Orange Slice Training + Coaching

Have you ever made a decision you later regretted because of anger or frustration?

Or maybe you said something out loud and wondered, “Did I really just say that?” These are just a couple of situations that highlight the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ).

Self-awareness is a cornerstone of EQ. It's your ability to recognize your emotions, values, strengths, and weaknesses. While it might sound simple, mastering this skill is crucial for navigating life's twists and turns.

Learn 3 techniques on how to develop your Self-Awareness and unlock your leadership potential.

How to Unlock Your Leadership Potential by Developing Your Self-Awareness Have you ever made a decision you later regretted because of anger or frustration? Maybe it was that time you struggled to provide feedback to a colleague for fear of hurting their feelings. Or maybe you said something out loud and wondered to yourself, “Did I really just say that?” These are ju...

The idea of shifting from "doing" to "being" feels even more present and vital for me today. It might be because I’m turning 55 at the end of the year, or maybe because we’ve spent the last few days at our little farm in the woods.

Whatever the reason, it feels like a natural progression, especially as we navigate different stages in life—like pondering retirement or considering new career paths.

Embracing the Shift
You know, aging really does make you rethink things. It's not just about the next promotion or project anymore. I’m not sure it has ever been that way on my path with work. If you’re like me, more today than ever, it’s been about finding deeper meaning and connecting with our true selves beyond our roles.

Practical Steps to Embrace "Being":

1. Starting with Mindfulness: I've found that taking a few minutes each morning to be present sets the tone for the day. For the last three years, my morning practice has been ACIM with Marianne Williamson. It’s five minutes that ground me and set me up for being more myself and connected to what life puts my way.

2. Journaling Journeys: I recently posted about The Evidence Log and have been journaling more frequently as a tool for unraveling layers of myself and gaining clarity on what truly matters.

3. Heartfelt Conversations: I've been trying to have more genuine conversations lately—where we talk about real stuff, not just surface-level chatter. I’ve never been one for “small talk.” It’s those philosophical, “what makes you think that”- type of conversations I love.

4. Nurturing Creativity: I’ve enrolled in my 3rd Watercolor painting class (through my local Community Ed!) and have been writing more as a means of creative expression to tap into something deeper within me. Learning something new and being creative is refreshing and soul-enriching.

Ram Dass said it best: "We're all just walking each other home." It's about finding that balance between accomplishing things and nurturing our inner selves along the way.

Mantra to Reflect On
"Be here now." It's such a simple phrase, but it's a powerful reminder to be fully present in every moment and embrace life as it unfolds.

So, as we navigate these transitions and stages in life, let's remember that fulfillment comes from within. It's about finding joy in the journey.

Connecting Through Conversation
This conversation about embracing "being" over "doing" isn’t just about us—it's about everyone seeking a deeper connection with themselves and others. Whether it's in your current role at work or your personal life, we can encourage each other to prioritize inner fulfillment.

Ready to Explore Further?
If this resonates with you and you're curious about how to integrate these insights into your life, I invite you to book a discovery or strategy call with me. Together, we can explore how coaching can support your journey toward BEING the type of person that brings you that feeling of presence and connection.

Discovery or Strategy Call Link: https://tinyurl.com/yn2cj249

When I took the leap to go out on my own 18 years ago—yep, it's true—Dakota County became client #1. (I am happy to share that I have yet another workshop with them in mid-May.)

As a result, I've worked with many county and non-profit workers over the years.

And after nearly twenty years, I am sure many of them are wondering, "What's next?" and thinking about how to leave a Legacy intact while passing the baton.

Here's a short article that has 3 tips that don't just apply to folks in public service or non-profit work.

Charting Your Encore: Leaving a Legacy and Empowering Your Team - 3 Steps for Public Service and Non-Profit Leaders as they enter the retirement reset After dedicating years to making a difference in the public sector, you’re now at a pivotal point – retirement. Suppose you are like many of the passionate and dedicated non-profit leaders I’ve worked with over the years. In that case, the question isn't "if" to retire but "HOW" to ensure a sm...

From Retirement to RESET -- learn to cultivate a growth mindset that can be extremely helpful as we're in our 50's and 60's (heck, if you're in your 30's or 40's these tips work too!)

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/zlFBN72

From Retirement to Reset: Cultivating a Growth Mindset in your 50s Last week, we explored the concept of a reset as an alternative to traditional retirement. This week, let's delve deeper into the powerful mindset shift that fuels this approach. Yes, in our 50s we can still cultivate a growth mindset. We aren’t too old to learn (or try!) new things. Shifting Your...

During the pandemic, my finances got a lot of my focus as I saw my 401K accounts plummet YET I think it really got me on the path to entertain this big "R" word.

Here's a quick article you might find value -- no matter your AGE -- never too early to start thinking and planning.

And to make all this more accessible - I've started to see 'retirement' as a RESET (there's a link to this article in this one too).

Is Early Retirement Right for You? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Today image source: openroadwealth.comThe allure of early retirement (or RESET as I like to call it) escaping the daily grind and pursuing your passions – is undeniable. However, making this decision requires careful planning. Unlike traditional retirement at age 65, early retirement means fewer working...

Check out my new article blog post https://wix.to/LimsEY6

How to Rediscover Fulfillment and Purpose in Your 50s: Tips for Resetting, Not Retiring For many, the "R" word - retirement - looms large on the horizon of our 50s. But what if there's a better option? I’m turning 55 at the end of this year and while I see the Next Chapter, I’m not done! And over the last couple of weeks the “Retirement” word keeps popping up. A friend said she...

Reimagining Retirement: A Gen Xers Guide to Design Your Next Endeavor

We all know the drill: the media loves to paint retirement as a world of endless shuffleboard games and early-bird specials. But let's be honest, that doesn't exactly scream "fulfillment" for our generation, does it? We're the hustlers, the side-hustlers, the ones who crave purpose and keep pushing boundaries. As latch-key kids, we rewrote the rules for growing up.

So, what if we redefined retirement entirely?

The traditional "retirement out" model – waving goodbye to the workforce forever – just doesn't resonate with us. What if we flipped the script? Imagine "retirement" as the beginning of a brand new chapter, a chance to "retire to" something that truly excites you. This "something" is entirely personalized and could be anything from:

👉 Ditching the 9-to-5 Grind: Maybe you yearn for a more flexible schedule. Retirement could mean pursuing freelance work, consulting, or starting your own business – finally being your own boss!

👉 Downshifting, Not Derailing: Do you still enjoy your field but crave a less demanding role? Retirement could involve finding a part-time position or transitioning to a less stressful area within your industry.

👉 Freedom to Pursue Your Passions: Perhaps your ultimate dream is complete financial independence. Retirement could be about reaching a point where you can finally write that book, travel the world on your own terms, or volunteer for causes close to your heart. Maybe you’re turning that Pickleball habit into a part-time coaching gig.

As a fellow Gen Xer (yup, I'm turning 55 at the end of this year!), I can tell you the traditional retirement picture never sat right with me. Over the last few years, I’ve seriously been thinking “What’s next?” Maybe it was the pandemic, or maybe it was the 10 years before the pandemic when I worked on my own and my schedule was all mine to design and do as I pleased. Work has always been a part of my identity, yet I’m beginning to believe there’s more to me than just the work. But the idea of giving up a steady paycheck felt like a risk.

There was a switch that got me thinking (and planning!) for that next endeavor. Listening to a variety of financial podcasts (personal finance, the FIRE movement, and even Suze Orman), getting a really good handle on my and my husband’s financial situation, and reconnecting to my personal values had me switch views of what retirement was and now has me writing that next chapter with a new mindset.

Shifting your perspective on retirement will unlock a treasure chest of benefits:

✨ Boosted Motivation: Knowing you have a fulfilling future to look forward to can make the present feel more exciting, even if you're still in your current job.

✨ Goal-Oriented Planning: When you have a clear vision for your "Retire To," financial planning becomes more meaningful. You can save with a specific purpose in mind.

✨ Reduced Stress: Thinking about retirement as a new opportunity, not an ending, can lessen the anxiety often associated with leaving the workforce entirely.

✨ Empowerment: By actively planning your "Retire To," you take charge of your future and design a life that aligns with your values and passions.

✨ Crafting Your Dream Retirement: Your Roadmap to Freedom
Ready to start sketching the blueprint for your epic "Retire To" adventure?

Here are some initial steps:

1 - Embrace Your Passions: What truly lights you up? Make a list of activities that bring you fulfillment.

2 - Research Your Options: Investigate different work arrangements, freelance opportunities, or even new careers that pique your interest.

3 - Partner with a Coach: Consulting a retirement coach who gets Gen X can be a game-changer. A coach can help you refine your vision, create a personalized roadmap, and address any financial or logistical concerns specific to our generation.

Feel stuck or overwhelmed? Let's chat! Schedule a free consultation call with me, and let's explore how we can craft your dream "Retiret To" together. Visit https://www.orangeslicetraining.com/coaching/retirement-coaching to book your call today!

Retirement isn't a waiting game.
It's your chance to design the next epic chapter of your life. By adopting a "Retire To" mindset and partnering with a coach who understands you, you can start planning for a future brimming with purpose, passion, and endless possibilities.

Let's make your "Retire To" the most rewarding adventure yet!

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Jeff Stafford is a ICF-certified coach specializing in coaching individuals who want to design a life worth living - no matter what stage of life they are at. As a certified DYL Coach, Jeff partners with his clients to use time-tested tools developed by Stanford University to take a design thinking approach to most important issues – YOU and Your Next Endeavor.

Check out the link in the comments to the article on LinkedIn

Retrospectives and Reflection are core leadership practices.

This article does a great job for you and your team to put this into your practice.

Curious to know what comes about as a result. 🤓

How to Create Your Own “Year in Review” While the reality of work can feel especially overwhelming at the end of the year, reflection is the key to doing things differently in the year to come. Taking the time to pause and review your year increases your self-awareness and provides insights to improve. The authors present three steps to c...

Hey All! I've got a group of Global Leaders that have just started The 21-Day Insights + Actions Challenge in my Community.

👉 JOIN US -- and expand your leadership muscles in the areas of:




>>>> LINK to free community in the comments

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄

Boss watching is a common employee activity. The real question is: what’s your team watching??

When it comes to being a leader, one of the most important things you can do is to "model the way." This means setting the example for your team by demonstrating the behavior and attitude you expect from them.

Adopt these 𝟱 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 for you to do just that:

𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲. If you want your team to be punctual, make sure you're always on time. If you want them to be accountable, make sure you're taking responsibility for your own actions.

𝟮. 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Make sure your team knows what's expected of them and that they understand the goals and objectives of the organization.

𝟯. 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁. Be open and honest with your team about the challenges you're facing and what you're doing to overcome them.

𝟰. 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 + 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲. Your team is made up of individuals with their own personal lives and challenges. Show them that you understand and care about what they're going through.

𝟱. 𝗕𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗲. Let your team know that you appreciate their hard work and contributions. A little bit of gratitude goes a long way!

Modeling the way is crucial because it shows your team that you're not just talking the talk, but you're walking the walk too. It also gives them a clear idea of what's expected of them and helps to create a positive, productive work environment.

So, put on your leader hat, set the example and lead with integrity, your team will follow you.
🤩

P.S. I want to help you Be the Leader Your Team Loves to Follow! 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧 with worksheets, templates and tools to use!

>>> LINK IN THE COMMENTS