Straightforward strategies to pursue your purpose, accelerate your growth, show up as your whole self, increase higher order thinking and align your time with your values. What to try. Why it Works. For When it Matters.
Feeling Lost? Here’s How to Find Your Way Back.
The Holiday Season Can Be Hard…for so many people and so many reasons. Old family dynamics resurface. The roles we’ve worked so hard to grow beyond suddenly feel like they’re set in stone again. And there you are, a fully-functioning adult who is suddenly fourteen again. Expectations, ours and others’, press in from all sides. It can be easy to lose sight of who you’ve become when you’re surrounded with reminders of, and tethers to, who you used to be. So, how can you stay grounded and connected to the you that you want to be? Find your Touch Tree. A Touch Tree is a survival tool that I first heard about in a forgotten podcast and have since learned is a chapter in Glennon Doyle’s bestseller, Untamed. Here’s the concept: When you’re lost in the woods, you choose a single, recognizable tree as a landmark. That tree becomes home base. You can explore to find food or help, but the tree serves as the center point of your exploration radius. You always return to the tree. It keeps you oriented, grounded and safe. The idea is simple and powerful and it can apply just as much to our internal lives as it does to a forest. Be Your Own Touch Tree This holiday season, instead of losing yourself in others’ expectations, you can create your very own personal Touch Tree. Here’s how: Step 1: Identify Your Core StrengthYour core strength is the quality that defines you. It’s what stays steady, even in difficult times and how you show up when you’re at your best. Maybe it’s Adaptability: You stay calm and flexible when circumstances change, always finding a way forward no matter the circumstances. or it’s Wisdom: You have a natural ability to see the big picture, offering thoughtful insights that guide others toward clarity and confidence. or it’s Humor: Your quick wit and ability to bring lightness to even the heaviest moments make you the person everyone looks to for relief. or Kindness: You consistently show up for others, offering warmth, understanding, and genuine care when they need it most. or it’s Creativity: You approach challenges with fresh ideas and innovative solutions, seeing possibilities where others see roadblocks. or Resilience: You bounce back with strength & determination, always ready to tackle what’s next. or Empathy: You deeply understand and validate others’ feelings, creating spaces where people feel truly seen and supported. So what is it for you? Not quite sure? Think about a time when you felt truly proud of how you handled a situation. What qualities did you rely on to navigate that moment? How did they impact the outcome or the people around you? Or, ask your best friend: What is one quality you see in me that consistently shows up, no matter the circumstances? Take a moment to reflect. How does their perspective align with how you see yourself? What truly is your core strength? Say it out loud. Write it down. Own it. Step 2: Activate Your Inner CompassJust as a Touch Tree in the wilderness keeps you tethered, your Inner Compass can help you navigate back to your core strength when you feel disconnected. To activate your Inner Compass and tap into your core strength, use something tangible that reconnects you to who you are at your best: A song that stirs your energy and reconnects you to your strength. A photo that captures a moment of clarity or strength. A small object, like a charm or keepsake, that symbolizes and connects you to the qualities you value most in yourself. It’s not about the tool itself, it’s about YOUR strength that the tool evokes. Your true North. Keep your tool close, especially during challenging times. Hold the trinket, Look at the photo, Listen to the song, whenever you need to reset and reorient. Step into your strength. So, what’s Your Touch Tree? What’s your core strength? What reset tool will help you stay connected to yourself this season? I’d love to hear—hit reply and share your thoughts. And remember the most important thing you can do this holiday season is show up for yourself. Happy Holidays and see you back here in the new year! xx, Nicole |
Time by Design
Straightforward strategies to pursue your purpose, accelerate your growth, show up as your whole self, increase higher order thinking and align your time with your values. What to try. Why it Works. For When it Matters.
When we talk about boundaries, the conversation often focuses on saying “no”. And no is really important… but it’s not the only option. I know it’s popular to say “if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no” and I would agree, that’s an excellent approach… when there’s no risk of shooting yourself in the foot. For example, sometimes as a founder you’re going to get requests from potential or current investors & prospective or active clients to which you shouldn’t just deliver a hard no… even if...
My first business was an artisan chocolates company. At the peak of its success, as we were shipping chocolates by the case nationwide, getting covered in the New York Times and Food & Wine Magazine and celebrating a front page article in the Wall Street Journal nine days before Christmas… I used to pull up to the commercial kitchen every morning and fantasize about firebombing the building. Not literally, of course. But also, kinda. It’s a common phenomenon among founders and business owners...
Every year, I feel like I crawl across the finish line of October, beaten, battered, exhausted and with an absolute train wreck of an office. It’s always, by far, my hardest and most exhausting month… a combination of celebrating both kids’ birthdays (and Ollie’s famiversary) helping my oldest prep to pitch in the Young Inventors Challenge, facilitating multiple annual planning offsites for clients, oh, and to cap it all off, Halloween. Not to mention, you know, all the usual things. I...