I recently recorded an Asians in Advertising podcast with Lori. She asked some great questions and we focused our conversation around how to be at our best. My secret to being at my best? Mirrors. And how I deepen engagement with my coworkers? Breadcrumbs. Interested? Read on for two points from our podcast on being your best self: mirrors & breadcrumbs.
Mirrors
To be at our best, we must set aside time for self-reflection. A few important checks:
- Am I sleeping well? I used to be able to get away with 4hrs a night. Then I needed 6. Today, I need at least 7. How many hours do you need? Do you use a sleeping app to track and improve your rest? I use Sleep Cycle and find it useful.
- Am I eating well? It’s become increasingly important to me to eat less processed and more organic. Recently after living with the Hadzabe tribe in Tanzania, I reevaluated my diet!
- Am I enjoying regular and varying movement? Now, I used to talk about exercise but realized that movement may be less intimidating and more inclusive. See, we don’t have to take classes, ski black diamonds or hold a particularly challenging yoga pose. What benefits our bodies is ensuring we’re moving at least 30min a day.
And what about the things we can’t see… our blind spots?
- This is where we look for mirrors. Mine are those people who love me enough to hold up an accurate reflection to me, highlighting red flags and showing me where I’m not at my best. My mirrors catch language if it’s not sounding right and keep me honest if I’m headed in the wrong direction. They know me well enough and love me enough to tell me the truth. They’re sharp and communicative, confident and caring.
Thank you Minki, Harper, Monique, Molly, Raja, Marchoe, Jon, Jay, Tim, Hannah, Jess, Viv, Angie, Rachel.
- Where do we find the best mirrors? Great question, Lori. I feel so blessed to have so many authentic friends who want the best for me. Here’s a potentially unpopular thought: the best mirror may be someone you struggled with at work. Why? Well, they didn’t see you at your best or didn’t appreciate your point of view. Today in wisdom and maturity, might you learn from that experience? Were they trying to say something that you were too defensive to hear?
You may or may not agree with them, but they were brave enough to call you out. So, reach out. First, thank them for speaking truth. Then, ask where they see your blind spots. You may learn something valuable. At a minimum, you’ll likely leave a strained relationship in a better place.
Breadcrumbs
We spend so much time at work, that I think it’s fulfilling to develop meaningful relationships with our coworkers. Now, I know not everyone may agree with this, and I respect that. Some prefer to separate work and home life. But as for me, over the years, I’ve increasingly blended the two. Lori asked me, How do I develop real relationships with my coworkers?
- Create opportunities for shared experiences. It can be difficult to create meaningful connection if all we do is meet and talk business agendas. That’s why I love sharing experiences with coworkers! Look for opportunities to meet consumers together, visit stores together, and travel together. Because these are the moments we come together and find space to connect as humans.
- Leave breadcrumbs, small open doors for folks to ask more about you. For instance, my LinkedIn background is a snapshot from my last big trip. I select desktop or phone screensavers that open conversation about my family. Even today, I wear jewelry that Laini made me years ago – both because it makes me happy and because it opens conversation about my kid. What breadcrumbs might you leave about your family, interests or hobbies?
What are your tips for being at your best, and enabling more meaningful engagement?
Click here to listen to our entire episode. And here are a few related articles:
- Mirrors or Windows?
- My 3mo miracle and his love of mirrors (marginally related but a delightful video!)
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