Not a Bushtucker Challenge, but an 'I'm Bushed' Challenge!

Last week was a tad chaotic.?

As I write this,?I'm bushed.

On top of my usual lush 1-2-1 client fuelled days,?I also had a couple of late nights facilitating a workshop for an?SME;?helping them to look at options around adopting automation and AI to implement cost-savings that meant they wouldn't have to make any lay-offs. (A commendable approach I'm sure you'll agree.)

Then on Saturday, I?worked with a charity;?helping them?engage their local community in deciding what their soon-to-be-updated 5 year plan should include. Whilst this was co-creation in all its impactful glory, it also meant a Friday evening?train journey and hotel stay, then a Saturday evening train home.?

You all know from last week's newsletter that I was out at the Tees Valley Fc*k Up Night on Weds evening - barely made it home from that before I turned into a pumpkin! ?? So when I was invited to another 'skool nite' out on the Thursday, it would have been really easy to turn it down. My introvert battery needed a charge, and I was worried I'd fall asleep and start drooling mid sentence with people I didn't know. (Wouldn't be the first time. ??)

Instead, I put my big girl pants on and went along. What a top night! Good food, great company, the iconic backdrop of the Tyneside Cinema , and a couple of hours of amusement watching Andrew Scott in Noel Coward's Present Laughter.?

Turns out sometimes the re-charge you need isn't what you think it is.?

Same is true in business and life. Sometimes the solution you think you need, is either not the right one, or you're actually trying to solve the wrong problem.?

So this week I'm setting a bit of a challenge for you. (Of the I'm bushed ?? not Bushtucker ??variety!)?

Challenge extended:?

Think of one thing you're currently struggling with and decide on what you would normally do to rectify the issue, or consider what you've done in the past.?

Now don't do it.?

Do something completely different.?

Ask a mentor, friend, or fellow business owner for their take on what you're experiencing. (Hell, ask ChatGPT if you need to -?but be clear in your prompt that you're looking for an alternative to your 'usual' fix.)

Then try what is suggested.?

Got more than one suggested solution? Try them out one at a time and see which works best.?

Only when you prototype and test in this way do you discover a true solution - one that considers the needs of all involved or impacted by the problem.?

No one can be a creative genius in a silo, so tap into other people's perspectives and opinions when you get the chance - it's this approach that keeps you fresh and ensures you stay curious and ahead of the game!

Did I say fresh??

Actually I'm shattered - you heard the week I had ??- so I'm off for a Nanna-nap, because I've heard that restful sleep is also good for super-charging those?creative problem-solving skills.?

With (soon to be revived) intent, Lucy. ??

PS - Be sure to comment and let me know how you get on. Maybe we can create a weird and wonderful suggestion board of potential solutions to problems that we can all access and trial!

PPS -?If you enjoy this newsletter, please share it with others via social media or email. You can copy & paste this link to do so.?- thanks!