I love my Fridays because I’ve cultivated them to be a day of purpose, joy, and trailblazing, Dr. Michelle style.
6:03 am – Hop on the Metra and sit in the quiet car.
6:45 am – Arrive in Chicago. Walk around the corner to Cupitol, my favorite café, where I recognize the folks behind the counter, take in the warm colors, smell the freshly baking bread, and watch them make a proper creamy, dark Cortado.
6:55 am – Pop in my AirPods and listen to my Trailblazer playlist while I walk to Hera Hub, a women-centered co-working space – my weekly sanctuary.
Last week, my day included three coaching conversations, some in person and some via Zoom. I’ve been spoiled for the last month by coaching the Networking for Women small group of trailblazers that meets for four weeks. Our group ended last week, and I have to say that I really missed that room of ten women. I’m already counting down the days for the next one, which begins on March 4th – just in time for Women’s History Month!
I also met with one of my dearest friends for a quick coffee and an in-person hug. Then, I met my spouse, and we stopped by to see one of our kids who lives downtown.
I usually make a stop on the way home to do something for myself to set my night up for maximum relaxation. It’s not because I’m exhausted, but because I feel refueled, grateful, and keenly aware of the impact of the fierce women I coached that day.
My weekly routine not only reduces decision fatigue but also creates anticipation and allows for expansive thinking. That’s exactly what occurred two days ago. As I sat in the sparsely populated quiet car, I realized that I had slipped into timidity in one part of my business. At first, I felt the “what the hell?!” surprise moments before the almost immediate glow of gratitude. Noticing the timidity is up-leveling because now I get to adjust. The next thought was “what a relief!” just before I decided that I needed to share this with all of you. Here are a few of my takeaways:
- We slip into old ways. That’s how our brain works, especially when we’re working on something big that matters. The quicker we can catch that slip, the quicker we can feel grateful for our wisdom and begin planning the pivot.
- Creating a little structure allows for surprise thinking and quiet nudging from your gut. That structure for me brings a much-needed pause. The 6:02 is much like cruising altitude, the time to witness myself.
- Dropping the timidity also meant to be myself even more boldly. That’s the step-by-step path I take. Up-level. Regulate. Notice the plateau. Repeat. Thanks to my coach, Mel McSherry, for teaching me that part of my Human Design.
- Follow my gut. I do not mean to bend at the will of a disregulated nervous system. I mean tap into what you know is for you, even if no one else agrees. That’s what innovators do. That’s how we change the world. That’s the path of trailblazers.