Latest Posts

7 days of Tess

Published by Colin Nanka

Wow, what a difference a week makes. 

For those of you who haven’t seen the IG Posts, we welcomed a healthy bouncing baby girl into the world last weekend, Tess Gertie Nanka. 

I decided (or so it happened) to wait until a little bit later in life to get married and have a child. 

I was still learning about myself (and always will be). I’ve been on a journey to see the world, test myself, meet and learn from incredible people. 

I’ve always wanted to be ready. I guess you become ready when it happens. 

As I turn 44 this year, I have never been more ready. If not now, when?

There is a new layer of accountability that has snapped in, to do what is necessary to make sure she is happy. 

Who knew one of my new favorite activities would be to just watch her sleep. 

A new journey is upon us. It doesn’t mean the other will stop, it’s just on hiatus for a little while until they come together as one. 

The journey is the reward.

Colin

The ways Anthony Bourdain made us all better

Published by Colin Nanka
He took the road less traveled. He was vulnerable, resilient, deeply human and brought out the best in other people around the world, maybe at the expense of himself. 
 

He opened up an understanding of cultures using the common language of food and wine and addressed tough and often taboo topics.

He was an unbelievable storyteller and a lifelong learner. He helped us experience other cultures through his eyes and offer a connectedness desperately needed in the world.

While accepting the Peabody award in 2013, he described how he approached his work.

“We ask very simple questions: What makes you happy? What do you eat? What do you like to cook? And everywhere in the world we go and ask these very simple questions,” he said. “We tend to get some really astonishing answers.”

A bright light in the world was extinguished on Friday but his gifts to the world will never be forgotten. 

This is one of the ways I would like to remember him.
 

“There’s a picture of me and my daughter, aged four, in the Cayman Islands,” he wrote. “She’s sitting on my lap, eyes closed. I’m holding her tight, my face sunburned and blissed-out with the joys of fatherhood. I was 50 when I became a father of a little girl. I was finally old enough to be qualified for the job. Ariane has me wrapped around her finger. All I can realistically hope for is that she feels loved. That she has high self-esteem. And good martial-arts skills.”

Live your best life, be resilient, be curious and understand that everyone is struggling with something. Be present, express gratitude and love and kindness to yourself those around you.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Colin

 

I’m leaving my position tomorrow

Published by Colin Nanka
 

…to start a new journey.

Fatherhood.

Feeling really grateful and fingers crossed everything goes as planned we’ll have a bouncing baby girl Nanka join the world this weekend.

I truly appreciate Salesforce’s support of taking time off to fully immerse in the experience.

I turn 44 in July and have been on many rewarding adventures across the globe over the last decade. This will the most rewarding yet.

I’ll be offline from work for three weeks, so if you want to keep up with our going’s on, FB and IG will the place to be.

I may pop a blog in here or there or just queue them up for when I return!

Have a great weekend.

Colin

 

I struggled to get my work out in, here is why

Published by Colin Nanka

I remember the founder of a running store in Canada coming to our University in my second year. He was a graduate and shared his stories from his running career and how he was building this business.

One thing he said about preparing for workouts really stuck. He put all his workout gear with his water bottle next to the door so it was easier to get ready to workout and gave him fewer reasons not to go.

In addition, the deal he made with himself was if 10 min into a workout he wasn’t down for it, he had permission to pack it in. He focused on mentally agreeing to that first 10 min. I took that lesson forward in my life with great success.

Last long weekend, I really procrastinated on getting my workout in. I reminded myself of this approach and went downstairs with a stretching and warm-up commitment for 10-20 min and a stretch goal of a bigger workout.

What did I end up with?

A really strong 💪 hour workout and a reminder of just getting yourself out the door is half the battle. I also tapped into that inner creative intelligence for some personal projects that only comes with sweating!

Can you agree to 10 minutes tomorrow?

Colin

 

Three Pieces of Wisdom From Kyle Maynard That Will Make You Better

Published by Colin Nanka

Kyle Maynard is the best selling author, entrepreneur and ESPY award-winning mixed martial artist athlete and the first quadruple amputee to climb Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua.

On failure:
 
“The best way I can describe the feeling of overcoming failure is the Finnish word – SISU – the mental strength to continue to try even after you have reached the limits of your abilities.”
 
Advice for new professionals:
 
“Follow your bliss.  Happiness is just above status quo, bliss is your feeling of freedom standing on top of a mountain or laying back in a catamaran halfway around the world.”
 
On saying no:
 
A CEO friend of his asks his people to rate candidates for hire as 1-10 on potential and they cannot choose 7.  That lesson has helped him make better decisions on incoming projects and requests.
 
 
Advice to live by.
 
Colin

 

Three reasons to stress test the system

Published by Colin Nanka
Eighteen months ago I sprained my ankle before a big race in Antarctica.  I healed it enough to make it through the race.  It took a bunch of rehab through 2017 and was aggravated again in Patagonia in the fall and this spring in Vancouver.
 
As I start my 2018 journey in less than a week…Baby girl Nanka joining the world, I am focused on long-term rehab and healing this nagging injury.
 
As I gingerly and proactively stretch the tendons, my trainer explained to me when you went over on it last year you applied at least 2-3 times your body weight of force. 
 
You need to build it back up to withstand competitive stress.
 
Is there something in your game that needs stress testing?
 
Three things I am focused on:
 
  • Strengthen the tendons
  • Stretch and stress the tendons 
  • Rest and let the body repair

Always be strengthening the foundation.

 
Colin 

 

Are you losing out on the best ideas?

Published by Colin Nanka

You get what you pay for!

  • I pay for coaching that takes me to the next level.
  • I #payforward to help people that I can learn from

When you pay for a service, you typically stick with it when it provides more value than the dollars you put to it. At least a 1:1 + ratio.

  • Uber or Lyft provide convenience and a private ride and they continue to improve the experience.
  • Salesforce keeps you plugged into the future of technology
  • My trainer keeps me plugged into cutting-edge research on mobility.

The people you surround yourself with keep you plugged into accountability and the lightbulb of new ideas.

Who or what is in your thought leadership pipeline?

Colin

Are you accountable?

Published by Colin Nanka


Do what you say you will do. 

I remember 7 years ago I brought my coach in to help run a values exercise for my team. Our outcome was creating our top 5 values our team was going to live by.

During that conversation, we had debated whether accountability was a value. We ended up having it as a process to live up to our values. It was a healthy debate.

What happens if you have not been accountable for a task or situation? Are you not reliable or accountable?

We thought about it in two ways. Do you regularly do what you say you will do?

When you are viewed as an accountable person you warm the waters, like a positive wave washing over all the people around you.  They feel you as trusty worthiness! 


When someone consistently misses or doesn’t DWYSYWD (do what they say they will do), it feels like getting stuck in quicksand towards accomplishing your goal.

When YOU miss on a task or goal – clean it up! You have a very short window to own up and take accountability with the appropriate people to move forward.

Like your favorite store or service, even the best of us will have a miss and need to swing back into accountability. How you take responsibility shows what you are made of.

 

What is one small area you can clean up your accountability this week?

Colin

How can you be a game changer?

Published by Colin Nanka

I had breakfast with a CEO friend of mine last week and one of his key focus areas for his company this year is making game-changing hires, once per quarter! He recently hired a new head of talent development who will make this possible.  His first game changer.

 
What is a game changer?
 
“an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about something.”
 
It got me thinking how does this apply to me and you.
 
Can you employ an idea or procedure that can elevate success for you in 2018?
 
  • Upgrade the talent on your team once per quarter
  • Employ a new habit or routine that increases your mindfulness
  • Add one event per week that brings you or your family joy
  • Connect with a like-minded person that lifts your spirits in a regular cadence
 
I would love to hear what has been game changing for you in 2018?
 
Colin

How to invest in relaxed intensity

Published by Colin Nanka

“Competition does not cause anxiety. Any emotional reaction…getting supercharged, displaying team emotional spirit excessively…is an indulgence that could distract and reduce levels of energy so needed for success. You need to not display contrived emotions, it’s what teams do when their self-doubt needs an artificial boost. If you know yourself and your opponent…objectives, and motivations…then all the hoopla is unnecessary.”

– Deng Ming-Dao, Tao Wisdom

Frustration is natural when navigating the choppy seas of business change, within high anxiety arenas and that uncertain and pivotal fork in the road.

Those who detach from the outcome and control what they can control are calm,  reserved, and prevail. 

Can you protect and harness the energy source, even though the fire may rage within? 

This is relaxed intensity. 

It applies to both coaches (managers) and athletes (individual contributors). 

Has a friend of yours every broken a tennis racket or golf club?

It’s not technical skill but presence, and ability to connect with emotions of passion, courage, and belief that override anxiety.

Exercise 

Identify specific positive emotions you have on the court or in the business arena, when you are at your best.

Are you excited, joy, courage, brave, relaxed, intense?

Create those intentions for the day and make it happen.

To get more gems like this, read more from “The Way of the Champion”

Colin