability to USE this system you've created for yourself.

The worst thing that could happen (from my perspective) when you join in, is this becomes another thing languishing in a pile of information-that-never-turned-to-action.

Reflecting that this offer is bigger and better than what was offered in December, here's one last opportunity to join in at the current price.

It goes up to £42.02 (2024 backwards) in a week!

This week, for £20.24, you get:
- The recording of the Intro Session
- A live (and recording of) a Q&A session toward the end of February
- Access to an exclusive group for those who've accessed this intro/Q&A, which provides accountability (should you want it) to keep moving forward and connected to your journal.

This offer will keep evolving as its inextricably linked to my mission of making work more simple and joyful.

So if you're wanting in, the best price is now:

https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/KZCGSN9ZP8ZAW

"We often want the whole purpose in one go, but it seems a life of purpose is built slowly, intentionally, and layer by layer."

I wrote this when thinking about Ikigai.

I'd seen many moons ago, (I think from The Woke Salaryman) that the interpretation of Ikigai we often favour (here in the West at least) is one usually to do with our professional lives.

In the East, as I understand, it's actually more like moments of ikigai that are celebrated as they are experienced, at anytime in one's life.

So, the life of purpose develops as we discover and become more self-aware about what brings Ikigai to us, wherever and whenever it occurs.
We, in turn, feel more purposeful as we are more intentional about experiences that allow us to feel that way consistently. So, we add layers of Ikigai to our lives - moment by moment and day by day.

That might be a gift received, the smell of petrichor when it just begins to rain, the delivery of a specific type of work, or being in a particular culture of work, for example.*
It might be purposefully visiting an exhibition or a favourite coffee place, to feel, to connect, to be - and it might be creating art for it's enjoyment. **

For each of us, ikigai is different, and I suspect utterly unique.

So, I say again, "it seems a life of purpose is built slowly, intentionally, and layer by layer."

What brings you ikigai?

Simple and Joyful Work - What, Why and How?

For those who are observant, you might've spotted this little change in the headline...

*What* does Simple and Joyful Work mean?

To me, it's about the ease, and the glimmers and glitters of everyday. Where Work is attuned to who and how you like to work; or you have the capacity and /or flexibility to change aspects to best suit you.

It's the not having to inch yourself to the weekend / annual leave, next long weekend, break, etc.

It's about laughter, smiles and even happiness* in the day to day mundane stuff that work may entail.

It's about processes, automation and systemisation, so you can find THAT note or project report when you want it, without feeling bound to a way of doing something that leaves you feeling exasperated, even though it SHOULD be helping.

Why Simple and Joyful?

When we have ease, and when we find repeated pockets of joy in our everyday, life's challenges seem easier to face.

When we create ways of doing things that make things genuinely easier to do for us, or our teams, we add to simplicity; allowing people to do the work with more focus and less stress.
When that's done well then the work isn't so cumbersome and might even invite joy.

When we spot a bit of colour or a piece of art that reminds us of a special person, place or thing we can find a bit of joy**. This in turn invites us to find more pockets of joy, as we literally rejig our system.

Maybe you've been Bullet Journalling for years, maybe you don't know what it is yet..

On 27th December I ran an intro to Bullet Journalling which covered the fundamentals, as a follow up to the session, I'm running a Q&A session.

If you've a, "How Do I... in my journal", question (however long you've bullet journalled) and want access to the intro replay, a PDF of the presentation, access to the Q&A, replay and PDF of that session too; then sign up link in bio/comments.

It's £20.24 to mark the year.

If you'd be interested in setting up a Financial Year or Academic Journal later in the year, please let me know in the comments.

It's my birthday today!

Good news for you is that my birthday offer is back!

10% off any one service if booked in before 7th Jan 2024, 6pm GMT
15% off if a bundle is selected.

These offers suit those with their own businesses who want some support around their business systems.

Either, a one-off quick fire question that gets you moving where you're stuck (ask me anything),
an intensive (VIP Get Your Systems Sorted) where you have me, a data analytics and systems specialist and coach working ON your business and/or a
3 month coaching programme (Start Here, Start Well, Start Now) to get everything set up correctly. Especially if you're kicking off your business this year.

Comment below, or DM me for further details to book in.

Maybe you have a gift that's awkward to find each birthday and Chrsitmas.

Maybe you have ideas when you don't need them, but don't capture them and then wrack your brain (and use valuable energy) trying to recall what THAT thing was later, with the time dwindling down and a panic gift bought instead?

What if you had a notebook.

In it a collection called Gift Ideas.

What if:
When you saw that thing, you added the person's name and the idea, and the shop/site you saw it to your collection?

That then helped you not accidentally buy four gifts for one person and one for the other, which you don't like to do?

It also helped you capture each person's interest so your gifts could be really personal

This helped you budget for those busy family birthday months and Christmas (which come too close together?)

As an added bonus, you could actually give a list to others when they asked what your kids would like, knowing that you could cross off the thing that you'd already bought?

You can do all this and more in a BULLET JOURNAL!

Want to learn how?

Join me for an intro session and set up your 2024 Bullet Journal co-working session on 27th December.
If you're not free then, comment below and I'll let you know of an alternative date for the Intro Session in the new year.

#2024

All you need is a notebook and pen for a bullet journal

ANY NOTEBOOK, ANY PEN.

I love stationery, so I get why you might want to get a really lovely new shiny notebook and the *right* pens... but there are no right pens!

So, if you're wanting to create a bullet journal, and for some reason, don't have a notebook or pens that you can use, comment STATIONERY and I'll send a list of my faves from amazon -

You can get something similar from your local stationery shop if you have one though! - and if you buy off my links, then I earn a bit of commission too.

Remember that 27th December is BuJo intro and co-working session, which includes me answering questions and a PDF as well as an opportunity to set yours up too. If you need sign up details, let me know.

In the next day or so, I'll also share a "what I think through before I set my journal" posy- look out for that if you think it'll be useful :)

#2024