All posts filed under: Gratitude

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

I didn’t feel well so I lied down

Published by Colin Nanka

I pride myself on being able to push through. I have run hundreds of miles in tough terrain. But this pandemic flexes different muscles. A few weeks ago I wasn’t feeling well. Zoom fatigue, not enough fresh air, groundhog day. I wasn’t sure but that was my best guess. As I shared with my wife Blake, she said, why don’t you cancel a couple of meetings this afternoon and lie down. I’ve pushed through that feeling in a non-pandemic era many times before. I thought maybe this time I should listen to my body and my wife and take a break. I canceled the meetings. I lied down. I felt better later that day and much better after a good night’s sleep. It’s ok to struggle, it’s ok to take a break, we all need one. Colin

Your Morning Checklist

Published by Colin Nanka

We are skipping ahead a little bit to what your Daily Metrics of Success and Habits of Resilience could look like! Early in the pandemic of 2020, I started to get micro-focused every day. Groundhog day was real…and still is! I got laser-focused and clear on what my morning routine was going to be and how I was going to set my day up for success. Here is the list in text below in case it gives you a starting point to copy: Morning 1. Did I complete 5+ minutes of morning meditation or mindfulness? 2. Did I get to sleep by 930pm? 3. Morning Questions What brings me energy and life? What are you happy about? What are you excited about? What does success look like today? 4. Daily Intention What are your intentions in 3-5 words? 5. Movement and Nature? Did you get outside for fresh air three times today? Did you move your body (walk, yoga, run, cycle) for at least 20 minutes today? Evening 1. What are two things I am grateful …

Non-Striving in Sales 

Published by Colin Nanka

If there was a year for non-striving it was 2020. You might have worked twice as hard to hit the same quota AND it was an opportunity to put your mental health first. Listening to world-leading meditation teacher Jon Kabat Zinn recently he said: “Non-striving is related to trust.  There is no place to go Nothing to do Nothing to attain   When you adopt that mindset, everything is attainable. There is a vortex of insights and clarity awaiting you.”

Song of the Heart

Published by Colin Nanka

“To love someone is to learn the song in their heart and sing it to them when they have forgot” – Arne Garborg (Norwegian Writer)   I heard a great quote recently that I think beautifully summarizes how we should take care of our loved ones in challenging times.    We all get down. It’s easy in these time periods.    To finding the song for the person most important to you.    Defeating Average.   Colin 

Character is Revealed by Struggle

Published by Colin Nanka

In Joseph’s Campbell the Hero’s Journey, one key stage of human experience is experiencing the “Abyss.” Some of us put ourselves through the trials to slay the dragon ahead of it actually happening to be prepared, while others are thrust into it unknowingly. Whichever journey you are on, eventually you will be tested. Your character will be revealed in this struggle. I would argue all of us are being tested right now in Covid times. When faced with challenges or high-pressure situations, I often ask myself, what is the learning opportunity? In these moments the layers of an onion are peeled back and character is revealed. Lean into these anxious times. You can come out on the other side a changed individual. Defeating Average. Colin

Accept, Adjust and Adapt

Published by Colin Nanka

Are you anxious?? I am. Lots of uncertainty right now.  It’s easy to get caught up doom scrolling and sidetracked on things you can’t control.  What can we do? Accept, Adjust and Adapt Accept what is.  Naming your emotions, writing down what you need to accept to get through this tough time period will help get it out of your brain.  Adjust.  The same pre covid pre-political angst methods may no longer work. Change your routines and habits.  Journaling I want doing prior to this, now I do every day.  Adapt.  The new virtual world requires different skills. Have you modified your approach? My two examples.  I get outside three times a day no matter what and measure myself to it with a yes or no in my journal.  I added in 5-15 minutes of work to family time clearing mediation to reboot for the evening. That could also be a walk or a stretch, anything to clear the mind.  Defeating Average in the new virtual decade.  Colin

The Life That is Waiting For Us

Published by Colin Nanka

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell Questions that help me find this essence. What would you do if you didn’t compare yourself to anyone else? What advice would your 20 years in the future self give you about your choices this year? What brings me energy? What brings me life? I hope these help you as you navigate your GPS to the life that is waiting for you. Defeating Average. Colin

The 3 W’s of 2021

Published by Colin Nanka

The turn of the calendar like a season in a year has natural energy change. This year feels like an aberration but it’s still there.  Get laser-focused on what you want and what you can control.  3 W’s What, Why, Who What What do you want?  What do you really want? Spend some time thinking and journaling on this daily.  Why Why do you want it? What will keep you going when obstacles rear their ugly head? Jot down a number of your why’s.  Who Who can help you? No one achieves anything alone. It takes an army.  Who are you going to enroll to help you? What’s in it for them? Who are:  Your accountable partners  Inspiration partners People you can lean on To Defeating Average Together.  Colin

3 E’s for 2021

Published by Colin Nanka

As we look ahead to 2021, there are three things I think about daily. 1. Endurance How am I playing the long game? What am I doing daily that builds to long term capacity? 2. Excited  How am I keeping focused on what brings us life and energy daily? 3. EQ (Emotional Quotient) What am I learning every day to improve? What has failure taught me? What am I grateful for? To a productive new year. Defeating Average. Colin