Sunday Newsletter - Holding Space for a Peaceful World

Sunday Newsletter 

Good Sunday! 

I hope you are safe and well in your world. 

The disruption around the planet is accelerating and my heart goes out to all involved.
I am praying and meditating on serenity and true freedom and envisaging a better future for humanity; One of peace, love, collaboration, and co-operation.  

I am putting my attention, intention and energy on unity and harmonious co-existence. Where are you choosing to put yours? 

I am focusing on what I do best during these times; stepping up as a coach, teacher, and facilitator to help my clients navigate the chaos and stay focused on what they are here to contribute at this time in history. while holding space for their evolution. 

I spent yesterday practicing a method of working with extreme emotions in a way that builds resilience and expands our mental capacity to cope with extreme fear and trauma. Powerful stuff. 

What are your strengths and gifts? 

How can you utilise them to contribute at this time and in your business to serve your clients well? 

This week’s Business Boost is all about Strengths and gifts… 

This Weeks Business Boost 

Why We Must Focus on Our Strengths 

In high school, Scott joined the cross-country team. He participated in that sport year after year until he finished school. The only problem — Scott was painfully slow! I don’t mean that he was just an okay-runner. Scott consistently came in minutes after all the other runners. 

The first year he joined the team, team members and spectators alike laughed at Scott’s snail-like pace. Those closest to him urged him to try a different sport. But Scott kept running. To be fair, his running improved somewhat over the years, but Scott always managed to come in last. 

But a funny thing happened in Scott’s senior year. Scott became the team captain. It turned out that while running was not his strength, leadership, a positive attitude, teamwork, and perseverance were his strengths.  

The coach and the team recognized this. From that moment on, when Scott would finally lumber across the finish line behind everyone else, his team and the crowd would stand to their feet and cheer, celebrating Scott’s true strengths. 

What Is a Strength? 

A strength is a skill or an ability that you’re good at. A strength is something that comes naturally to you. Usually, you enjoy engaging in your strengths. Others recognize this ability in you and rely on you for it. But sometimes we can’t see our own strengths and it takes someone close to us to point them out. 

Just because we have a particular strength doesn’t mean we don’t have to work at it and try to improve it. In fact, in many ways a strength is like a trust that has been handed to us. The question is, how well will we manage that trust? Will we invest in it, seek to grow it, and leverage it for the good of others? 

Develop Your Strengths. 

A strength is like a muscle that must be exercised. Below are several ways we can do that. I’ve also included some dangers to avoid in this process. Like Scott in the story above, we must persevere. That means enduring hardship and overcoming obstacles. 

1. Discover your strengths.  

Some years ago, Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton wrote the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths. These two leadership gurus recognized that many of us “have little sense of our talents and strengths.”  

Instead, we’ve been told to spend all our time working on our weaknesses. Meanwhile, we neglect and waste our true strengths and abilities. 

Danger: We burn up precious time and effort trying to master some skill we’ll never enjoy or excel at. Plus, for our business, if we leverage our strengths, we are more likely to attract the exact customers who want what we excel at. 

2. Stretch!  

In order to develop our strengths, we need to stretch them and push them beyond their current limits. We won’t know what we’re capable of until we try. 

Danger: Relying on past performance, we get lazy. We assume our past achievements will always suffice. In this way we stagnate. Our “muscles” atrophy and we suddenly find ourselves woefully inadequate to the task, because the world has moved on without us. 

One of my strengths is tech – particularly to do with Online/Digital businesses and SAAS. With advent of AI, Web3, Crypto etc. the landscape is changing fast. Without embracing new tech and knowledge, I would fall behind and would not be fully serving my customers and would be unable to help them with the tools available to them today. 

3. Learn from others.  

We need to find others with strengths like ours and learn from them. A coach can also be of tremendous help in this regard. In fact, in his book, The Next Generation Leader, Andy Stanley claims, “You will never maximize your potential in any area without coaching. It is impossible. You may be good. You may even be better than everyone else. But without outside input you will never be as good as you could be.” 

Danger: Becoming prideful about our strengths and thinking we don’t need anyone else to tell us how to improve will be our downfall. If we think we’re already good enough, we’re in danger of becoming obsolete. 

4. Focus on strengths. 

We need to attend to the skills and abilities that we know are our strengths. We must leverage them, build them and grow to our full potential in using them. 

Danger: We must avoid “strength-envy” when we watch how good someone else is at something we can’t do. Instead, applaud their skills and partner with them and only ever compare yourself to the ‘past-you’, to acknowledge your growth. 

5. Endure/persevere.  

We must always combine persistence with natural talent. Natural talent only goes so far. 

Without practice, growth, and perseverance, we’ll never know what we’re capable of. 

Danger: Assuming there’s no struggle in using one’s strengths and that employing a strength should always come easy. 

What About Weaknesses? 

If a weakness is actually a character flaw rather than an ability, then we need to set out to change it. Character flaws can really trip us up and hinder our personal and professional growth. 

If a weakness is a skill that you really want to pursue, then apply yourself to see if it might be a latent ability. But beware of spending too much energy on something you have no talent for. Be totally honest with yourself. It can save a lot of time. 

Finally, if your weakness is a skill that you need in your business, delegate that function to someone who is skilled in that area. 

Choosing Happy Podcast Update 

It’s the 62^nd Episode of the Podcast tomorrow, and I am dedicating this episode to 3 things you can do to maintain happiness –  

Look out for that tomorrow – 15^th April 2024. 

All previous episodes are available…
You can listen on your favourite podcast host or on the website at www.choosinghappypodcast.com 

Also before I go, 2 quick things: 

#1 – As the chaos accelerates, a reminder that I will be hosting a ‘Navigating the Shifts’ webinar on Tuesday 16th April 2024 at 7.30 pm (BST). If you would like more details just hit reply and type the word interested and I will send you the details. 

#2 – I am also putting the finishing touches to a new 1 Year Mastermind program for those interested in breaking through their blocks, having access to training, guest experts, peer mentoring, community and accountability for success in disruptive and unusual times.
Again, drop me an email if you’d like to have advance notification. 

That's it for this week! 

I wish you peace, resilience, and protection at this time. May love, and healing surround you. May your families and friends be safe and well. 

The coffee and a chat offer still stands, I am only an email away. 

I wish you the skills to navigate the potentially rocky time ahead. And hope you have a week blessed with opened hearted compassion vibes, joy filled days, good health, prosperity, grace and ease! 

Heather 

Heather V Masters 

Chief Coach, Trainer and Facilitator of Magic 

Taking Your Business Online and Choosing Happy Podcast 

Email: [email protected] or [email protected] 

P.S. Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you: 

#1: I just launched a new Coffee and Catchup Live on my YouTube and Rumble Channels (Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning – 11 am – live). I'm putting a ton of energy into creating heaps of valuable live content that I think you'll like. It’s my aim to create a healthy habit of live content that serves you. Come check out my channel, and give me a like and subscribe.  

#2: Strategy Calls 

As entrepreneurs, sometimes we just need an hour with another like-minded person to figure out what to focus on next. And to keep it simple. And to identify our next, impactful, action steps.  

Sometimes you’re too close to figure that out for yourself. 

How often do you take time out to move away from the doing in your business, and focus on the big picture, reviewing the dream and getting to the nitty gritty stuff that niggles you every day? 

In the 1-1 strategy sessions I help you cut through the fog and get crystal clear on your next steps toward next level results - more clients, more sales, more effective marketing, tech clarity and simplicity – whatever it is for you. 

If you are interested, drop me a message and I will send you full details and how to apply. 

#3: Follow me on LinkedIn for more Tech, strategy, systems, marketing tips, and happiness-building. 

P.P.S.  

If you have something you want to ask, drop me an email and Iet's get your questions answered. 

Email: [email protected]