Career Self-Care

Lessons from the Groundhog

When I reference Groundhog Day, I can’t help but think of that hysterical 1993 movie starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. If you have never seen it (although I would question where you’ve been!), Bill Murray’s character experiences the same Groundhog Day over and over again. Each time the day starts again, he adjusts based on what he knows will happen so he can get it “just right”.

And then in 2017, Andy Karl brilliantly led the Broadway musical adaptation straight to a Tony nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Musical.

This movie and Broadway show has me reflecting on two lessons I have learned over the years that look a lot like this Bill Murray/Andy Karl character’s experience:

FIRST: My days of living the Groundhog Day life in my career and business are over.

I learned early in my corporate career to save everything- every file, every document and every email trail- because invariably the senior leadership team would reposition an old project or initiative as a brand new, enterprise-wide opportunity in which I could be put in charge. Common practice was to pull out those saved files, “re-label” them and start over again. It got so bad in 2002 that I bought my entire team a copy of the movie! (VHS of course)
Today as an entrepreneur everything is new -every day. No reusing ideas for me. Definitely tapping into to old ideas that have expanded or evolved- but not that horrible “been here already feeling”. It is all fresh and exciting. No more slapping another name or spin on an initiative and calling it new! Phew.
Even better, on a daily basis I am in a position to inspire career clients (who are mostly in large, bureaucratic organizations) to weather those Groundhog Day moments (pun intended -smile)

SECOND: The Universe will continue to put similar people, situations and opportunities in my path until I learn the lesson I am here to learn.

It is often equal parts frustrating and hysterical. Like the movie Groundhog Day, I just keep coming back to the scenario over and over again, adjusted a bit each time, until I make the major shift.
Most recently it has been a trust issue I have been forced to pay attention to— because the trust challenges came to me through a few friendships, a big client and a financial obstacle. 1-2-3-Right in my face. Ugly. A chance for me to stop feeling like Bill Murray and to change it forever.

Where is that happening in YOUR life?

Covid Career Confessions: Manage Your Square

During this time where we are all spending SO MUCH TIME at our computers and ON VIDEO, have you thought much about how well you “manage your square”?

+ Is it time to make adjustments?
+ Are you setting yourself up for success?
+ Are you thinking about it too much?
+ Do you feel like a member of the Brady family most days?
+ Or has it all disintegrated into raucous laughter like the Hollywood Squares?

Here are some of my ideas and considerations for all of the professional time (and personal time) we spend on camera these days. I have been talking to clients about this issue for a decade — from way back when video interviews really hit the job seeker world in a big way. But this global pandemic basically pointed a giant magnifying glass at this concern.

This week’s video is a message DIRECTLY to each of you.

LINK TO THE VIDEO: https://bit.ly/BrynManageYourSquare

Thinking of you and YOUR square!

Bryn💗

Forward is Forward

“Slow and steady wins the race.” This has always been one of my favorite quotes.

However, “YOUR SPEED DOESN’T MATTER, FORWARD IS FORWARD” is definitely more reflective of me. 🐢

At various workshops and retreats geared toward entrepreneurs, I have been asked, “Are you a sprinter or a marathoner?”

I REALLY DISLIKE this question. 🐢

I am neither. I am both. 🐢

I am the procrastinator who magically transforms procrastination in a veiled “project plan”- writing it out and setting the direction and timing which REALLY becomes me changing the deadlines and sabotaging myself— but to others this looks like a wonderful marathoner steadily moving along the race. 🐢

The reality- while the race is going on, I am drinking coffee, chatting and texting with people all while binge-watching television at a darling cafe along the race route. 🐢

At some point- probably when the crowds start to thin and the cheers start to fade, I realize that I committed to this race and people are expecting me at the finish line. Waiting with their handmade signs and lovingly cheering me (or tapping their watch wondering where the he** I am). So, I gulp down the last of my americano, tip the waitstaff who are now my bffs and jump back in the race. 🐢

And NOW, I’ve got to sprint. Seriously haul a**. Foregoing sleep and other pleasurable experiences in an effort to get to the finish line. 🐢

Ooooh, I’ll let you in on a little secret. While sprinting (or maintaining a highly erratic and caffeinated jog), I click into a competitive mode where I now want to be one of the best. Not necessarily THE best. I understand that particular honor is reserved for the masterful sprinter or the marathoner who truly has been chugging along in the race. But I want to be ONE of the best. And that competitive drive then kicks me into super-high gear. 🐢

At this stage of the story, you are either thinking I am a total nut job or your new super hero. Either way, I trust that you realize that this is the “Brain of Bryn” at work. 🐢 FORWARD IS FORWARD.

My way. Imperfectly. A little wacky. A lot chaotic. But also filled with delightful coffee, cafés and conversations.

Can you relate?

Breaking the Rules

Last year, I did some thinking about the concept of choosing my ONE WORD. One word for the year, as so many inspirational leaders suggest. And I suppose I can just jump to the bottom line and tell you that there will not be one word for the year. I am a gal who needs one word for the MONTH.

January: Recalibrate. That is the word I chose.

Recalibrating in January. It was a month of doing a bit of an assessment– what is working in my life and business and what is NOT working. Then, I made a list of some things that could stand to change in 2018 (not any “resolutions”, but a little list in a journal and a couple of post it notes that basically honed in on a few action items).

From there, rather than fully recalibrating, I left the journal and post it notes in a corner of my bedroom and… proceeded to continue to indulge for the rest of the January- just as I had done in December. Eating off my plan. Not exercising much. Watching Hulu. Hanging out for hours with friends. Determining some critical next moves in my business, yet not stepping into them at all. Honestly, it felt great!

January. The month of the traditional New Year. My birthday. My Bryn Johnson Group company anniversary. Snow. The month when I am still celebrating- like residual happiness from the holiday season.

And why not?

Who says that I must start all these new behaviors and idea implementation in January? Well—THEY do. Whoever THEY is.

Just for the record. I am done listening to THEY.

I realize that I always do this type of January celebrating and acting on my “not quite ready to get started yet” feeling – every year. It is actually part of the recalibrating. Well, this year I said to myself, “What if I break the ‘rules’ and begin my year in February instead of January?”

Mind blowing!

Result: I declared that my year in business and life runs February to January.

Wow, that felt so freeing!! It immediately brought me such a happy feeling.

So I started thinking, what other “rules” could I break? Ideas that are just not working for me, but I continue to take action on them based on a false sense of what THEY might say. What I am “supposed” to do. What is expected of me by people I cannot name, but who feel very real.

I came up with a couple of quick ones off the top of my head:

THEY: Your Christmas tree should be put away by Epiphany/ Three Kings Day/ January 6 every year.

MY RESPONSE: Rather than putting it away, I decorated my 7-ft pencil Christmas tree (perfect for NYC apartment living) with hearts, ribbons, sequins, glitter, red, pink and white for Valentines Day. Twinkling white lights on the dark, cold winter nights. Bringing me happiness.

THEY: If you are going to spend $$ on a co-working space, utilize one of the no-frills neighborhood options to get started.

MY RESPONSE: Nope. Commuting 45-60 minutes to 1 of the 2 (soon to be 3) locations in NYC of THE MOST FABULOUS social club/homebase/working spaces that I could ever imagine. Perfect for me. Bringing me happiness.

Do you see a theme? Busting out of those confines that are basically imagined. Imposed by THEY – who I cannot even name with any real certainty. Breaking the “rules” and bringing happiness to my life.

February’s word: Renegade.

Digging deep for those “rules” I have been clinging to for decades and looking for ways to break them if they no longer appear to serve me.

Join me? What “rules” are really not working for you in career or life any longer?

📷: thanks to gratisography.com

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Inside the Brain of Bryn: Connection

Inside the Brain of Bryn, there are many thoughts on CONNECTION.

Connecting is one of my passions. It conjures up thoughts of enjoyment, shared interests, laughter, interesting conversations -with me out in the world being authentic.

When I am connecting, I am not struggling for the “right” words.
When I am connecting I am not trying so hard to impress people that I’m not listening to them.
When I am connecting, I am thinking about how I can help that person – through advice, people I know, ideas I have or simply witnessing an idea or experience they are having.
When I am connecting, I am comfortable in my body and my clothes.
When I am connecting, it is easy to plan that next get-together to collaborate.
When I am connecting, I don’t need to TELL people about my business or my career ideas and shove a business card in their hand. Instead they are naturally curious about me and ASK to connect with me.

Ask questions. Set a goal to find out one new thing about someone and to share one thing about yourself.

To get started, practice on people you know well. Practice when the stakes do not feel very high. Practice just talking to neighbors, community members, colleagues at work, vendors or customers, family members and friends.

It is incredible how dialogue changes when you are asking questions and being yourself in the conversation.

Remember the feeling! You will bring it with you to your next seemingly high-pressured networking event and transform your experience!

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