One Thing + A Few Things, Lately

What I'm reading, training, learning this month.

Hi friends,

A default mode is to measure progress by effort: hours, hustle, tabs open, emails sent. But effort is not always the same as effectiveness.

This trap shows up everywhere, not just at work. At the gym, we use rowing ergs a lot. Sometimes you’ll see someone going absolutely feral — the madman rowing with terrible form. It looks intense. It is exhausting. And it’s not effective.

When you row with strong form, you slow down to get powerful. You go farther with less wasted energy. The phrase I love is: slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

If effort is motion, effectiveness is traction: using your energy on purpose toward the outcome you actually need.

Effort → Effect

Efforting shows up when the stakes are high and clarity is low. It can be a way to discharge nervous energy, avoid something hard, or push through physical or emotional depletion.

When you notice yourself efforting, ask:

• What outcome matters most right now?

• What’s the highest-leverage next 15 minutes?

• What would be effective, not impressive?

Then do just that one thing. This week, see if you can take one opportunity to slow down on effort, and increase your effectiveness.

Take good care,
Lisa

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A Few Things, Lately

I’m inspired by some solopreneur colleagues to include few personal updates here. I’ll try this out about once a month. Let me know what you think!

Portland 10 Miler // With Lisa Lahey, author of Immunity to Change, at the IOC conference // With Mom, May 2014

• READING: Is a River Alive? (nonfiction) · The Pillars of the Earth (fiction) · The Meaning of Your Life (book club)

• TRAINING: Had a great run at the Portland 10 Miler (late April). Prepping for HYROX #4 in NYC in a few weeks.

• LEARNING: I’m integrating conversations from the Institute of Coaching’s Coaching in Leadership and Healthcare conference last week.

• PERSONAL: This month marks ten years since my mom passed away. It’s a tender milestone. I think of her every day. ♥️