Articles
Why the media likes to suck lulu-lemons...
The media never misses an opportunity to poke gentle fun at Lululemon’s yin/yang balance of brand (eastern philosophy and enviro-consciousness) and business acumen (P&L statements and aggressive growth targets). Articles regularly abound with headers such as “Zen and the Art of Retailing.”Some find the company pretentious and overpriced; others feel it’s a welcome antidote to the proliferation of big box suburban sprawl in cities like Toronto. But no one can deny they reached the right niche at the right time.
In an April 13 Globe & Mail profile of Chip Wilson, the founder and past-CEO offered a few interesting nuggets about his decision to hand over the reins of the company but remain as their “Chief Idea Officer”:
“Once an entrepreneur gets hold of how wonderful it is to be good at what they're good at - and let someone else do what they're not good at - that's when life gets really fun.”
Chip sees the value in focusing your life on what inspires you wherever possible—this is advice we’d all do well to take.
PS - He sponsors run in Vancouver in support of a children's hospital called "Chip's not dead yet". Rationale? "I don't want to wait until two minutes before I die to be excited about my life. I found that by envisioning my death, it has got me more excited about living right now."
Getting excited about life NOW? I'll say it again...this is advice we'd all do well to take.
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Thinking and smiling...and smiling and thinking
I have a dear friend…he knows lots of things about a lot of things. And when he tells me to look at something, it’s always worthwhile. It may make me smile, it may make me think. It may make me think AND smile. I received this attachment when I arrived home after a long and interesting day in a conference about “change management”. Top-line learnings of the conference…an affirmation that we are expected to work better, faster, harder, smarter, for less of everything because that’s just the sign o’ the times. And what about the satisfaction of a job well done? Well, it seems that nowadays your project gets yanked off your plate before you can even complete it because, you guessed it, mandates have changed. Yoink. So that simple pleasure’s gone too. There are ways to work within the constructs of change…and yes, outcomes can be very positive…but bottom line…change can be hard.
I watched this and smile I did…for four minutes. So I smiled…then I thought…who might have done this and why? I’ll tell you this…I don’t know WHY they did THIS particular stunt (as a means to sell), but can only guess that they THOUGHT people could use a smile. And they’d be right…oh so very right.
And what better way to make people smile but to pipe in the beloved Sound of Music…with some kind of Spike Jonze inspired-Macarena and I *think* grapevine thrown in (but it’s been a while since I’ve broken out into dance in a busy train station so my dance move terminology may be off).
The last bit of thinking I care to do today is to challenge myself to answer this question…"what have I done to make someone smile…simply for the joy of making them smile”. Sounds like a fun think to ponder as I drift off to sleep.
Thank you for the smile, Central Station Antwerp people, whatever your intentions may have been…and to my friend for sharing it.
Check out my free training on the 5 Shifts Our Clients Use to Overcome the Imposter Complex and Grow their Income and their Impact
Where I pull back the curtain on five shifts to start raising voices, rates, and hands all while being the kind, congruent, and authentic leader I know you to be.
Ray Zahab...inspiration incarnate
It’s been oft-quoted that Lao Tzu said “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” What’s the first step in a 1,100 km trek in Antarctica? But now I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s go even further back… what’s the first step if you’re a pack-a-day smoker, 30 and generally feeling sluggish and like you’re missing out? For Ray Zahab…the step was asking himself if this was really what his life was all about. And his answer to himself? “No. There’s more…much more…I’m just not sure what”.
In the relatively short span of 10 years, Ray overhauled his entire life. He made the decision to butt out (a feat in and of itself), adopt a healthier lifestyle, and get active. An enjoyment of hiking and mountain biking eventually (and unbelievably) led him to ultra-marathoning in the Canadian north and the Amazon jungle. Pushing the envelope even further, Ray and two other ultra-runners made history in 2007 by running 4,300 miles across the entire Sahara Desert.
By this time, he wasn’t facing the challenge of extreme sport only for his own satisfaction. Using the profile of his success for a greater good, Ray and two others accomplished the trek which in turn raised awareness of clean-water initiatives in Africa. You may remember it…it was the subject of the Matt Damon-narrated Running the Sahara. In January, Ray completed the South Pole Quest to raise awareness about climate change. Antarctica. Really and truly.
I am fascinated by people who make changes in their lives…at the core of the Board of Your Life philosophy is that, deep down inside, everyone has the tools to initiate change and become their best self. They need only find ways to identify and use those tools. Ray is an extreme embodiment of that…and upon learning about this incredibly cool man, I reached out to him to talk about his feats. He generously agreed to speak to me…told you he was cool.
Here are some of the highlights on our talk about his thoughts on motivation and inspiration…two of my very favourite topics. Ray on the “Stuck” Mindset—and how Mindsets can Change
With the changes in the world and the internet connecting people on a global scale, we’re now more aware that we only have one life to live and we have to take advantage of it. We have more diverse perspectives on the world which makes it easier to see that we have to make the most of every day we’re here. I think perhaps people look at their lives more introspectively than they used to—people get to 40 or 50 and think there’s got to be more to life.
Ray on his own Change
I needed something symbolic to happen in order to turn my life around. I butted out my last cigarette on New Year’s Eve in 1999. The next day i felt subtly different—nothing had really changed except that I had made a big decision, but the new mindset was definitely there. The commitment I made to myself was more important than the actual act of quitting smoking. I told myself I’d do the very best I could moving forward, and there was no looking back from there.
Once I started getting in shape, I spent the next three years doing mountain bike races, but I couldn’t understand why anyone wanted to run. I ran about five times between 2000 and 2003, but it never really took.
Then one day I was reading about ultra-marathoners and a race in the Yukon that was 100 miles nonstop—the fact that these people were running four times the distance of a marathon…I couldn’t believe it. How did they get past the emotional and physical barriers? There was a photo of one guy pulling the sled with all the supplies, looking so happy for his accomplishment, but what struck me was that he looked like a normal guy. It was like he was speaking to me from the page of the magazine. I decided then that I had to do this.
I was in shape from three years of biking but I bought a cheap sled at WalMart and started training.
Ray on Facing Significant Challenge
I went to the Yukon and thought that everyone at the start line looked more athletic, more able than me. Of course it was extremely difficult to continue on through the pain and the cold, and about halfway through I almost quit. I remember thinking in the middle of the night “how do I get out of this?” and I realized that it was the old Ray thinking; I was trying to find an excuse to get out of the commitment I made to myself.
I remembered the phrase “what are you made of?” and was driven by the fact that the race wasn’t about finishing; it was about being true to myself. I got up and started walking, soon I was running, and it was 20 kilometres down the trial, then 40, then 80. At the finish line I could hardly believe I made it, and I was still running at a good clip. I felt better than I’d ever felt in my life, and this was at the end of 160 kilometres. It was the first running race I had ever done.
The organizer came out and couldn’t believe I finished, but then he blew me away when he told me that I had won! It was so incredible a feeling—your highest high but without substance abuse. I decided that day that I was going to go around the world and do all of these races and test myself in the process.
Ray on Finding a Higher Purpose
When I was racing across the Sahara in 2004, I met nomads in the desert and this little girl asked for my water bottle. I thought she wanted it as a toy, but she was actually excited just to have the little bit of water that was left. This affected me for a long time but I remembered it acutely when word came that Matt Damon was interested in making a documentary film of our journey in northern Africa. He’s passionate about the water crisis there, but I hadn’t realized how serious the issue is, along with malaria and poverty.
At the end of the Sahara trip I realized I had to do something to make a difference in the lives of children. When I got to the Red Sea, I realized we’re all capable of doing extraordinary things. It’s a true belief that we can do anything we set our minds to- and a will to work incredibly hard to make things happen. The biggest changes we make in life are the positive ones. In some cases it’s a lot easier to be unhappy than happy on a given day. I don’t believe people are negative by nature, but some have to start by making the effort to be happy in their day to day lives, and they can make that change with hard work—but before long it shouldn’t feel like work anymore. I once was unhappy too- but now feel like the happiest guy in the world!
Through all of this, my life has got to a point where it’s all about inspiring change in young people.
Ray on Getting Started with Making Change
Fear holds people back—not fear of monsters or spiders, but fear of change. It’s a scary place to go. To be “comfortably uncomfortable” is very normal. At one point I analyzed my day that way and realized that I was doing exactly the same things in the same way every day. If you challenge people to change their routine, they are skeptical at first. “How will this impact me? Will I be late for work in the morning if I don’t follow my series of steps once I get out of bed?”
People need to see cause and effect—we need to see or know that something is going to work. But that’s the beauty of the unknown, the uncertain but positive future. The best things in life are the ones we have to really reach for. People have to let go of the insurance policy of their everyday lives and take a risk. This was my thinking: I’ve got one shot in life; I can keep going the way I am, or take a risk. There is no easing into things—there is try or don’t try and that’s the bottom line.
Through his many speaking engagements and his organization, Impossible2Possible, Ray inspires youth to reach beyond their perceived limits. He and his wife are currently looking to develop camps for at-risk youth, including a new one in San Bernadino, California for kids in southeast L.A. Attendees will learn to realize their best selves and get an education on environmental concerns at the same time. I encourage everyone to check out Ray’s websites to learn more about his journey.
And if anyone out there can connect him with some great corporate sponsors to support his programs, drop him a line.
Speaking with Ray was truly inspiring. In a really weird and scary way, I’m still kind of walking around in circles asking myself what else there is for me. I’m doing what I love…but what’s still there? What is now possible that heretofore seemed impossible? For me, a desert-length of possibilities, to be sure.
How about you?
Check out my free training on the 5 Shifts Our Clients Use to Overcome the Imposter Complex and Grow their Income and their Impact
Where I pull back the curtain on five shifts to start raising voices, rates, and hands all while being the kind, congruent, and authentic leader I know you to be.
My friend, the metal clay artist
Heather Bell Denison is a brave woman. She is mother of two boys, is a trained Occupational Therapist and is a funny, funny woman. When she told me two years ago that she was leaving the comforts of her profession to become a potter, I gulped, smiled bravely for her and wished her the very best of luck. I felt a tinge of exhilaration for her…but then turned my thoughts elsewhere.
I didn’t think much of it again until I saw her at a community event…she was selling the most amazing, unique and quirky pieces of fine silver jewellery I had ever seen (including a 3D house pendant…proceeds going to a local women’s shelter). We talked and talked…and as much as she had ENJOYED the clay work, she didn’t LOVE it…until she figured out a way to work in silver the way she worked in clay…in a relatively new medium called precious metal clay. Eureka! She is a happy happy woman. And now the world cares. The world cares about people who have spark. I have zero “physical/scientific” proof of that…but it just seems right.
Heather is part of the community of inspiration that helped me to switch direction and launch my business - Board of Your Life. As such, it seemed only natural that she be the one to create a pendant for me of my logo. I give this pendant to my program alumni.
The intention of the gift is for them to be physically reminded of the brave step they took towards getting to their best selves. Not a NEW self, but their TRUE self. Which is their BEST self. (Cuff links are in the works!) The logo is also intended to be a reminder that we can always come full circle back to ourselves…that we ARE everything that we need.
It is my (admittedly lofty) hope that everyone everywhere finds and takes the opportunity to take their own life’s pulse…to ask themselves if they are being their BEST selves and living their BEST life.
With or without my pendant around their necks.
Check out my free training on the 5 Shifts Our Clients Use to Overcome the Imposter Complex and Grow their Income and their Impact
Where I pull back the curtain on five shifts to start raising voices, rates, and hands all while being the kind, congruent, and authentic leader I know you to be.
The Yoga Confidence
This morning, the family took a little trip to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to check out the Yoga Conference, or as our daughter kept calling it...”the yoga confidence”. My husband took in a demonstration, my daughter and I bought as much stuff as we could hook or strap on to her stroller and it was generally a very fun outing.
We enjoyed the phrase “the yoga confidence” as merely a cute mispronunciation of a 5-year old…but then I really started to see the true parallels. The way I see it, yoga ought to be less about our butts looking cute in luon and much more about challenging ourselves physically and mentally…and building confidence along the way. I personally struggle the most with the calming of my mind and stilling thoughts. The Sanskrit phrase "yogas citta vritti nirodhah" translates as "Yoga begins when thinking stops”. I’ve been working hard on this…really hard…probably harder than is yogically acceptable.
Arm balances still also kick my sorry behind, so to this end, we’re going back tomorrow to take in a 2-hour clinic on twists, back bends, arm balances and inversions. If I survive it, and actually get even close to doing a headstand, you’ll see me wandering the conference aisles lit up with the glow that only genuine confidence can bring.
Check out my free training on the 5 Shifts Our Clients Use to Overcome the Imposter Complex and Grow their Income and their Impact
Where I pull back the curtain on five shifts to start raising voices, rates, and hands all while being the kind, congruent, and authentic leader I know you to be.
When bad people do bad things…
About a month ago I was enjoying a lovely lunch with a lovely friend. I came out to my lovely 6-month old parked car, only to find a not so lovely gouge out of my rear taillight and left bumper. Lovelily (sp?) there was a note from a Good Samaritan (henceforth to be referred to as GS). I will paraphrase here, but it generally said a van smashed into my car, paused for a nanosecond (long enough for GS to get down the license plate number), the driver then cackled and rubbed his hands fiendishly (ok…that could be my interpretation) and sped off. Rather than elaborating on the minutiae of the steps that I/we had to take to get to this point (one month later) with fixed car, I’ll bullet point here:
Trying to find the right person to talk to find out what to do now – 1 hour
Reporting to the vehicle collision reporting centre – 2 hours
Taking car in for estimate – 1 hour
On phone with insurance company to find out that if they don’t catch the guy, they’ll pay the $3000 in damages, but we’re on the hook for $500 deductible – 1 hour
Taking car in for repair and working out rental car – 2 hours
Time complaining aloud about the rental car we were given (I’ll not brand slag here…not my style…but suffice it to say, we dubbed it the “Crapnica”) – countless
Picking up happy new car – 1 hour
So…that was all the petty, annoying stuff. Here’s the good part. The day that we were to pick up our car, we got a call from the insurance company…they found the guy. I am by no means a punitive person…BUT after having gone through close to 8 hours of time to resolve the issue and the hassles therein, I would have been beside myself if we had to be out of pocket $500 as well.
And here’s the silly part. As NON-punitive as I am, I would have happily worked something out with the guy if he had have left the note himself, owned up to it and done the right thing. Now…hours of police/insurance tracking time have lead them to him and he’ll face some charges, impact his record and insurance AND be out of pocket. Not cool.
The moral for me…be like GS, and always do the right thing. Good guys win, bad guys don’t. And the reality is…if you do something wrong, you’ll likely get busted…and the punishment is always so much worse at that point.
I’m also aware that GS really didn’t need to bother…many wouldn’t have…perhaps even me given the situation. But I will now…so thank you for that lesson, GS. Am trying to pay it forward.
Now if only we could track down the charming originator of the virus that crippled my computer for the last 5 days…
Check out my free training on the 5 Shifts Our Clients Use to Overcome the Imposter Complex and Grow their Income and their Impact
Where I pull back the curtain on five shifts to start raising voices, rates, and hands all while being the kind, congruent, and authentic leader I know you to be.