Life Beyond The Numbers

#127 The Performance Paradox - Kerry Cullen

"That's the performance paradox at play. It's through dedication. We're trying to do the best that we can, but it's just so easy to let go of what we know restores us and gives us energy in that quest to keep going. And the more we do that, the more disconnected we are from what gives us energy. That's what I mean by the performance paradox." Kerry Cullen
 
Kerry Cullen explains the concept of "the performance paradox". To break the performance paradox, she suggests bringing awareness to the body and challenging some of our assumptions with compassion. We go on to discuss embodiment coaching which she describes as enlivening awareness about the resources and wisdom in the body that we are born with but may lose connection with during our life. We also touch on the nervous system and Kerry talks about her work with polyvagal theory and how understanding the nervous system can be a game changer in helping us to connect and collaborate better. 
 
Kerry Cullen is a charted business psychologist (BPS) who has been coaching for 20 years. She aspires to create a coaching environment where people can come home to themselves. Her works spans the public and private sector and she works internationally. She loves exploring new edges in coaching, and discovering and training in polyvagal theory felt like coming home to herself.
 
Connect with Kerry
Through her website
 
Resources Mentioned
TED Talk: Confessions of a bad exerciser by Christine Carter (TEDx)
Microsoft Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks
Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges
Deb Dana Polyvagal Guided Living
Nancy Kline, Time to Think
 

#126 Slowing Down - Professor Giana M. Eckhardt

"Engaging in activities like walking as compared to faster forms of transportation or doing yoga or things that really slow down the body are important but it's active things that slow down the body. In other words, not just laying on the sofa, which we all like to do at the end of a hard day of work, but it's active slowing down." Giana Eckhardt
 
Giana Eckhardt and I chat about some of her research into the concept of deceleration or people's desire to slow down. Giana explains that deceleration involves three elements: embodied deceleration, technological deceleration, and episodic deceleration. We share some experiences of walking the Camino de Santiago. We chat about the benefits of deceleration and the positive impact it can have on our lives. The conversation then shifts to how businesses are responding to these needs. We also touches on ethical consumer behaviour, such as the slow fashion and slow travel movements, and the surprising benefits of inconvenience in bringing meaning and joy to people's lives.
 
Giana M. Eckhardt is Professor of Marketing and Vice Dean, Executive Education and Engagement, at King’s Business School, King’s College London, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Giana is a leading expert in the field of consumer behavior, consumer culture, consumer ethics, branding and the sharing economy, publishing regularly in journals such as Harvard Business Review, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, and Journal of Consumer Research. She is co-author of The Myth of the Ethical Consumer (Cambridge University Press) and co-editor of Handbook of the Sharing Economy (Edward Elgar). She is past co-chair of the Consumer Culture Theory conference, and current co-chair of the Association for Consumer Research conference. Giana is Associate Editor of Journal of Consumer Research, and is on the editorial review board of Journal of Marketing. Her research has won awards and has been featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Atlantic, Fortune, Vogue, Scientific American, The BBC, and on National Public Radio. She teaches brand management to MBA and executive MBA students.
 
Connect with Giana
On LinkedIn
 
Resources Mentioned
Craigberoch Business Decelerator
The Myth of the Ethical Consumer by DeVinney Timothy, Giana M. Eckhardt, and Pat Auger
 

#125 Insights - Dr. Susanne Evans, David Lee and Me

"Let's say somebody listening to that, is like, wow, I do that too. And that helps them develop their insights. So listening to people's stories is another wonderful way of developing insights." David Lee
 
In this episode Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee and I discuss the importance of finding work that aligns with one's values and interests. We share personal experiences of how our childhood interests and mentors influenced our career paths. We chat about the importance of being self-aware and recognising when something isn't bringing joy or fulfilment to your work-life. We share some resources that have helped us in own journeys of self-discovery and finding our niche in the world. We encourage listeners not to stress about finding the perfect job and to be open to exploring different paths that unfold. 
 
Dr Susanne Evans is an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher on a mission to change the way that transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way. As well as writing and speaking about organisation change, Susanne hosts open storytelling workshops, supporting organisations and individuals in writing a compelling story for themselves, and she is the host of the popular ChangeStories podcast.
David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.
 
Connect with Susanne
On LinkedIn
Through her website: Feldspar Consulting
Listen to Change Stories podcast
 
Connect with David
On LinkedIn 
Through his website Human Nature at Work
 
Resources Mentioned:
Video version
Episode 122 What Matters Most
Episode 113 Psychological Safety
Your You-est You Podcast with Julie Reisler 
Myers-Briggs personality test and Clifton Strengths assessment
The Power of Story by Jim Loehr 
The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope 
Callings by Greg Lavoy 
Reflected Best Self Exercise 
Evolving Leaders podcast 
 

#124 People Success - Kellie Lucas

"There is a huge shift in thinking from being customer success to being people success. Because if you look after your individual people as well as the people in your customers, whether that's B2B or B2C, then you are going to be the most successful and impactful that you can." Kellie Lucas
 
Kellie Lucas discusses the importance of a people-first approach to business. We talk about balancing extreme capitalism with a more supportive approach to work, the impact of purpose and culture on individuals and organisations, and the need for personal and social responsibility in the workplace. Kellie emphasises the value of listening to others, being open and flexible, and finding what motivates individuals. We also discuss the ripple effect of conscious choices and little impacts, which can grow exponentially into a big impact. Kellie encourages better business practices for global good including a balance between technological innovation and maintaining a human element in business.
 
Connect with Kellie:
LinkedIn profile: Kellie Lucas
LinkedIn business pages: The Customer Success Pioneer and Inspiring Future Leaders 
 
Resources Mentioned:
Book: The Customer Success Pioneer by Kelly Lucas
Podcast: Inspiring Future Leaders Podcast 

#123 If It Makes You Happy - Susan Ni Chriodain

Did you know that genetics account for 50% of our happiness? And our life circumstances 10%? That means we have the power to influence the other 40% through our actions and habits. 
 
In this episode, I explore the concept of happiness and how it is perceived differently by individuals. I discuss the relationship between mood and emotions and how they affect our overall well-being. I share some research on happiness, talk about happiness at work. I also share three practical ways to "chase" happiness, including savouring experiences, identifying your character strengths, and expanding your emotional vocabulary through affect labelling.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader's Guide To The Real World by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall
VIA Character Strengths Website
An Emotional Dictionary: Real Words for How You Feel, from Angst to Zwodder by Susie Dent
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig
The Book of Human Emotions: An Encyclopaedia of Feeling from Anger to Wanderlust by Tiffany Watt Smith
Asking one simple question can entirely change how you feel, Psyche

#122 What Matters Most? - Susan Ni Chriodain

"...and each time I would attempt to do something, I would stop and stare out the window and wonder what matters. I began to ask variations of this question: What matters here? What actually matters? Does this really matter? What matters most?" Susan Ni Chriodain
 
In this solo episode I share on a life-changing family event. And explore what it means to have your world change in an instant, discovering what matters most and having the courage to go after that. This episode is dedicated to M & M. 
I'd like to thank all my listeners for their understanding during this time of flux. 
And if there is anything here that resonated with you and you'd like to have a chat please get in touch. 
 
Resources Mentioned:
Episode 120, Reconnecting with Sam Allen
Episode 121, Courage with Robbie Swale

#121 Courage - Robbie Swale

"If instead you just take small action, you not only get the rush of courage from having taken the action and the satisfaction that you've actually done something, but you have negated that building of resentment and regret. So it's a double benefit if you take the tiny action today." Robbie Swale
 
Robbie Swale explains that courage is a key part of achieving our goals. And with small, repeated actions you can overcome fears, conquer resistance or procrastination and make progress. And often the confidence you need to do something and the competence required to do it is on the other side of doing it. You first need the courage to act - one of the most admirable qualities that humans can ever personify. Robbie talks about his 12-minute method and his four books which help people understand and apply some of what we discuss, and encourages people to take action now.
 
Robbie Swale is a leadership coach, author and podcaster whose work focuses on creativity, leading with honour and the craft of coaching. He is the host of two podcasts – The Coach’s Journey Podcast and The 12-Minute Method Podcast – and the author of The 12-Minute Method series of books, including How to Start When You’re Stuck and How to Create the Conditions for Great Work.
 
Connect with Robbie:
Learn more about Robbie from his website and the coach's journey.
Buy the 12-Minute Method Books here
On LinkedIn
On YouTube
On Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Robbie's 100 podcast episode challenge
 
Resources Mentioned:
Episode 78: It's All About Relationships with Travis L. Scott
James Clear on Warren Buffett blog
Robert Holden
Jennifer Garvey Berger
Stephen Pressfield The War of Art
Liz Gilbert Big Magic
Roger Bannister on Seth Godin blog
The Burnout Fix Dr Jacinta Jimenez
 

#120 Reconnecting - Sam Allen

"Gradually I was shrinking, because this is such a big thing in me. So my process was, during that time, reconnecting to that creativity and taking seriously that need in me." Sam Allen
 
Sam Allen provides an insight into how creativity can be used for healing and inspiration. She explains how she reconnected with her own creativity during a particularly tough period of her life. Sam writes poetry about topics such as truth, freedom, pleasure, self-love, and love. Her poems can be deep and meaningful as well as light-hearted. We talk about leadership and not taking ourselves too seriously. We discuss the importance of looking outside and connecting with nature to gain perspective and resilience. And we chat about the idea of simplicity and gratitude when it comes to finding joy in life. 
 
Sam Allen is a Creative Leadership Coach, Trainer, Podcaster and Poet and Co-founder of DynamiX Leadership. She designs and leads tailored leadership programmes for global organisations and is particularly passionate about female empowerment. Throughout her career Sam has empowered individuals to write books, make life-affirming career changes, overcome anxiety and to take giant leaps towards heightened self-realisation, increased authentic leadership presence and spiritual growth. A blogger and a jogger, Sam lives and breathes her own creativity and in turn inspires others to do the same. She writes poetry in nature on a daily basis ever since losing her incredible Father to pancreatic cancer and loves helping her clients to express and heal through creative expression.
 
Connect with Sam
Through her website
Through her LinkedIn profile 
Through her Insight Timer profile 
On Facebook
Email: samallencoachingcreatively@gmail.com
 
Resources Mentioned
Follow these links to purchase a copy of The Wild, Feminine SpiritUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BJBYXBDCUS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJBYXBDCGERMANY: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0BJBYXBDCFRANCE: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0BJBYXBDCCANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BJBYXBDCAUSTRALIA: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BJBYXBDC
 
Untaming Femininity Podcast

#119 Serial Entrepreneur - Kevin Ashley (From the Archives)

"Within the first year of the aviation business is when we started doing the coffee business. So I was suddenly involved and being the executive director of the aviation business and the executive chairman of the coffee shop business at the same time. So I was suddenly the serial entrepreneur, it was crazy." Kevin Ashley
 
Kevin Ashley is one of the founders of Java House, an East African coffee house and diner. He attributes his success to staying flexible and having a passionate purpose beyond just getting money. We talk about the early days of Java House including how they got to the first 10 branches in the first 10 years. We also cover the further growth and diversification to eventual buy-out by private equity firms. Kevin says that building Java House was really a people story - one about purpose and dignity at work. People might think work is just about showing up. But at Java they instilled in staff that while they were at work they were actually there to serve something bigger than themselves. Kevin believes that dignity of work and a sense of purpose is the key for the future of humanity to have a functioning society.
 
Kevin Ashley is a serial entrepreneur. His early career was as a humanitarian worker with World Food Program and Christian Aid. In the 90s he co-founded an aviation business, 748, and then  a coffee house Java House. Java House, commonly referred to as ‘Nairobi Java’, opened its first store in 1999 at Adam’s Arcade in Nairobi with the aim of introducing gourmet coffee drinking culture in Kenya. The brand evolved to an American diner style restaurant. There are also two sister brands Planet Yoghurt and 360 Degrees Pizza.
 
Please note that this episode was originally released as episode #32 in March 2021. In the introduction to this episode I provide an update that has had an impact on the podcast schedule. 
 
 

#118 Happiness with Sashenka Milston

"Happiness is enjoying that journey. Carving out that 15 minutes of pleasure. Happiness then increases our performance and our achievement and makes it easier to achieve success." Sashenka Milston
 
Sashenka Milston and I discuss happiness and how we can achieve it. She explains that the research shows that it's not actually how much time you have it's what you do with it that matters to your happiness. What counts is whether we spend the time passively or on personally enriching experiences. Can we be happy at work? And what about stress? Sash talks about different types of stress. We explore the benefits of immersing ourselves in nature and Sash offers insightful tips on how to connect with nature, even without leaving the office, as well as practical exercises to ground yourself and reduce stress. 
 
Sashenka Milston helps leaders and their teams gain a greater sense of purpose and control over their lives and workflow. Sashenka has a PhD in Psychology (Social Neuroscience) and her work is grounded in evidence-based, practical techniques. Outcomes include increased happiness and well-being, productivity, and customer happiness, whilst reducing stress and employee turnover. She guest lectures at the Oxford Brookes Business School. She is a published author and  Happiness Through Goal Setting is short, practical, and based on empirical evidence. 
 
Connect with Sashenka:
On LinkedIn and Twitter
Through her website
 
Resources Mentioned:
Kelly McGonigal "Make Stress Your Friend" TED talk 
Happiness Through Goal Setting: A Practical Guide to Reflect on and Change the Reasons Why You Pursue Your Most Important Goals in Life by Christian Ehrlich and Sashenka Milston