2022 – A Year of Learning:
Planet
I’ve long thought the planet is more of an afterthought in many executive suite discussions and I want to do my part to change that. From now on I will pull up a chair for Mother Earth when conducting my client conversations. What would she say to the decision you have in front of you? How do your actions positively or negatively affect our CO2 emissions?
Fellow coach and award-winning podcaster Joshua Spodek from “This Sustainable Life” and I are actively working on effecting thought leadership and behavior change regarding the environment. Attorney and legal expert, Andrew Elowitt, has joined us in our sustainability efforts. Also, Monika Krauthahn is based in Germany and actively consulting on sustainable solutions in the hospitality industry.
Feel free to reach out to any of us with questions.
Work – Post Pandemic 2.0
With many restrictions easing and COVID immunity increasing, many companies have engaged in active team building and in-person offsite experiences. I’ve been happy to work with several startup companies in the Bay Area to facilitate off-sites within the ed tech space, the financial services sector, and the gaming industry. It brought me back to my beginnings in the leadership development world when I facilitated trainings in and around Europe for the Eastman Kodak Company. It reaffirmed that we have to go back to basics as everyone is learning how to effectively communicate and work coming out of the pandemic, only now it’s with a digital twist. We don’t have to re-invent the wheel. We do have to treat employees (and bosses) as human beings with needs and desires. Quiet quitting and quiet firings are not new. Then and now we must treat each other with care and mindful interactions, whether we engage in person, via video conference, phone, or chats.
Coaching
Of course I am continuing to coach executives through various channels: CoachSource, Lonely At The Top and other consulting and coaching platforms.
If you are interested in exploring more and learning how to make better decisions, check out my free e-book, How to Make Difficult Decisions – A Blueprint for Better Decision Making.
War in Europe
The unimaginable has happened: 2022 brought a new war to Europe. My son’s girlfriend is from Ukraine, so we were directly affected by what happened in February. My sister-in-law in Munich took people in, which came with a slew of communication and refugee status issues. We have all learned a ton about Ukraine, its people, its customs, and its struggles.
Travel
During the first half of the year I significantly reduced my travel, partially because I have embarked on yet another home remodel (more on that later). Also, though, it’s because I don’t want to add carbon to the air given our need to change our travel habits. In addition, my daughter returned from several years of living in Germany and I took full advantage of having her closer again.
Then, in September, I attended a wedding celebration in Austria, reconnecting with family and friends. I was able to spend some time with my son in Berlin and my dad in Munich. The pandemic has certainly helped in prioritizing family and friends over exotic trips that are fun experiences, but also add to my personal carbon footprint. Even so, I am always conscious of purchasing carbon offsets for my plane travel.
In mid-November I got word that my dad had a severe stroke and pending surgery, which prompted me to get on a plane to Munich within 24 hours; I have been here ever since. Fortunately, I’ve been able to work from any location for some time, thanks to the patience of my clients and partners everywhere.
Care
I’m currently learning a lot about various healthcare systems and end-of-life care. I know, a topic no one really wants to think about until it pertains to you. So, if you haven’t given it some thought, now might be the time to do that. No one can know what will happen, but everyone can anticipate and communicate what might be desired. I’m glad I have had many conversations with my dad, who just turned 94, as to what his wishes are, but given that he has a hard time communicating now, I wish I had asked him even more. Communicate, communicate, communicate. And document what you can.
Creating Livable Space
Converting my recently created workshop space to a legal Accessory Dwelling Unit has been a challenging endeavor. California needs livable space, but actually creating that is a lengthy and costly endeavor. I am converting an Accessory Dwelling Unit for a future rental. Little did I know that code regulations are strict and sometimes just defy common sense.
However, I definitely have the end goal in mind and that end is near. As I am writing this, my tile setter is hard at work and the painter has already begun. I am confident now that I will get it done in due course. Phew!
Now that I have downloaded everything I am up to, what about you? What are you up to? Feel free to reach out via email at db@dbcoach.com or via phone at 1-844-322-6224 (1).
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Updated December 14, 2022, from Munich, Germany.