All posts filed under: Gratitude

My Stressful thoughts overtake my ability to focus

Published by Colin Nanka

I was listening to a podcast last weekend as the guest was answering a passage stuck out. When I am overloaded, “my stressful thoughts overtake my ability to focus” and I thought yes, that is how I feel some days! The good news is those days are infrequent and I find it’s helpful to watch for the queues and have a plan Queues: When I feel like I have so much to do and don’t know where to start When the same single keeps playing in my head about things I can’t control Negative thoughts in general Antidote: Go for a walk outside and get fresh air Take a breathing or meditative pause and break Write down all the things I have to do, get them out of my head. Circle the Top 3 and work on the first one first.   Defeating Average through stress.   Colin

Are you missing out on opportunity?

Published by Colin Nanka

Pull your toes on the way up, push through your quads on the way down and widen the circle.   Good advice from Peloton instructor Sam Yo last week on one of my regular spin classes. He was focusing on potential range of motion, power, and output. It made me think about how that applies to life.   You can look at it like 7 pieces of a pie in the wheel of life.  Spirituality Career Finance Family Learning Health and Wellness Friend and Community   If you are not getting your full range of motion, power and output in each area, you are missing out on opportunities.   None of us will be hitting 10/10 in all areas and not even close.   When we think about how much of the pie and landscape we are covering we can put a spotlight on the areas we would like to focus on…and perhaps pull our toes up a little more.   Where are you doing well? Where can you expand that circle?   Defeating Average. …

Are you an imposter?

Published by Colin Nanka

I think we all are at some point. This discussion has been coming up more and more recently. Are you handling the pandemic ok? Yes, I mean nooo! How are you handling the scope of your new role? Great, I mean, ugg flailing! You seem to be onboarding your new team well and meeting customer expectations. Yes, I am! Noooo, I am struggling to keep up! Does this sound like you at all? We all have a lot on our plate right now and may feel like an imposter balancing our job, our pandemic life, and our family. It’s ok to say, woe, it’s a lot right now and sometimes I am on the struggle bus. People appreciate honesty. Personally, some days I feel like I have it nailed and the next day, I don’t at all! What is important during these times? Be gentle with yourself, it’s ok to admit…even to others. Partner with other people who can help you get over the hump. Remember each day is a new day and with good …

Are you outnumbered against fear?

Published by Colin Nanka

“If you face just one opponent, and you doubt yourself, you’re out-numbered.” – Dan Millman We all have fear. Fear of failure, fear of not being enough, fear of other people’s opinions, fear of covid. In his book Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman talks about doubt and fear, it’s an awesome read. After recently reading more on the fear of fear itself, I found myself preparing for a recent presentation realizing I was not being fearful of not presenting well…I was fearful of fear itself. Trippy right. Once we realize that fear is a part of being able to perform and it will always be there, you can notice it, like a cloud passing, name it and move on. We can all face one opponent. If we can harness and leverage fear, we will be less likely to be outnumbered. In fact, if you can talk openly about your fear with others, you can outnumber fear. Defeating Average. Colin.

My Nutrition was out of wack

Published by Colin Nanka

I have been trying to get back into shape. I am getting in a good amount of outside time, riding the peloton a couple of times and a week, and slowly easing back into running. It really hit me after a run 6 weeks ago and I felt completely out of shape when I was done.  Is this it, I was thinking? Maybe the good running days are done. I called a friend who has been accelerating in his 50+ year age for some advice. He said: Stretching and a lot of it Nutrition – Are you being honest with yourself? East back into it   I have been on a stretching binge, my wife can attest to it. Lying on the floor all over the apartment. What has really helped is focusing on it with my trainer. Instead of stretching for time, stretching for deep breaths (that are a similar amount of time). I can report making big strides in my standing stretch and things are progressing. Nutrition. I started following a program with …

You’re Not Listening

Published by Colin Nanka

I was listening to a great podcast this week from Preet Bharara where he interviewed Chief CNN Correspondent Clarissa Ward. They discussed what makes a good journalist, a good lawyer, and a good parent. Clarissa Ward has been embedded in a lot of war zones.  “We do a lot of talking in our society. We don’t do enough listening, and the one piece of advice that I would want to give to my young boys she said, is to do more listening than talking.”  Preet said the same thing. “If you want to be a good lawyer,  be a good talker. If you want to be a great lawyer. Be a good listener.”  I think we can all take that piece of advice in whatever profession we reside. The more we can pause the more we can stay curious, the more we can listen to another person’s point of view. Defeating Average. Colin

The best way to stay in shape is to not get out of shape

Published by Colin Nanka

“The best way to stay in shape is to not get out of shape.” – Kelvin Beachum, Offensive Tackle, Arizona Cardinals I had the good fortune of being on a customer panel with Kelvin last year and we caught up recently. Training camp in the NFL starts shortly and he focuses on staying in shape all year long. When he spoke I recall him sharing a few things related to health, nutrition, and mindset. This is a summary in my words. Health I stay in shape all year long. To compete at the NFL level it’s what I have to do. I have dinner with the family and then we start to wind down around 830pm. Sleep is critical for my success. More energy = More Success Nutrition I pretty much eat the same type of meals every day based on my nutritionist. It takes the thinking out of it and it’s easy to stick to. Consistency + less decisions = Prioritizing what’s important Mindset  I get up at 430am every morning and well ahead …

Soup for The Soul of America

Published by Colin Nanka

I have found reading history in divisive times has been an antidote for anxiety. In the past, I have shared Ryan Holidays’ “Stillness is the Key” and am currently reading “The Soul of America” by Pulitzer Prize author and historian Jon Meacham. When pressed on how he should lead John F. Kennedy said “ Now look, I happen to know a little about leadership. I’ve had to work with a lot of nations, for that matter at odds, with each other. And I tell you this: you do not lead by hitting people over the head. Any damn fool can do that, but it’s usually called ‘assault’ — not leadership.’ …I’ll tell you what leadership is. It’s persuasion–and conciliation–and education –and patience. It’s long, slow tough work. That’s the only kind of leadership I know–or believe in–or will practice.”  We have a long road ahead of us.  Be calm in the storm, in the face of adversity.  Play the long game.  Support one another. We are better off together. Defeating Average Together. Colin

The Agony of Pandemic Parenting

Published by Colin Nanka

The Agony of Pandemic Parenting We have all had a tough year. One of those groups is parents, and especially mothers. I think it’s important to understand all sides and how many different people in all corners of the country are managing the pandemic. It may make you feel better. It may develop empathy for people different from you. It may make you feel connected to a broader community that are all trying to get through together. It may cause you to be a little gentler on yourself. Defeating Average Together. Colin

He took a call from President Clinton in my office

Published by Colin Nanka

I was listening (audiobook reading) to former CEO of Walt Disney Corporation, Bob Iger’s new book this weekend. The Ride of a Lifetime. He has some amazing stories, as expected. One of many hit home with me on leadership. His former boss in his early career with Disney had some big celebrity relationships and he kept interrupting important 1:1 meetings when calls would come in from people like Tom Cruise and President Clinton. Meeting after meeting was rescheduled or abbreviated. It happened to many people. Managing your time and respecting others’ times is a vital thing to do as a manager.   You have to sit through meetings you might otherwise ignore. You have to listen and learn. How you show up in front of people impacts how they will show up for you.   I highly recommend reading his book. Colin