In this special holiday rerelease, Laura and Keith dive into tactics that will help them create and grow projects and as people. What can we do differently? What has worked in the past that we could revisit?
Before we leap into 2025, we can reflect back over 2024, and listening to how it started in this episode. As the calendar year winds down, we shift our focus. What is to come and how can we succeed in our goals for the new year?
Keith leans into time management. Laura makes space for her project. We both prioritize self-care. Our goal is to show up and lead generously.
Let’s make time for projects and the life we want.
Thanks for Joining Us.
**Structure, Slack, and Self-Care [Rerelease]** – Episode 070
In this episode, Keith & Laura discuss transitioning from Learning to Action.
We focus on pairing theoretical learning with practical application. Laura stresses the importance of understanding one’s “why” or motivation. Pursuing activities that “light you up” and setting clear goals can facilitate action. Keith emphasizes practicing new skills in low-stakes situations, and building confidence and competence in new skills while stacking up small wins.
Laura and Keith dig into learning, growth, and how to take action in our lives through consistent practice.
Keith and Laura discuss the importance of preparation, practice, and putting in the work, over time, to achieve success. They discuss how the effortless and seamless execution of tasks often requires significant behind-the-scenes effort, drawing parallels from their own experiences and systems they see around them.
Laura knows what it takes to prepare. She highlights the importance of intentional planning and facilitation through a lesson learned from her early days as a leader. Laura harnesses repetition when preparing. She wants her delivery for presentations and speeches to not be memorized and stale, but truly conversational with a natural flow.
Keith knows that consistency is key for his success. He seeks to establish a useful routine and avoid becoming stuck in a rut. A recent podcast recording struggle may have stemmed from a lapse in their usual preparation routine. Creating time to prepare and knowing your intention can shape your focus.
This week, Laura and Keith found inspiration in their children taking the initiative to learn a song together. Their actions demonstrated the self-motivation and passion that can drive individuals to practice and prepare, even without external motivation. When we focus on what we truly care about or what lights us up, we’re often willing to put in the necessary work to excel. The appearance of effortlessness is often the result of diligent preparation and practice.
Keith and Laura invite you to reflect on the areas in which you could benefit from a more intentional approach to preparation and practice.
Thanks for Joining Us.
Preparation and Persist – Episode 062
Embrace the power of preparation, passion and persistence to achieve your goals, and keep leaning in to the growth that comes with the practice.
Keith and Laura explore the multifaceted nature of perfectionism and share their personal experiences. Perfectionism, while often seen as a positive trait, can be a significant obstacle to productivity and personal growth. It is complex and may appear in various shapes and forms: over-processing, hesitation, avoidance, and overwhelm.
Laura and Keith dive into Katherine Morgan Schafler’s The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power. Schafler identifies common perfectionist archetypes and offers insights into the characteristics and tendencies that come with each profile. Perfectionism can be incredibly nuanced, and being a perfectionist isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Laura identifies as a Parisian Perfectionist, driven by the desire to be perceived in a certain way. She often finds herself overthinking and second-guessing her actions, fearing judgment and criticism. This can lead to procrastination and a reluctance to share her work.
Keith, on the other hand, leans towards the Procrastinator Perfectionist archetype. He struggles with starting tasks, often paralyzed by the fear of not doing them perfectly. This can result in missed opportunities and a sense of frustration.
Gemini Ai’s Key Takeaways:
Recognize the impact of perfectionism: Understanding how perfectionism manifests in your life is the first step towards overcoming it.
Challenge self-limiting beliefs: Question the unrealistic expectations you place on yourself and strive for progress, not perfection.
Prioritize action over perfection: Take action, even if it’s imperfect. Remember, done is better than perfect.
Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself and avoid self-criticism.
Seek support: Talk to friends, family, or a therapist about your struggles with perfectionism.
Relationships and projects can suffer if we chase perfection. Let’s lean in and harness the good, prepare for the bad, and close the door on the ugly. Through recognizing the patterns of perfectionism and implementing practical strategies, we can break free from its grip and live a more fulfilling life.
Thanks for Joining Us.
Practice Meets Perfection – Episode 003 [Rerelease]- Episode 061
Keith and Laura explore the challenges and opportunities that come with a major life change. Laura’s career move and their new living arrangement is a significant transition.
While acknowledging the challenges and dealing with the stressors of this new chapter, both Laura and Keith are looking to embrace the possibility and growth that comes with this opportunity.
Laura highlights the importance of finding joy in small moments and cherishing those moments along the way. Keith is using the transition as motivation to establish new habits.
Finding ways to maintain connection despite distance, Keith and Laura are staying focused on changing together.
Claude.ai identified these takeaways from the conversation for managing major life transitions: 1. Balancing logistics with emotional processing 2. Maintaining self-care practices 3. Finding joy in small moments 4. Staying connected with loved ones 5. Allowing yourself to feel and process emotions
Keith and Laura open up about their recent trip to Green Bay, which served as both a wedding anniversary celebration and a pivotal moment in their lives. As Laura prepares for a significant career transition that involves relocating, the couple shares insights on navigating big changes together.
Laura and Keith look to embrace the pull of new opportunities, overcome self-doubt, maintain a healthy life balance, communicate openly with our partners, and be ready to improvise when needed.
Laura’s new job opportunity reminds us that when we feel drawn to something new, it’s often a sign that we’re moving in the right direction, even if it comes with challenges.
While leaning into change and taking on new challenges is important, Keith and Laura emphasize their balanced approach to prevent burnout and ensures sustainable personal growth.
What Works for You? Make It Your Own.
Thanks for Joining Us.
Feeling the Pull of New Opportunities – Episode 056
Keith and Laura are Feeling the Pull of New Opportunities.
Keith and Laura delve into the nuanced world of sportsmanship, offering their thoughts on winning, losing, and the personal growth that can come with either experience.
While listening to Seth Godin’s Akimbo podcast, Keith was reminded of a lesson learned in youth hockey. When his team was significantly ahead, the coach’s crucial lesson of working on skill development over running up the score, spoke directly to the question Seth was asking on his podcast: What’s the purpose of sports, especially in school settings?
Laura talks about competing and more specifically how losing, can create drive and an ability to endure difficulties. Showing up, even when the odds of winning are low, like a parent-child tennis tournament, can create an opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. Facing adversity through competition can build resilience that serves us beyond beyond sports and games.
Competition isn’t just about winning; it’s about growth and improvement. While it’s natural to celebrate wins, it’s equally important to acknowledge and learn from losses. Maintaining equilibrium, in both victory and defeat, fosters resilience and character development, preparing individuals for the ups and downs of life.
Laura and Keith both agree on the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to competition. Using both victory and defeat as opportunities for personal growth and character development, we can build resilience that extends beyond sports and games and apply it to various aspects of our life.
Recommendations for further learning, including a Mel Robbins podcast episode and Seth Godin’s upcoming book “This is Strategy.”
How are you going to respond?
Thanks for Joining Us.
In Residence with Keith and Laura | Winning, Losing and Playing the Game – Episode 054
Keith and Laura explore how resilience shapes their personal and professional lives.
Many of us struggle with the fear of the unknown, but there is value in embracing uncertainty. Stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to tremendous growth.
Unexpected obstacles often force us to reassess our goals and strategies. Keith posits that “grace” is key to bouncing back when facing challenges. Laura’s self-care practice helps her overcome stressors. We both incorporate tools to maintain a positive outlook while adapting to change.
While it’s essential to pursue our goals with determination, it’s equally important to recognize our limits and take time for rest and rejuvenation. We explore the balance between ambition and self-care. It’s crucial for maintaining long-term resilience and avoiding burnout.
The concept of “micro-resilience”–the everyday acts of perseverance that build our overall resilience–reveals itself. Acquire various tools to support a more resilient mindset, and acknowledge challenging experiences, can transform setbacks into opportunities.
Minimizing our struggles is not the point. And, we are often more capable than we know. Resilience is not about avoiding difficulties. It’s about developing the strength and flexibility to overcome them. By nurturing our resilience with grace and compassion, we can lead more fulfilling lives and achieve our goals, even in the face of adversity.
Building resilience is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the challenges, learn from your experiences, and keep moving forward.
*In Residence with Keith and Laura* **Finding Resilience** – Episode 048
