Happy Badass Anniversary to me!

“I do not mind telling you all, this hike is KICKING. MY. ASS. Firmly.”

Those were the words from my notes a couple of days earlier, in the middle of the 5 day, solo-hike that I was doing across Catalina Island in the U.S.

This memory came up on my Facebook timeline this week and I see analogies with all aspects of life and work.

Sometimes on this hike it took me 1 hr 15 mins to walk a mile, sometimes it took me only 19 mins. Sometimes I had to literally talk myself through each heavy step and count them as I went. 

I cursed a LOT - the heat, my broken feet (thanks to the chemotherapy drugs which made my skin more susceptible to blisters), my tired-from-chemo body, and myself for choosing to do such a thing! 

Looking back, I’m SO proud of myself for persevering and for taking on such a tough challenge at a hard time and for doing it alone. Although, sometimes I wished I’d had company. 

Obviously some days in work/life/business feel similar to walking uphill for 5 days, in the heat, on a route without any shade, carrying 50lbs, whilst feeling dreadful! And sometimes being a corporate leader or running a business can be as lonely as taking on a tough solo challenge. 

Lessons that I learned throughout my experiences such as this hike have contributed to my Intentional Resilience talks and the Resilience Strategies guide I developed, and also helped me become an author of a chapter in an adventure book.

And I’m ever thankful that I have a support network - including my own incredible coach - and I’ve remembered the importance of who and how to ask for what I need. 

So, whatever your next adventure is - navigating the wilds of the corporate world, getting more fulfilment, securing that promotion - don’t stay stuck. Don’t stay lonely. Let’s have a conversation about how I can help you.