Move Your Desk

This podcast provides inspirational nudges and practical approaches to help you find and do your best work. This may require personal change, thinking about your work differently, and using mental/physical frameworks to move you to the next level of effectiveness. Your best work is yet to come and is waiting for you to get ready right where you are or somewhere new. And, sometimes the desk that needs to be moved is only the desk in your mind. The question is - are you reading to move your desk? Join the conversation and let's move it together.

Check out show notes and script at http://www.moveyourdesk.com

Recently, I decided to do a 12-step program by myself. Many out there follow the general approach that Alcoholics Anonymous uses for addiction recovery.

As part of the process, you write notes to those you want to forgive, ask forgiveness from, or just plain right a wrong that you feel about the relationship. It's not about making the relationship right, but rather more of a way of YOU deciding that you want to free your heart and mind toward personally developing regardless of how the other person feels about your changes.

I've re-engaged in writing notes more frequently due to this process.

It's hard, rewarding, and uncomfortable. But worth it. I've found other reasons to write notes and tell people about certain impressions that come to mind. If only because I've benefitted from others doing the same for me.

#nudge #spiritualnudge #12steps #addictionarecovery #notewriting #letterwriting #gratitude #allboatsrisetogether #moveyourdesk #podcast #impressions #followingthenudge #followingtheimpressions #compliments #forgiveness

None of your experience and efforts to pursue talent development and follow the spiritual nudges need to be a waste of time. Somehow, if you keep going, you can glance back to see where it has taken you and gain the courage to keep stepping forward to what is next.

Kim Richards is a designer - clothing, graphics, websites, learning, drawing, painting, and the list keeps growing. She's also a mother, a believer in a higher power, and possesses other skills she uses as a government contractor.

Kim shares insights into a special exhibit she's been working on and the journey she is on to create from the imagery that comes to her mind as she reads and contemplates scripture. It sounds like she has a new set of inspirations coming her way that we'll have to learn more about.

Her faith guides her through the challenging times and to give her the courage to step into creating the art that shows up in her mind that must be placed on canvas.

She's compelled to offer her best work, even when she doesn't want to. And she and her work are beautiful. Tune in to hear the conversation.

#art #design #spiritualnudges #spiritualimagery #creating #painting #promptings

Sometimes when you start following a nudge, you start to self-sabotage. But, sometimes new obstacles appear. Either way, it can halt progress.

In the past week or two I've been re-inspired to take action on an idea I had four years ago. At the same time my inspiration hit, my eyes were sealed shut. As in, waking up in the morning with them super puffed up and I was barely able to open them. Not cool, especially since I had pink eye and conjunctivist in June and July. I'm sure I experienced this as a little kid, but never as an adult.

Though I'm clear on some of the reasons this happened, I wasn't clear why it got out of control. And, right when I was so inspired to create more content, revise, edit, and take a step forward in my work efforts.

Isn't this how it goes? Huge inspiration followed by new obstacles?

I'm choosing to look at this as an opportunity to get creative within the constraints. And, a little visit to the clinic helped quickly get it under control for now.

It's always forced me to look at new ways to make draft documents, which involves me taking a walk and speaking into a microphone. And, enlisting the help of others that are more talented in the areas where I definitely need some fine-tuning.

#nudge #moveyourdesk #obstacles #eyes #eyehealth #constraints #startwithachart

Zoey McBee aspires to be president one day. She's recently finished high school and took a chance to share some of her aspirations, challenges, insights, and wisdom with me. She loves all things politics and women's issues, where they intertwine and where they don't.

Zoey shares some of the pushback she's experienced because of her age. After all, why would someone "so young" have any thoughts about the women's issues and politics going on in the world? She's encountered many opinions from her friends, classmates, judges, parents, and others. However, she embraces the differences, questions them and herself, and continues to proceed forward with her aspirations and goals.

I enjoyed speaking with Zoey. The conversation reminded me that most of us seek to figure out how we can serve in a way that resonates within, and on behalf of those we serve. And, that we must open our mouths and speak if we feel compelled to share regardless of what others think of us.

You don't have to be a certain age to do it. "Ageism" comes in many forms - to and from the young, old, and everything in between. I think our own minds are the worst perpetrators, holding us back from taking steps that we can take at any moment we decide the pain of growth is worth it.

I hope you tune in to listen to Zoey. Prepare to see her name in 20 years when you go to vote. She's planning on learning a few things between now and then so she can be your candidate!

#moveyourdesk #podcast #politics #women #womenissues

Podcast available through all major podcast services

https://pod.co/move-your-desk

Paying tribute to those that serve in any capacity in the military is something that we have a chance to do every day - at the store, online, in our neighborhoods, work environments, etc.

Do we take time to do it? No judgement toward you here. I'm only going to judge myself.

I could do more. Most of my gratitude is in my head. I'm not sure when, but somewhere along the journey I decided that veterans didn't want to share their war stories or deep thoughts with me, even if I was interested. But, in high school and college I conducted tons of interviews with veterans and had life changing experiences in the process.

Listening to their experiences is one way to respect their service. And, reflect on your own commitment, service, and priorities.

Fast forward. I've talked to a few veterans on this podcast. One of my virtual friends, Brenda Christensen, recently mentioned that I should interview someone she knew, a person who had served in the Army Reserve for thirty years.

Colonel Kenny. Kenny Dupar.

Kenny is a subject matter expert (SME) and a retired Lieutenant Colonel. He spent eight of those 30 years in active duty. A year after 9/11, he was mobilized under Operation Enduring Freedom.

He's written a book about his experiences called Scoundrels in Iraq, the primary book we discussed in our interview. His second book is a romance novel (a surprise venture for him) called Pin-Up Dolls and Class Cars. There is also a third book in his head waiting for him to download it on to paper.

Kenny shares his experience with war. It's hard, humbling, and humorous. As always, there was so much more to discuss than we were able to delve into here. He's anxious to share and doesn't hold back. I listened to the book too fast and missed some of the key themes he was hoping to present. But, I got my own lessons out of it. And, I'm anxious to listen to it again to picked up on what I missed in my haste.

Since I cannot write a better introduction than he did to his book and our conversation, here's a quote from him:

"Most Soldiers aren’t the Infantry Boys runnin’ and gunnin’, performing harrowing missions. People have seen a one-sided, violent representation of the war in Iraq. Some Americans leave for war straight from their neighborhoods and families. Many of these citizen patriots have wicked skills and low impulse control.

Men shooting their guns in dramatic fashion is a tiny fraction of wartime activity. The sizeable contributions of female Soldiers in Iraq have been largely excluded in media. Engineers, military intelligence, police, psych ops, aviation, transporters, commo, finance, postal, medical, staff pukes, the ash and the trash, itty bitty units that plan, man guard posts and make water safe to drink haven’t been given their due.

Scoundrels in Iraq relates the gritty adventures. I inadvertently explained the result of the war, how and why ISIS appeared; still finding the ridiculous and funny in order to continue the march: providing a glimpse of the anguish of being separated from family, the worry of getting hurt and the fear of coming home when your loved ones have moved on without you."

Tune in to learn more from Kenny. Buy his book. I've started reading his second book too.

Thank you for your service Colonel Kenny!

Website: https://kennydupar.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/u1MXnWi7In0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realkennydupar/

Books: https://kennydupar.com/books

#veterans #armyreserve #military #militaryservice #usmilitary #operationenduringfreedom

Are you in the top 1-2% of what you do? Or, are you the extreme opposite?

Most of us are in between. Great at some things, good at others, and some not so great in the mix.

I've been thinking about those moments where I think that I'm in the "kind of" category. It usually involves me comparing myself to a friend, family member, or someone online. I'll have the same look, skill, or experience as they do. But, they are amazing at it and I'm "kind of" good at it. They are really tall, and I'm "kind of" tall. Some are in really great shape and I'm "kind of" in good shape.

Is there a problem with being "kind of?"

The answer may be "It Depends."

Sometimes you can't do much about something. You were born a certain height. You have certain features. You have certain natural strengths.

Other times being "kind of" comes from a place of not giving your best effort to something. This could be something to take a look at because hidden in that effort may be capabilities and talents you never knew you had. And, that those you serve may need.

Take a look at where you are "kind of" and question yourself.

In my process of doing this, I have found areas that I can step up my efforts while also seeing that my strength of exploring and experimenting makes me "kind of" good in a wide range of skills. I get to bring that to my strategic thinking and resourcefulness that I offer my clients and my own product development efforts. I'm counting that as a personal skill.

No one has the combination of "kind of" experiences and skills that you have in you. And, that's kind of great.

#moveyourdesk #podcast #strengthsfinder #kindof #questionassumptions

Being angry isn't a problem. Or, is it?

After all, it's a normal human emotion. Some of us manage it well and some of us don't manage it at all, and the rest of us are a combination of both depending upon the day and situation.

At this point in my life experience, I typically have a handle on my internal and external anger responses. But, I still have plenty of moments that I regret.

However, the younger me had a few issues with this emotion. My parents and siblings would definitely agree.

In this episode, I share a few stories from my past in an attempt to show that we can make progress in managing our emotions, we can pay attention to learn why we feel angry, and that it's ok to continue to allow the emotion of anger in us.

It's worth noticing our own emotion toward figuring out how to use it to serve us...instead of the other way around.

#anger #angermanagement #expectationvsreality #expectationmanagement #moveyourdesk #podcast

#emotions #selfcoaching

It can be a lifetime pursuit to figure out what you best offer the world.

Sometimes you are rewarded well for your hard work. So, you (or others) can assume that whatever you were doing must be the highest value you offer. For some, this may be true. For others of us, there's a journey to uncover what we've hidden for so long just to get a job done.

Lisa Gregory, is an executive coach. She's masterful at helping leaders (and their teams) figure out their strengths. And, learning to own them.

This process isn't for the faint of heart. It requires new ways of looking at who you are, and trusting that as you show up to use this knowledge about yourself...that you will step into your best work. And, help those you serve do the same.

Lisa Gregory shares insights about confident vulnerability, strengths finding, the four human needs, and how strengths compares to skills.

I hope you take a listen. Lisa also shared insights in Episode 43 about confident vulnerability in leadership.

Thank you Lisa. As always, so many great insights to further ponder.

About 10 years ago, I met Barbara Christensen through a mutual friend online.

This podcast recording was the first time that we ever spoke face-to-face, even though I've taken her advice, purchased health products from her, and have read some of her books.

We covered a wide range of topics related to health - mental health, healing, aromatherapy, coaching, micronutrients, energy, and helping others through their journey.

Barbara is generous in sharing her knowledge. No matter what topic we turned to, she whipped out insights and wisdom that can be immediately applied to your mental and physical health regiment.

I truly enjoyed this conversation and am excited to share with you someone that has helped me work through health challenges over the past few years.

Connect with her on the following sites:

YouTube: @BarbaraChristensen

https://barbarachristensen.juiceplus.com/us/en/learn/ingredients-and-benefits/healthy-starts

https://www.myamareglobal.com/113959/en-US/

https://barbara-christensen.square.site/

Instragram @PaeloVegeo or @MindsetUnicorn