Newsletter issue #9: Productive Experiences

This week I did my first executive retreat workshop. 👏

And it went very well! 👏👏👏

In today’s newsletter, I share 3 professional lessons I extracted from that experience.

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Big Idea #1: Do not skip the networking.

Exactly one year ago, I attended a creative business conference (C2) in Montreal.

The first person I spoke with was the CEO of a successful
community-building platform.

We got along well since we shared the same values and passions.

When a person who expects work to be fun meets another
person who expects work to be fun - kind of encounter.

A year later they were exactly the one who
opened this opportunity for me last week.

Your network is your net worth.

Do not skip the networking.

Another reason this person reached out to me now vs. half a year ago
is because I’ve been putting myself out there.

I only started posting on LinkedIn 2-3 months ago,
and one of my posts was related to the topic
of the workshop, so they reached out.

Put yourself out there.

It allows others to find opportunities for you.

Big Idea #2: Start before you are ready.

Receiving that invitation from them was a surprise.

And an honour.

Surely, an easy thing would have been for me to say:

“Well, I have never given a presentation
to executives of another firm,
so I am not ready for that.”

I had one week's notice.

One week.

Everything was pointing towards,
maybe this is not for me.

But guess what?

I got the call.

They called me.

They asked me.

It means the permission has been given.

Now I just have to give permission to myself.

And that’s how I unlock that next level of growth.

Do the thing before you are qualified to do it.
That’s how you get qualified to do the thing.

Big Idea #3: You asked for it. You are responsible. Earn it. Enjoy it.

This is what my mentor Brendon Burchard shared
during our mastermind conversation last week,
and it completely resonated with me.

We tend to complain about the things we need to do,
like we are not the ones who’ve created them…

Like we are not the ones who agreed to take that job…

Like we are not the ones who’ve been asking for this role…

Before I even had a chance to default into
“ugh, I need to prepare now”-state,
I was reminded of that.

I asked for it.

I do have a dream of positively influencing a million lives,
and I knew that sooner or later I would have to start
speaking to bigger audiences.

I got the call because I asked for it.

I am responsible for every opportunity I get.
…And every opportunity I do not get.

Now, it was time to earn it.

My challenge was not just to do a great job.

My challenge was to do a great job
and enjoy every second of it.

Next time you find yourself complaining about
opportunities in your life, remember:

Tiny Habit: Active stress release throughout the day

Do not leave stress release to your Sunday yoga class or that massage once a month.

I understand those are great. Keep doing those.

But in today’s fast-paced environment, we need to be more intentional with releasing stress throughout the day.

My top three choices:

1. deep breathing with my eyes closed

2. qigong

3. a walk

I aim to do them every hour I am working.

I am not waiting to burn out to do them.

I am doing them to prevent burnout.

The Productivist Question

This one is for when you need to make a tough decision.

Have you heard of Solomon’s Paradox?

It suggests that people can be better at giving advice
or making rational decisions for others but may find it
challenging to make equally sound decisions for themselves.

Can you relate to that? 🥲

Here’s a fantastic journaling technique I heard from Alex Hormozi that you can now use every time you have to make a big or tough decision:

It is to ask your 85-year-old self for advice.

If you close your eyes and imagine as if you are having a conversation with an 85-year-old version of yourself…

• you will channel your inner wisdom

• you will turn on that second-order thinking
  (refer to the newsletter from last week if you don’t know what it is 😉)

• you will find what’s the right choice as you know it in your heart.

It is a powerful technique.

Try it before you dismiss it.

Until next week,

Valeriya

PS: I am trying something new here and wonder if you like it. Please reply to this email to let me know how you found this newsletter.
Would love to hear from you. ❤️

Three more ways I can help you:

1. Download your free copy of Success Secrets if you haven’t already.

2. If you want to work 1:1 with me, you can book a session here. Let’s get you your dream lifestyle.

3. My elite Certified High Performance Coaching program will soon be launched in a group format. If you want to learn more and get on a waitlist, please DM me on LinkedIn. ⚡️ (of course you are the first one to know 😉)