PAUSE…take a break

Stay True to Yourself. Stay Inspired. Keep Learning.

In this month's PAUSE newsletter, I’m delving into the profound impact of having the privilege of time to pause on our overall well-being and that of our family, friends, organizations and communities. This exploration will shed light on the importance of taking a pause in our fast-paced lives.

When I was a young mom, I had the privilege of working very part-time. This allowed me to be home with our two sons. Over the years, I have mindfully looked back at those days some 30-plus years now. While I was grateful for having the opportunity to be the primary caregiver and homemaker, I admit there were many moments when I felt cheated. As a trained and licensed professional and a mother and wife, I often found myself at a crossroads. Should I pursue my professional career full-time? Should I remain a part-time employed professional and a full-time mother and wife?

I would look forward to winter and summer breaks from school. This is when I would not only get to spend more time with our sons, but I had more time to pause and reflect.

One summer, I came across an article in Today’s Parent, a magazine I used to subscribe to back then. There was a powerful article about women who were now in their 50s rediscovering themselves. Rediscovering the dreams that were put on hold to raise children. The quiet promises they had made to themselves pre-children.

The article shared how these women were now, many years later, building successful careers and loving it! I clipped out that article (this was before the prevalence of cell phones) and added it to my vision board. I promised myself that I would be like those women when I was in my 50s.

For about fifteen years, I would wake up and see that article. During the lull of the summer months, I would spend more time journalling about my dreams and aspirations or spending time quietly thinking about my dreams.

Fast forward to today, I am happy to say I have upgraded my vision board multiple times because I have fulfilled each dream item. I love this stage of my career deeply, and this newsletter and podcast are two dreams that have been reawakened.

I invite you to come on this journey of pausing with me as I revisit one of our previous guests' journeys from childhood to leadership, sharing stories and insights that resonate with us all. Whether you are in your 20s, 30s, 40s or more, this journey we are about to embark upon is designed to help you stay true to yourself. Stay inspired. Keep learning.

PERSON: Stay True to Yourself.

Revisiting CEO of Career Trek, Rhonda Taylor

In this episode, we had the privilege of chatting with Rhonda Taylor, an incredibly dedicated individual who has devoted the past two decades to making a difference in the not-for-profit sector. From her early days volunteering to her current role as CEO of Career Trek, Rhonda's passion for social justice shines through in all she does.

We dived into her personal journey and upbringing, uncovering how it has fueled her commitment to supporting individuals and communities, engaging in truth and reconciliation processes, and advocating for youth facing racialized barriers. Rhonda's insights on navigating between optimism and acknowledging systemic challenges were truly eye-opening.

We also got a glimpse into the exciting future initiatives and developments of Career Trek. Tune in to hear Rhonda's inspiring story and the impactful work she continues to lead.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

ASK OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS: Stay Inspired and Keep Learning.

Revisiting Getting Righted?

During our interview with Rhonda, one statement particularly caught our attention: "After I got myself righted…"

This statement sparked a moment of PAUSE because Rhonda's insight sheds light on the significance of being "righted" before delving into complex and challenging topics.

It underscores the importance of pausing long enough to see the many people, perspectives, and impacts that shape our lives and the lives of so many other people.

To truly address issues and foster healthy dialogue, we must practice pausing and understand the context + have the necessary knowledge to contribute meaningfully.

In light of Rhonda's perspective, we invite you to reflect:

What practices do you have in place to ensure you’re righted on difficult topics before engaging in discussions or taking action on important issues?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

UNDERSCORE YOUR VALUES: Stay True to Yourself. Keep Learning.

Performative vs Transformative Work

In the journey towards creating truly transformative work environments, the distinction between performative and transformative actions becomes crucial.

As we know, performative actions often prioritize optics over impact, leading to superficial changes that fail to address underlying issues.

In contrast, transformative work involves PAUSING to ensure alignment with values and intentions.

This alignment allows us to delve deeper, challenging the status quo and foster meaningful change in people, practices, relationships, and communities.

This depth of reflection and alignment is essential for creating workplaces where equity-seeking groups feel safe and valued, where authenticity is encouraged, and where everyone can thrive.

To support organizations on their journey towards readiness for more inclusive workplaces, we invite you to join our upcoming FREE webinar, "Getting Ready for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in Workplaces."

This complimentary webinar introduces you to the ISO 30415:2021 HR and D&I Standard and the DISM Maturity Levels methodology, a set of ongoing processes to integrate DEI into an organization's structure. These globally recognized guidelines, recommendations, and methodologies are designed to help organizations systematically recognize and leverage DEI while reducing their risks of not being DEI-Ready.

Join us on the second Wednesday of each month starting September 11, 2024, from 12:00 noon to 12:45 p.m. CST.

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SEEK DEEP UNDERSTANDING

Revisiting a novel worth considering

With both of our last two guests mentioning "Braiding Sweetgrass" as one of the most influential books in their lifetimes, it's clear that this text holds profound significance in our discussions on upbringing, community influence, and leadership.

"Braiding Sweetgrass" offers invaluable insights into our relationship with the natural world and how it shapes our understanding of ourselves and our communities.

The book emphasizes the interconnectedness between humans and nature through the lens of Indigenous wisdom and ecological knowledge, highlighting the importance of reciprocity, respect, and stewardship.

Just as our upbringing influences our perspectives and actions, our relationship with the environment also shapes our values and behaviours as leaders.

By exploring the themes of reciprocity, respect for diversity, and the interconnectedness of all living beings, "Braiding Sweetgrass" offers a profound perspective on fostering a more sustainable and harmonious world for future generations.

TAKE A READ

EVALUATE BEFORE YOU DECIDE: Stay Curious. Keep Learning.

You’re a piece of the word puzzle!

Let's create a unique puzzle together in the spirit of collaboration and collective wisdom!

Each puzzle piece will represent a valuable insight or perspective on the theme we've been exploring.

As you add your input, you'll contribute to the collective understanding and completion of the puzzle.

But here's the twist: to fully solve the puzzle, we'll need input from at least five people.

It's a metaphor for how diverse perspectives and shared wisdom enrich our decisions.

In a word, describe the cornerstone of understanding diverse perspectives.

ADD MY PIECE!

You made it to the end of August’s PAUSE!

Keep the momentum going by celebrating the people around you, pondering our question of the month or clarifying your values.

Until our next PAUSE, stay true to yourself. Stay inspired and keep learning.

Ultimate Potentials Team