How We're Turning Lemons into Lemonade

"My goal is to make Lemonade out of the Lemon of a situation we're in!"

A client said this to me this morning and I thought "what an AMAZING goal and mindset!" In a time like now when there are many lemons, I want to share that statement with YOU for 3 reasons:

1. Give you a powerful, positive statement to SHIFT your mindset from focusing on the lemons to focusing on making Lemonade
2. Share the top 5 ways my clients and my broader network (I talk to hundreds of Executives and Leaders across the Bay Area and Globe per month) are making Lemonade
3. Invite you to make Lemonade together

Why this matters: Most people are spinning and it's time to come out of the spin cycle!

"Shelter in place" has been in effect for a few weeks, depending on where you are, the BIG fires are out and people are SPINNING! They're reacting to everyone else's emails and requests, have nowhere to go, lack the (externally imposed) structure so many people used to thrive off, are uncertain how long this will last, and are saying to themselves "Now what?!"

For those who have a lot of ideas in their head, they lack clarity on which to focus on, what to do next, and how to do it.

So what: We all really want the same thing

• To be proactive instead of reactive (Personally, I've clicked "unsubscribe" more in the last 2 weeks than ever in my life. It feels goooood to shrink my email)
• Gain clarity on what we want and need right now, how to best use this time, make a plan to get it, and start executing to see quick wins
• Pandemic-proof our careers and businesses as much as possible
• Or make a transition into the career and business we've always wanted
• Gain a competitive advantage
• AND nourish ourselves (my radical self-care is off the charts right now)!

How: Let's make Lemonade

Here are the five (5) topics where my clients and I are making Lemonade, so they breathe a little easier NOW, immediately, and each day forward. They're confident that they know what to do, how to do it and that they're spending their time on the highest priorities they WANT and NEED to do to gain a competitive advantage, decrease frustration and feel some control again.

Before I share the 5 areas, I want to encourage you to take the time to do the same. Your ability to pause amidst the chaos, to evaluate what REALLY matters, and create a plan to execute dictates how well you evolve (or don't) to the new norm, and whether you do it with ease or pain.

5 ways to make Lemonade from Lemons

1. Strategize how to lead productive, fun meetings
2. Take the time to create the life and career you want, and pandemic-proof it!
3. Adapt your message to be relevant and heard 
4. Understand and lead with your strengths and manage your defense mechanisms (THE short cut is below!)
5. Engage in weekly coaching for 60 or 90-days sprints so you're strategic and supported

More details on each Lemonade recipe

This sounds easy, but we've all seen the quality of some of the current meetings. To get on others' calendars, remain professional and conduct business, it's critical to:

• Start with compassion. This is not an easy time for anyone.
• Establish expectations within your team about what makes an excellent meeting, the tools you'll use, what additional materials you'll need (hard copy or digital), and how you'll look to exude professionalism (even if you're in your kitchen or library)
• Fool-proof your tools and help other's avoid tech challenges that will slow all of you down
• Set the stage for a productive meeting and have a clear strategy to agree on a mutual outcome, uncover opportunities/challenges to solve, and align everyone on their next steps and instill accountability
• Get creative with your meeting ideas and activities to stand out, be different, and have fun! (my clients and I have an awesome running list)

Now is the best time (because we have time) to invest in yourself, decide what you REALLY want to do, how you really want to lead, what you want to be known for, and how you'll be fulfilled. Take the time to:

• Get clear on what you want and need (I mean REALLY want)
• Build a plan of the key steps you need to take to get it, and whom you need support from
• Put your plan into place quickly by ASKING for it and thus creating it! (those who don't have what they want, don't ask for it)
• Learn to avoid reacting to just what others want you to do, which is common in our fast-paced, competitive environment 

My proprietary 4-step "Power of the Ask" framework will get you clear on what you need and how to ask for it. It has been used with Google, NASDAQ's Entrepreneurial Center, Deloitte, SoGal Ventures and Foundation, Burkland Associates, UserTesting and numerous other individuals and VCs. Get in touch if you want to explore using it.

The world has changed, our problems and opportunities have changed, and we each still want to remain visible and influential despite the limited interaction and without appearing self-centered. It's critical to:

• Adapt your message to address other's new situation, the impact it's having on their business and lives, and present yourself as the solution to solve their new challenges and make their lives easier
• Create clear "scripts" for email and phone, (based on what you create from the above bullet) so you connect quickly with those on the other end 
• A/B test to find out which of your clients go away from problems or towards solutions. When you know what drives them, you can REALLY connect
• Consider spending time building and deepening relationships if it's clearly NOT a time to "sell" (this too will be greatly appreciated when we're on the other side of this pandemic)

We are ALL triggered under stress and default to habitual patterns and coping mechanisms. Now is no different, and if anything, we're triggered MORE. Avoid falling prey to your defense mechanisms and blind spots, and instead, LEAD as your best self at WORK and HOME by: 

• Using the Enneagram to SHRINK the time required to know your personal patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving at your best AND under stress
• The Enneagram also provides insights into how you communicate. which makes or breaks how well you work (or struggle) with others right now.
• Learning the 1-2 adjustments you can make to manage your defense mechanisms and habits under stress that WILL create lasting changes (Hello higher EQ!)

As a certified Integrative Enneagram Practitioner, I can provide you with a discount on the assessment.

This is a different time and requires a different level of support (typically MORE!). Seek support from an independent sounding board who will:

• Listen to the multitude of ideas and concerns in your mind, and create clarity, calmness and a path forward for and with you
• Help you prioritize and create solutions to your challenges and opportunities
• Create strategies to stay healthy in mind, body, and soul 
• Troubleshoot real-time
• Teaches you frameworks that you can use with or without that independent sounding board or coach, so you are building healthy habits and equipped in the moment AND in the long run

Final thoughts

This is a serious time in which we're all under a lot of stress both in our professional and personal lives, so I'm going to end on a positive note... Have some fun with each of these and enjoy your lemonade!

With all that said, what do YOU NEED right now?

I invite you to contact me about how we can make Lemonade together. This is what I love to do, I've transformed many lives even within the first few hours, and would love to do the same with you!