Kim Nicol’s Post

I’ve enjoyed the conversations, reflection, and connection this week at Caux Forum. The view and the space that hold us are beautiful and powerful, too. It’s given me the space to step back, slow down, and deepen. I’m glad to be a part, and partner. Appreciation to Inner Development Goals , Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation , and everyone here.

I’m on my way to Switzerland to attend the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum. “This forum encourages reflection on individual roles, exploration of available resources, and connection with responsibilities as changemakers. The underlying premise is that everyone can make a difference.” I signed up for the workstream aligned with UN SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals. I recommended the Forum to two friends. They are also attending, from Italy and Sweden. I believe that by working effectively together, we have a better chance of addressing complex challenges that affect us all. Doing this takes work and care. Inner work and self care facilitates collaboration with others, and helps us do the outer work sustainably. Different backgrounds and perspectives will help. We can’t do this alone. This event is about that. The timing feels just right.

I love this. When you're doing something new (or new for you, or new for your team, or new for your business), you don't truly know what "realistic" even means! Because it's new! Plan to adjust expectations as you get new insight and information. Don't let it be too heavy when things go different than you'd planned. Re-calibrating is a GOOD thing! And it's so much easier to do when you're not beating up on yourself (or others) for not meeting expectations that were based on speculation and imperfect, incomplete information to begin with.

Things can look good on the outside, but feel bad on the inside. Things can be going great, yet still feel heavy. You can get opportunities and accolades that you've been working hard for, and still feel scared about blowing it, or feel lost or overwhelmed about what's next. Just a reminder, in case you need it today ❤️

I'm teaching a new workshop. It's about Feeling DONE and trusting your inner voice. This is inspired in part by a client who said she felt like she was in a pot of hot water, that was slowly, slowly getting hotter. Each incremental issue wasn't such a big deal, so she talked herself into accommodating and staying for a long time. Until she reached a boiling point. She looked around and thought, How did this happen? I don't want this. When is enough enough? When do you reach that I'm DONE feeling? When do you trust your own inner voice that says DONE, and make a change? What are you feeling DONE with? Let's talk about it. (Replay will be sent to all who register)

I’ve been exploring fragrance this year. I’ve recently tried two mix-and-match sets of samples. Here is the latest, by Etat Libre d’Orange: Frustration Eau de Protection Soul of My Soul You or Someone Like You I’ve also tried, from DS & Durga: Radio Bombay Grapefruit Generation Jazmín Yucatan St. Vetiver And before that, Ffern, the Winter 2023 release (loved it!). It makes me think that even in the midst of self-driving cars, AI, and the constant connectivity of the internet and technology…. We are still sensual creatures — beings who want to experience life through the senses. Do you have a favorite fragrance? What else should I try?

My Homalomena Selby is blooming! Two incoming flowers, and maybe six little leaves sprouting up around the base. It is a tropical plant, and I’m pleased to see I’ve been able to create conditions here in San Francisco (not a tropical place!) that still support its growth. Plants do the best with what they’ve got. They grow, unapologetically, as best they can where they are. It’s a good reminder to check in and ask yourself what you need to grow, in this season of your life. And if you find current conditions lacking, well, thankfully you are not a plant 🪴

I see balance as a relationship between dynamic forces. Like inhale and exhale. So it can look different day to day. It has a different shape depending on the season and circumstances. The goal isn't a static state. The goal isn't sameness. Instead of trying to solve it like an equation, or trying to order things in a fixed way -- move with it. Dance with it. Breathe with it. This is one of the lessons that comes up again and again. I learned it in dance. In yoga. In meditation. And of course in the dynamic relationships of work and life.

There’s been a massive spike in people seeing my podcast in the last few days! I don’t know why this is happening. I’m happy about it, though, because of reviews like this one. There are a lot of people who care about being good managers. And they’re not waiting for someone at work to provide training or resources. They are learning as they go. I’m here to help. Listen to The New Manager Podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to get your podcasts.

When you care, you can stay a long time in a situation or relationship that doesn't work anymore. Not a fit is not a failure. You might outgrow something that used to be good, and is now confining. You might learn more about yourself, and realize that you never really wanted this -- and it's time to go towards something else. Perhaps the job or the organization has changed -- it has grown in a way that no longer feels like a match for who you are and what you want. Not a fit is not a failure. It's ok to want something else. It's ok to leave, even if there is more work to do and even if people will feel sad or mad or disappointed. It's ok to grow, and change. It may help to read this poem by Mary Oliver: The Journey One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice -- though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. ‘Mend my life!’ each voice cried. But you didn’t stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations -- though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice, which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do -- determined to save the only life you could save. by Mary Oliver