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I pay my respects and acknowledge all Traditional Custodians of Country and on whose land I live and work. I recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

Hi reader

the end of the year is nigh. This is my last missive until the new year as I take a break from all things unmeasured and recharge. I hope you're able to do so too reader, after our exhausting year.

I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support this year as I have gone on this new adventure. I'm so grateful to everyone that's reached out to me with thanks, feedback, insights, for a chat, or to engage my services - for all the things. It means the world to me. It fills me up and helps me to keep going. Feedback of any kind is always welcome, it helps me to do better. ❤️

Wishing you all a very happy holiday period. I trust with time for rest, for play, family and friends and maybe just a little time to daydream and consider what success will look like for you next year.

I got you

Michael

you're never ready

the observant will note I often reference lessons I've had from theatre improv, this week I'm at it again. Yesterday I did my first public improv performance. It went well, thanks for asking 😅. In improv, to ensure there's no "dead air", you often need to commit to showing up on stage before you're ready with a fully formed idea or any idea at all. You're probably already anticipating where this is going...

When we're stretching, doing something new, hard or challenging, we won't feel ready.

...and that is a good thing.

If we wait until we feel ready the opportunity may pass. Instead, choose to show up, do your best and be your best self. It's an opportunity to learn, to go further and do better. We may make a mistake, it's the next step in learning. We'll be more ready next time.

There's nothing like the fear and exhilaration of stepping on stage, in front of an audience, and having absolutely no idea what you're about to do or say - it's a choice. On the night, I made some good choices and some bad ones. It was nevertheless always a good choice to step out, because I learnt from what followed. It means that next time, when I'm still not ready, I might do better and I build trust in myself and with the ensemble. They're steps to more ready.

As you've now inferred, I kinda lied in the title. You're only ever somewhat ready when taking on something new, isn't very catchy. It's a reminder that when you don't feel ready, when you've done the work, when you've prepared and practiced you're ready enough. The choice to show up, ensures you'll be more ready the next time too.

Dance with the uncertainty of whether you're ready or not and trust yourself. It's the only way you'll move forward and find out if you are.

You got this.