Cultivating Professional Curiosity

Early in my career, I faced a moment many of us dread: A sudden, unexpected company reorganization. It seemed like overnight ➟ my role ➟ my team ➟ my daily tasks were all up in the air. I remember the anxiety. The flurry of rumors. The uncertainty. They clouded my thoughts about the future. But it was in this chaos that I found clarity. I realized that change, though daunting, also brings opportunities for growth. I wrote an article on this for Harvard Business Review. Here are 5 actions you can take when your professional life is unpredictable: 1. Embrace the Uncertainty Use periods of change as a catalyst for introspection. Reflect on what truly matters to you and your future. 2. Define Your Identity Think about who you need to be... Not just what you need to do. 3. Focus on the Process Establish and commit to positive career behaviors. It gives you a sense of control and leads to results. Examples: • Contribute in each team meeting • Expand your network every week  • Offer a strategic idea to leadership monthly • Take on a stretch opportunity once a quarter • Thank a coworker for something helpful every day 4. Cultivate Learning Agility Be ready to adapt. Stay curious. Embrace new ideas. This mindset isn't just to survive; it helps you thrive. 5. Ask for and Act on Feedback Regularly seek feedback. Take time to reflect on it. It's crucial to know where you're growing. And where you need to improve. Change can be scary. But it's also a chance to reset. To pivot. You may discover new paths you hadn't noticed before. Remember... It's not the strongest or most intelligent who survive. It's those who can best manage change. Lean into the uncertainty. Use it as a stepping stone. Build a career that's not just successful, but also aligned with who you truly are. Find this valuable? Repost ♻️ to share with others.  Thank you! P.S. What keeps you going when things get uncertain?

Embracing Lifelong Learning in a Fast-Changing World Yesterday, a close friend reached out to me, expressing his concerns about staying relevant in his rapidly evolving industry. It dawned on him that skills he spent nearly a decade acquiring can now be mastered by fresh graduates in a matter of months. He shared his surprise at newer training models he hadn't even heard of, which are enabling these young professionals to earn $5k-$7k monthly, with one person at $16k in Ghana while working remotely for international companies. Motivated by this realization, he's made a resolute decision to return to school.😀 It's a wake-up call to all of us. In a world hurtling towards unknown destinations, we may wake up one day only to find our education and hard-earned skills no longer relevant. The pace of change can be so swift that you could embark on a course of study today and it may be outdated by the time you complete it—especially true in the IT space. So, how can we navigate these ever-changing phases and ensure our professional growth remains aligned with the world around us? • Embrace a lifelong learning mindset that extends beyond formal education. • Cultivate curiosity and seek out new knowledge and skills. • Stay abreast of industry trends through blogs, podcasts, and professional networks. • Foster a diverse network of professionals to exchange insights and ideas. • Develop adaptable and transferable skills that transcend specific industries. • Leverage technology to enhance productivity and stay ahead of the curve. • Prioritize personal growth, resilience, and emotional intelligence. • Remain agile and adaptable, embracing change as an opportunity for growth. Remember, the journey of learning and growth is continuous. By proactively investing in ourselves and embracing the challenges of this fast-paced era, we can thrive and stay relevant amidst the ever-changing tides. Let's rise to the occasion together and create a future where our skills and knowledge are always in tune with the world around us! #LifelongLearning #ProfessionalGrowth #Adaptability #FutureSkills

Without realizing it, we more than often bring a fixed mindset to any given problem. This can block us from seeing creative solutions problems or unlocking unforeseen opportunities. We end up in a cycle of iteration vs. innovation. 🌀🕯️💡 Start by embracing a growth mindset. 🧠 A growth mindset, proposed by @Stanford professor Carol Dweck in her book Mindset, describes those who believe that their success depends on time and effort. People with a growth mindset feel their skills and intelligence can be improved with effort and persistence. Then also practice a beginner's mind (Shoshin, 初心). 🌈 Having a beginner's mind means you approach the world through a beginner's eyes. You set aside your expert's mind in favor of seeing things differently, with childlike wonder. 🤩 A beginner's mind is… -Open to new experiences and perspectives. -Always curious and ready to learn. -Mindful and present in the moment (you show up differently) -Ready to let go of expectations, assumptions, and judgments that block growth. -Open to embracing change. -Humble, able to accept mistakes and see failures as opportunities. -Brave, set to take steps outside your comfort zone. “If your mind is empty … it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki 1. Set aside current experiences, case studies, and playbooks. You can't do new things if you approach them as you always do. Let go of the word 'should' and replace it with 'what if' and 'why not'. Be open to surprises. 2. Take inspiration from children. Be open to wonder and amazement. 3. Practice creativity as part of your everyday routines. 4. Slooooooow down. 5. Be curious. Ask questions as if everything is new. 6. Be optimistic. It's easy to find problems and make excuses. 7. Leave your ego behind. As my friend @ryanholiday says, "ego is the enemy." 8. Invite new voices to the table, regardless of role. Be inclusive. Be open. Create a safe space for everyone. 9. Be ready to make mistakes and even fail. If you don't fail, you're not trying anything new. Keep going. 10. Stay curious! 🙌 #creativity #innovation #leadership #growthmindset #leadershipmindset #beginnersmind

Think creativity is just for artists? Think again! Creativity is your secret weapon for success. Despite the rise of quantitative data-driven strategies, there's a resurgence in valuing creativity for its significant impact on business outcomes. This shift shows that creativity extends beyond generating novel ideas. Instead, it focuses on nurturing a culture where these ideas catalyze tangible success. Everyone has inherent creative potential that can significantly influence their professional life and organizational success. Here’s how you can activate yours: 1. Ask Different Questions:  Enhance your creative thinking by mastering the art of "question storming," which involves framing questions in order to examine issues from multiple angles. 2. Look Through a New Lens:  Broaden your perspective by engaging with unfamiliar subjects through courses, podcasts, conversations or seminars in different industries. 3. Design Constraints:  Use constraints as a tool to sharpen focus and drive innovative solutions, leveraging the functional, social, and emotional aspects of problems. 4. Treat Yourself:  Establish rewards for creative efforts to create a positive feedback loop that encourages ongoing creativity. Building creative thinking has to be intentional and you must be patient with yourself in order to develop it over time. Most importantly, have fun with the process! #CreativeThinking #BusinessInnovation #CareerDevelopment #WorkplaceCreativity https://lnkd.in/e9xsDtCB

The power of relationships can be a multiplier in life... and your career is no exception. Who you know often trumps what you know... and at the executive level, fit-and-finish (as it's referred to amongst headhunters) quite often tips the scale over an above pedigree. So, how do you become better at building relationships? Not just transactionally connecting and networking, but truly building the bonds of trust and going an "inch wide, mile deep" with another human. Curiosity is the true superpower here. While I believe it's more innate from some than others... I also believe we ALL have the ability to build the muscle. One simple shift to start is the move from agreement to insight. Try this in your next few conversations... when you find yourself responding to what someone else says with "I agree," "I disagree," or the equivalent... Slow down and get curious. Instead, maybe ask... "That's an interesting take. I'm curious, have you always looked at things that way?" "That's a powerful perspective. Do you ever find you get friction when you..." Get creative here. Have fun! This is less about having a canned response than it is to slow down in the moment and ask a deeper question. You'll not only be amazed by what you learn but how it sets the conditions for a deeper with another human being. #relationshipbuilding #executivecoaching #insights

Serendipity. There's a word that doesn't get used much. We typically think more in terms of chance, fate, destiny, or even karma. But serendipity has a more positive spin than those other terms. Serendipity refers to the occurrence of valuable or unexpected discoveries by chance or accident. It often involves stumbling upon something positive or beneficial while looking for something else or when not actively seeking it. Serendipity plays a significant role in our daily lives, influencing our experiences, opportunities, and personal growth. Here's something to think about: how much did serendipity play a role in your current career? Are you doing what you set out to do? Or did circumstances come together and bring you here, with you as a willing participant? For most of us - me included - serendipity had a much greater role in our lives and careers than we would have guessed. There's a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time. But along with that we need to bring our curiosity and be willing to see the possibilities if we want to continue to grow. What's even more interesting to me is how hard we will work to protect something that happened by chance. Perhaps instead of fighting to keep what is no longer working we should adjust our mindset and open ourselves to new possibilities. In other words, actively invite serendipity and allow it to take us on a new journey. How does one invite serendipity? Here are some ideas: 1. Stay Open-Minded: Approach life with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. 2. Embrace Curiosity: Cultivate curiosity about the world. Ask questions, explore new places, and engage in activities that encourage exploration. Curiosity creates an environment where serendipity is more likely to occur. 3. Seek Diverse Experiences: Engage in a variety of activities, meet new people, and expose yourself to different environments. 4. Connect with Others: Engage in conversations and interactions with people from various backgrounds. Meaningful connections can lead to unexpected opportunities and collaborations. 5. Embrace Uncertainty: Understand that life is inherently uncertain, and serendipity is a natural part of that uncertainty. Embrace the unexpected as a source of growth and learning. Serendipity adds an element of surprise and wonder to our lives. By remaining open to unexpected experiences and finding ways to integrate them into our journey, we can harness the potential of serendipity to enhance our personal and professional growth. When you're ready to re-open the door to serendipity in your life, let's talk. #findyourpath #worklifeharmony #careerchange #serendipity

My Ikigai Journey: Empowering Women of Color ➡️ Personal Transparency Alert! In 2021, I embarked on a mission—a mission that would ignite my soul, challenge my limits, and redefine my purpose. Little did I know that this journey would lead me to discover my IKIGAI—my reason for being. 1️⃣ The Spark: Back then, I was a seasoned Global Sales Executive. My days were a whirlwind of quotas, client meetings, and spreadsheets. But beneath the polished exterior, a fire burned within me. I yearned for more—for impact beyond the boardroom, for a legacy that transcended sales targets. 2️⃣ The Awakening: Enter IKIGAI. A Japanese concept that blends passion, mission, profession, and vocation into a cosmic dance. It whispered to me: "Find what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and what you're damn good at." 3️⃣ The Quest: I dove headfirst. I coached, trained, and championed Women of Color. Their stories became my fuel. The barriers they faced—the glass ceilings, the coded language—they fueled my resolve. I realized that my passion wasn't just about sales; it was about empowerment. 4️⃣ The Intersection: And there it was, in the heart of the Venn diagram: - Passion: Coaching, training, lifting others. - Mission: Empowering 1 million Women of Color by 2030. - Profession: Salesforce and LinkedIn Sales Solutions recognized me three years in a row as a sales influencer; Selling Power magazine recognized me as a top sales trainer; - Vocation: Coaching—my superpower. 5️⃣ The Ripple Effect: As I walked this path, I saw ripples. Women rising. Voices amplifying. C-Suites diversifying. My ikigai wasn't just mine; it was a collective force. And it felt damn good. ➡️ Now, My Call to You: Map Your ikigai - Reflect on what sets your heart ablaze. - Ask: What does the world hunger for? - Unearth your skills—the ones that flow effortlessly. - Find where they converge. There lies your ikigai. Let's Ignite: Tag someone who needs this nudge. Share your journey. Let's create a world where passion meets purpose, where Women of Color thrive, and where our voices echo through the halls of power. #Ikigai #Empowerment #1MillionWomenby2030 #Sales P.S.: My ikigai? It's you—the women I empower, the stories we rewrite, and the legacy we craft. --- ➡️ Note: This post is personal, raw, and unfiltered. Because authenticity is my superpower. Share your ikigai journey in the comments!

What is passion and how does one build it in others? Yesterday, I started a series regarding the energy a senior leader can bring to a team. But the focus of this series is on creating the traits that inspire ourselves and others. One of these traits is Passion. When it comes to building passion (rather than waiting for it to magically appear), it takes intentional exploration, reflection, and reinforcement. Here are six actionable activities I recommend to help individuals develop authentic passion: 1. Meaning. Finding the purpose behind the mission can be one of the most challenging aspects of breeding passion. Entrepreneurs are deeply rooted in purpose, while others focus on tasks Encourage your people to explore what problems they genuinely care about solving. Have them answer two questions: - What frustrates you most in the world and your job? - If money weren’t a concern, what would you spend your time fixing? This drives passionate thoughts around purpose over tasks every day. 2. Experiences. Exposure to new experiences breeds passion. Encourage cross-functional projects, stretching into new roles, and attending industry events outside of comfort zones. New exposure often lights a fire. 3. Surround. Exposure to others also breeds passion. Break through siloes (don't tear them down) and encourage engagement across the company. Being stuck in one job and working with the same team day-in and day-out, drives a narrow focus on task management. 4. Curiosity. One of the most powerful traits of a leader is their questioning of why. When your employees only concern themselves with what, they just want to be led. Promote environments that value learning and experimentation. Passion is often sparked when curiosity is allowed to flourish without fear of failure. 5. Storytelling. Yesterday, I was telling Joe Boyd that the power of stories can explain strategy, drive alignment, influence stakeholders, and lead with clarity. Teach your employees to tell these stories: why they selected this path, why their work matters, and why they stayed at it during tough times. Storytelling activates emotional connection and can reignite passion from within. 6. The Journey. A regular practice of reflecting on daily work and identifying what felt meaningful helps individuals tune in to sources of motivation and passion they might otherwise overlook. Allow time each week to reflect on the past week, month, quarter, and year. . Building passion is not about fireworks ... it's a slow-burning flame fed by intention, immersion, action, and reflection. With the right coachsulting structure behind them, even the most disengaged professionals can reconnect with what makes their work matter. How would you rate your passion and the passion of those around you? ….. Follow me if you enjoy discussing business and success daily. Click on the double notification bell 🔔 to be informed when I post. #betheeagle

How can curiosity help you grow in your career and personal influence? Curiosity only becomes power when it’s backed by proactive research and consistent preparation. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about building just enough of a foundation to ask the right question — the one that moves the conversation forward. Last week, SXSW Sydney shared a clip of my analysis — and it’s a message I’ve seen play out in boardrooms, startups, and leadership teams around the world. 💡 One practice I recommend: each week, pick one business challenge or emerging trend you don’t fully understand. Identify two trusted sources — it could be a podcast episode, a research report, or a colleague. Set aside 30 focused minutes for a deep dive, free from distractions. Then write down three questions or ideas that came from your learning, and bring those to your next team meeting or client call. This turns curiosity into deliberate action, helping you contribute meaningfully when it matters most. 📌 It’s not about who speaks first. It’s about who’s already ready. I believe that the people shaping the future aren’t waiting to be invited into the conversation. They’re preparing for it — long before it starts. Because by the time the meeting is called, by the time the opportunity shows up, it’s too late to start learning. What are you preparing for right now — before anyone asks? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! #Leadership #SXSWSydney