My Mr. Magoo moment

Reader, uh oh! I'm really dating myself with this reference. 😂 Do you remember this cartoon?

Mr. Magoo had horrible vision, which caused confusion and mishaps all around him while he remained oblivious to his plight or impact.

This week, I made a huge business decision to sign with a new marketing and media company.

I am super excited to elevate my message and outreach, a goal I've been pursuing since 2021 when I wrote Show Up Positive.

During our first meeting, I was asked a series of questions about my business, messaging, and work.

It was an excellent generative discussion that reinforced why I need the partnership with this team.

I said many powerful and meaningful things, yet I walked away knowing I had failed to clearly and concisely communicate who I am and what I am about.

I felt heard, and the team genuinely listened. Yet I didn't feel understood and knew that was my fault.

During my sunrise walk with Ella (my dog) and my friend Maureen today, this concern kept niggling at my thoughts.

As we headed into the last half mile, I suddenly had a thought crystallize in my head, and I knew I needed to talk it through immediately or risk losing it. (I blame kids, not age, for this short-term memory malfunction 😂.)

Then I came home and sent the following message to my new team:

Additional points of articulation:

I work with service-based organizations, which means their people are the business.

People are either a rate limiter or an accelerant, and the difference is in the leaders and culture that inspire and enable them to perform at their best.

Historically, business has relied on strong management skills -- convince, control, compel.

Today's reliance on intellectual capital instead of physical labor requires an additional emphasis on leadership mastery (a concept introduced over 50 years ago And written about prolifically but not institutionalized into business norms).

Excelling as a manager requires mastery of process management and communication.

Excelling as a leader requires mastery of people (what they need to thrive and contribute fully) and connection (at the individual and group levels).

Businesses need to support their leaders in developing both skills. My focus is on the latter.

I teach psychology and neuroscience-based insights that enable leaders to navigate and engage effectively because they understand the science of what humans need to thrive and how to create the conditions within their teams and organizations that serve as an effective medium for those needs to be met and nurtured.

It's equally important to teach these to individuals so that they remove themselves from the role of victim within an organization and embrace their agency and autonomy, and participate as collaborators in generating the optimal team environment instead of passive receivers awaiting direction from the top of the hierarchy.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 😜

Reader, I know we've been hanging out here together for some time and that you've walked the evolution of my work and message alongside me.

I'm asking you to hit the repond button and give me the two numbers from your answers below:

To what extent does the above description align with your understanding of my work?

1) Nailed it! 2) Mostly that seems right. 3) Nice ideas, but that's not really how I understand your work 4) Other (please explain)

Does the place where you work care about these ideas?

1) 100% 2) Some leaders get it. 3) I'm a lone voice in the wilderness 4) Other (please explain)

I have zero doubt that I am so close to my ideas that I am making connections in my head that I fail to communicate clearly to others.

Your feedback as a trusted ally is greatly valued.

Please scroll down for details about this week's episodes of "the story i'm telling myself." I'd love to see you there.

The image is a promotional graphic for a podcast titled "the story i'm telling myself" with host Rita Ernst. It features Episode 2: "fear of abandonment?" The image includes a circular photo of a featured guest, identified as Gail Kraft, a Next Level Living Guide, Author, Speaker, and Spiritualist. There are thought bubbles near the host with phrases like "Conform," "Be nice," "I can't," and "It's fine." Icons for LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook are on the right, with a date and time: Feb 4, 10:30 am (ET) in the corner.

Episode 2 live stream available through LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube

Podcast promotional image titled "The Story I'm Telling Myself" with host Rita Ernst. Episode 3, "Am I Worth That?" features guest Sandra Adeyeye Bello, a Women Empowerment Leader, Founder, and Creative Director. The image shows Bello smiling, wearing an orange headwrap, and the host pondering with thought bubbles saying "Conform," "Be nice," "I can't," and "It's fine." The air date is February 5 at noon (ET), with social media icons visible.

Episode 3 live stream available through LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube

The Story I’m Telling Myself is for anyone who wants to overcome the limitations of self-doubt and live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Through candid conversations, you'll discover:

The hidden costs of listening to your inner critic: How fear and doubt sabotage your confidence, happiness, and success.
Transformational strategies for silencing the negative voice: Learn how to overcome self-doubt, embrace vulnerability, and step into your true potential.
The power of a mindset shift: Discover how changing your internal dialogue can lead to extraordinary results.

Real-life stories of courage and resilience: Gain inspiration from everyday people who overcame their negative self-talk to live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Rita Ernst, Positivity Influencer

My Mr. Magoo moment

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