A Decade of Gratitude

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” —William Arthur Ward

I think like a lot of people at the end of 2019, I was reflecting on the decade that was coming to an end. For me, 2010 was the start of an incredible journey to change how I lived. From letting life "happen to me" and the role of victim to living every day with intention, direction, purpose - from being the narrator to being the author of my own story.

And like so many on the path to doing big things, I knew that it was incredible arrogance to think that I can, could, would, do it alone. I found heroes on my journey. People who not only lifted me up but had the incredible generosity to make me part of their story and let me be a part of their success.

And so each year as I reflect on all the greatest moments where my dreams were refined into goals and with the help of these heroes these goals were achieved.

But here's the thing, I don't want to leave the earth without telling them that of the thousands, they were the best and what they mean to me.

I know, it's weird. What kind of goofball creates their own award?!

It has now been ten years of doing this, and along the way I have met a cast of super humans. Seriously, if you're curious read about them here 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 when it all began. Also if you read the 2011 post you'll discover why I call it the "Golden Crab" award.

People often ask me, because yes, I'm known as a student and highly active practitioner of networking and connecting, of all the people you collaborate with, how can you choose just four people?!

This is no accident friends, I am even weirder than you think. I keep score. Damn right I do. Let me share some of the criteria:

• Who has bees a relentlessly positive catalyst for not just my success but is confident enough to bet on themselves and model with every breath they take all that I believe in?
• Who has been generous enough to let me ride with them on their adventures?
• Who walks their talk? Who thinks deeply about their values, goals and dreams and invests in them? In my dreams, and the dreams of others?
• Who do I aspire to be and in being around them makes me better?

These, are those people who made my 2019 everything I hoped it would be and more.

Let's begin.

Jill Nelson. Now this is kind of awkward, because if there was one person who I assumed I had already named to this cadre of catalysts it would be Jill. I have known her now for 20 years and she has been a guide, a mentor, a teacher and over time a peer that has no equal. We have worked together as volunteers where we achieved some great things. We have walked through some fires together, including one of the lowest and hardest days of my entire career where with two simple words Jill changed the entire game for me. In 2019 I achieved one of my greatest life and career dreams to teach the CAGP Original Course in Banff with Jill (a dream that took five years of intentional strategy to achieve) and the gratitude I feel cannot be expressed in this tiny gesture. Sure, I got the chance to be a part of nominating her for our profession's highest award ( the 'Friend of CAGP' ) but I need to say it public and out loud, that maybe no one in my life has been responsible for my career success more than Jill. And she will probably downplay this in our next awkward conversation ( people never really know what to say after I embarrass them with this useless award, partly because it comes with nothing but my undying gratitude and life-long loyalty) but truly, I have never met a master who never stops being a student, a person of power who embraces limitless humility, a person who is Grace personified and yet never takes themselves too seriously. One of my life goals is to be a Jill Nelson for someone else, and I wouldn't know what that even means, if Jill hadn't modeled that for me over two whole decades.

Betty Ferreira. If in a few years, it turns out that Betty Ferreira fooled the world and turns out to be a cyborg, it would honestly not surprise me one bit. People who know me know that I have virtually no hobbies and don't watch any organized sports but I dissect the careers of super-powered people to try and understand their greatness and Betty, I could write a movie on. It would mirror the movie 'Terminator' an unstoppable force sent from the future to save the human race from itself. Anyone who knows Betty knows that her strategic mind is so sharp she can fold space and time ( and get finance, fundraisers and executives to actually listen, think and act with intention which is probably harder than folding space and time). This award is about thanking people for bringing me into their world, not just helping me with my goals and aspirations. Betty has helped me navigate whole other worlds I had no access to and didn't understand, like multiple dimensional networks and states of strategy. What's the use of summiting a mountain if there isn't someone up there with you? Betty has extended incredible generosity to have me on her team and has been in my corner to push me to raise my game in 2019 like I honestly never thought possible.

Krista Stewart. Anyone who has followed this Golden Crab journey knows that I have a "no current coworkers" policy because just like when you're a kid your friends are often a default makeup of who is in your class and orbit. I have worked with a lot of amazing people but do they still collaborate with me? Keep in touch? Contribute to my journey? Have the courage and generosity to allow me to contribute to theirs? Krista worked on my team when we were at CanadaHelps and we faced some tough challenges together and the strength of character, the courage of conviction, the integrity and intelligence she brought to bear didn't just impress me, it outright scared me. Krista was someone who first introduced me to the privilege of being a manager of someone whose potential was so clearly more than my own. Hey, I stand on a lot of stages and people sometimes refer to me as a celebrity or guru (which provides an unlimited source of laughter to my family, friends and people I came up with), it can go to one's head. But Krista gave me the opportunity then and now to forget that toxic-hubris-noise and focus on being there for a brilliant person and team who if I shut up and served, could do things beyond what was possible for me alone. I was having coffee with another person who knows her recently and we both agreed that one day part of our career reflection will be knowing we worked with Krista Stewart back when she started out. Dear young professionals, please hear me, it is a gift of untold generosity and courage when you let your mentors help you. When you let sponsors leverage their networks for you. When you give someone the time to conspire with you for your success, I can't tell you how it makes me feel as I grow my own career, to be part of the career of someone who is great and whose potential is so powerful. Krista, is a card carrying member of the thinking class, often referred to as an introvert. This post may embarrass her, I'm sorry Krista but I hope you'll give me one more gift in allowing me to shout from the rooftop that I wouldn't be the Paul Nazareth the world knows if you didn't have the courage to push back, talk straight and invest in our team at the time. I can't live thinking that I took an ounce of credit and didn't tell the truth and share how much you inspire me.

Nouman Ashraf. Nouman has worked hard to earn his position on several prominent pulpits. He teaches at the Rotman School, with the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a global speaker in business and social good. He's a popular guy, a mentor to many and as a Professor being a catalyst is kind of his job. We run in several of the same circles and I had been dying to meet him. Be careful what you wish for. When I first met him in 2018 we had a conversation of such raw clarity it took me weeks to recover. One of life's mysterious challenges that leaders don't talk about is how to reframe your world after you've reached your dreams and highest goals - what next?! Nouman has helped me to reframe my career, my very life. This past year he brought me closer into orbit and showed me a world of possibility. Time with him has served as a magnifying glass, divining rod and masterclass in potentiality. I was blessed with success and for a time, stopped dreaming. Nouman, I'm dreaming again. My dreams scare me again, and you have given me the oxygen to fuel the fire to chase them unabashedly. This guy is a rockstar, whose superpower is making more rockstars! How can you not be grateful to have someone like this in your life. Also, I have a deep 25 year love affair for my alma mater the University of Toronto. It's where I met my wife, discerned my life, found my career, countless friends and so much more. My volunteerism with UofT has been so valuable to my career and personal mission to help people find purpose in work. Nouman has so kindly deepened my ability to show gratitude and give back to this institution that in so many ways, birthed me.

It's been TEN YEARS of expressing this gratitude.

To all my Golden Crabs, thank you, I may never be able to thank you all enough. But what I'm most grateful for is how many of you are still collaborators and conspirators. To have you in my life ( to work with and for several of you ) is the joy of my life.

Like so many people I suffer from deep bouts of impostor syndrome - let me tell you how I fight that fear. I speak a lot and openly about my failures, foibles and let go of the ridiculous idea that I'm a guru of anything that I did anything alone and that I have to pretend to be impressed with myself.

Let me say it plainly - these 38 people made me. I owe them everything.

Paul, this is awkward man, please stop.

In the worlds of the great Sean Combs, "can't stop, won't stop, eh eh, eh eh".

This year me and our awesome crew at CAGP are going to take things to next level. I'm so blessed to work right in the nucleus of my career purpose : To help every Canadian create a legacy of generosity.

But I am also stepping up my game around what many of you know is my personal purpose. To help every person of purpose achieve their career legacy. My new company Connectworking is how I am going to double down on my life's purpose to be for others what these Golden Crabs are for me. A chemical element that transforms and strips away fear and doubt. Through more netwalks, networking skill training, public keynotes and yes, a book, I am excited to stop walking and start running towards my dream.

Your dream Paul?

I have been afraid to say this because being a human I am afraid to speak my joy for fear of calamity as a fateful and universal consequence of natural balance. There can't be TOO much joy right?

Wrong.

These 38 people, my friends and family have stood behind me for a lifetime and I have yes, achieved virtually every one of my life goals. Then they spun me around and challenged me to dream bigger and THOSE dreams came true too.

I am driven by the need, it pulls at my soul in the night, to help others achieve this career fulfillment and personal peace through finding my purpose and doing that every minute of every day.

I owe it.

I know, I'm insufferable right? Maybe, but the world needs more Knights of Light.

Can I be this for you? I'm writing this not just for the Crabby Nation ( there are 38 of them now eh ) but for YOU. Can I help you? Then connect, here on LinkedIn and the real world and let's get to work chasing your dreams.

Hey, things aren't perfect. I've got challenges and a lot of weakness to overcome. But my heart is open and I'm not afraid any more. This decade taught me that it's ALL possible, if you have the right people around you. Thanks Jill, Betty, Krista and Nouman.

Thanks to all my 1st connections here on Linked for putting up with me.

It's 2020 folks, I'm here for you.

If you bet on you, I'm in too.