On finding balance and exploring Palermo

Welcome to the second installment of the Human Explorer newsletter! This week I'm sharing two long (and very different) articles -- an outer journey around Palermo, and an inward journey of balancing stability and change. Plus: are you a Diverger or Converger?

1. Laying low in Palermo

My first bit of travel writing in a long time, plus loads of photos.

"Birds can’t stay cooped up in cages for very long before getting cranky and depressed, and I am definitely a bird. After being trapped for a year in London (long story), I’m finally stretching my wings.

First stop: Palermo, Sicily. I didn’t have specific plans to come here; my priority was to find a community of other birds - scratch that, global nomads -- with whom I’d feel more at home. After researching co-living spots in several countries, I found this one with availability for the month of April. Done.

The goals this month are to shake off the heavy doldrums and loneliness that I’d been carrying for several months (the cold, grey UK weather didn’t help matters), and backtrack to the last time I felt alive and happy and true to my nature: coaching, writing, and traveling with my camera...."

Continue reading -

2. Surfing the Dawn

This one initially started out as a writing exercise and contemplation on how we can balance stability with chaos. It turned into a self-discovery exercise, which is why I rarely use AI in my writing.

"It’s summer 2008 on the north shore of Maui, and I’m sputtering salty swear words after yet another tumble off the surf board. The waves are supposedly beginner-friendly by Maui standards, but daunting for this noob who won't become a proper swimmer for four more years.?

Being caught under the surf scared me; I felt like a cat toy tossed in the hands of an uncaring god, pushed and twisted, scrambling for oxygen, not knowing which way was up. After washing ashore, I now stand at the water’s edge with hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath and tame the flutter in my stomach but?

hot damn, that palm-shaded lounge chair looks good —

I think about that exhilarating moment of stability on the board just before the oh-shit wobble, strong and free and flying with the sun blessing my shoulders in a warm benediction —?

yessss. It’s just enough to tip the scales towards one more try. You got this. I take a deep breath and plunge back into the surging tide, paddling until my shoulders hurt. Rinse and repeat.?

Getting bucked off the board in life

I never did learn to surf the waves, but surfing change? Yeah, I’m an old pro..."

Continue reading...

3. Are you a Diverger or Converger?

Diverge & Converge -- more than just an innovation process, this concept also describes two very different cognitive styles.

Divergers are curious pattern matchers. We're happiest when we're swimming around in complexity, discovering new data points. And that's a problem when it comes to focus and clarity. How could we possibly narrow down to just one thing? Every step we take brings new information! Constant FOMO is real for us.

Conversely, Convergers feel much better once things are labeled, categorized and decided. They're happy to set a goal and work towards it in a more linear fashion and check things off the list.

If you're a Diverger, you've probably discovered that the "best practices" for Convergers really do not work for you! The key is to find the middle way between focus and exploration -- think "compass" instead of "map," moving in the right general direction while allowing for mini-pivots along the way.

Happy Friday everyone!

If you enjoyed these musings (or even if you didn't!) I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please throw me a like or comment so I know I'm on the right track for creating value. I have a feeling I need to shorten everything, but I looovvve long-form writing...

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PS. I'm a Diverger who's developed tools to help other Divergers build their own inner compasses, or what I call the Touchstone.

I'm re-opening the coaching doors for three Divergers facing a critical time of transition or transformation. We'll co-create your "possibility space" that balances both freedom and focus, and help you develop the capacities to use your whole-mind intelligence to intentionally craft a more authentic future.

You could be transitioning jobs, transitioning to leave the corporate nest, or even trying to transform an existing company or your leadership style. It's all about navigating change in a way that feels true to you.

?? “This process is far more valuable and efficient than anything I've ever participated in before.”— Managing Partner, VC

DM me to set up a curious chemistry call.