Hello Friend!
This week felt like one of those mid-summer pauses—a little slower in pace but no less significant. There wasn’t a single “aha” moment, no major reveal. But what I did feel was a quiet recalibration. And I think we all need that sometimes.
There’s something powerful about sitting in the “in-between.” Not racing forward. Not stuck in the past. Just present. Still in motion—but more intentionally so.
Here’s what’s been going on.
🚀 Endeavour: Coaching Commitments & Building the Slow Momentum
Work within companies continues—quieter perhaps, but no less meaningful. We’re approaching the end of two major coaching projects and starting to lay the groundwork for their next phases. These transitions are always delicate. It’s where trust either deepens—or falls apart. We’ve been fortunate that in these cases, it’s the former.
This week, I also began coaching some new individuals. Starting with a new coachee always brings up that same internal ritual. I take time to ground myself. Reread their notes. Reflect on their context. I think deeply about what I can offer, what I need to listen for, and where I might challenge them.
One thing I’m focusing on lately is establishing mutual commitment—not just what I offer as a coach, but what the coachee commits to bringing into the space. Accountability goes both ways. I show up. You show up. Together, we move forward. And that clarity early on can make a world of difference.
That said, Endeavour is slowing down a little right now. It’s mid-summer, and in many ways, that’s welcome. We’re using this time to tie up loose ends, revisit systems, and tend to the quieter work that keeps the engine running—admin, follow-ups, and yes, even inbox clearing.
Question for you: What kind of support do you seek most during slower seasons—structure, space, or connection?
🎙️ GROWTH Schema: A Masterclass, a Move & a Microphone Crew
The 68th podcast episode goes live this week, and it’s a powerful one. It features Elizabeth Bachman—former opera director turned executive coach—and the episode is titled:
“Strategic Empathy & Other Leadership Superpowers: A Masterclass with Elizabeth Bachman.”
Elizabeth brings wisdom, theatre, and strategy into one very compelling conversation. We explore what it takes to truly influence, not just speak. The idea that visibility ≠ influence stuck with me. So did her reflections on multifocus thinking and how women can better own and use their voice in high-stakes rooms. Whether you're leading a team, pitching to a client, or just trying to show up more fully—this episode has gems. Real ones.
Meanwhile, the podcast is also moving… literally. Tomorrow, we’ll be transporting all the studio equipment to our new space. It’s an exciting step. Logistics are a bit uncertain (the stairwell is tight, and I can’t help lift anything yet), but I’ve assembled a crew—friends and colleagues who’ve kindly stepped in to make this move possible.
This has reminded me how much community matters. Not just the kind you feature on a podcast, but the kind that shows up with boxes and trailers when you can’t.
The good news? All pre-recorded episodes are now edited and scheduled. That backlog has officially become a runway.
🔥 Scouts: Leadership, Legacy & Letting Go (A Little)
The annual summer camp kicks off this week, and I’m both excited and curious about how it will unfold. This year, I’m attending as a Group Support Leader—not tied to a specific unit. This is the first time in 12 years I’m stepping into more of a backstage role. That’s hard. But also necessary.
As I shared last week, my partner and I have even been working on a special programme to support the group behind the scenes while still being part of the experience. There’s something meaningful about co-creating space like this—it honours the past while holding space for something new.
On a national level, our scouting team is taking advantage of the summer pause. We’re reviewing recent activities, gathering feedback, and starting to plan forward. One conversation that’s becoming more real is succession planning. We’re about a year away from that transition, and if I’m honest, it’s stirring a lot inside me. Pride. Uncertainty. Reflection. Growth.
Question for you: How do you know when it’s time to start letting go—or passing something on?
🩺 Personal: Healing, Humility & The Myth of “Being Back to Normal”
This part of my week is hard to describe in metrics or milestones. Yes, I’ve made visible progress. Yes, I’m off both crutches. Yes, I can walk short distances on my own, go up and down stairs slowly, and even do some strength training exercises. But recovery doesn’t follow a linear path. It’s full of contradictions.
Some days, I feel strong. Other days, I feel incredibly fragile—physically, yes, but also emotionally.
This week, I hit a bump. I accidentally overstretched my hamstring—nothing serious, thankfully, but a sharp reminder of how much trauma my body has gone through and how cautious I need to be. For context, a part of my hamstring was used to reconstruct my ACL, which means it's currently weaker and more sensitive than usual. Simple movements, like trying a leg curl or shifting my weight too fast, remind me that I’m still very much in recovery mode.
And here's the tricky part—people around you start to assume that you're "better" the moment you stop using crutches. I get it. The visual cue is gone, so the narrative shifts: You’re walking, so you must be fine. But healing doesn’t work that way. There’s still pain. Still swelling. Still nights where my leg feels like a brick. Still a long list of things I can’t do: drive, run, swim, pivot, or stand for too long without discomfort. "Back to normal" is not a switch—it’s a gradient.
But progress is happening.
I’ve been doing three daily rounds of physiotherapy exercises at home, plus cycling. These 15-minute routines might not sound like much, but when you’re rebuilding from near-zero, they’re both physically demanding and mentally exhausting. Sometimes I dread them. Other times, they feel empowering. Most days, they feel like both.
A small win this week was being told by my physiotherapist that I’m ahead of the curve in terms of range of motion and strength. That gave me a much-needed boost. It reminded me that consistency is doing its job—even when results are invisible day-to-day.
Emotionally, though, recovery is testing me in unexpected ways. I’ve always struggled to ask for help. But I’m learning. There’s still frustration. There’s still the itch to do more. But I’ve been reminding myself that slowing down isn’t failure—it’s strategy.
And if I’m honest, this period has forced me to reflect not just on how I move, but why I move the way I do. The pace, the pressure, the internalized urgency to always be productive. Maybe this season is less about returning to “normal” and more about redefining what my new normal could look like.
I'm not there yet. But I'm on the road.
But recovery is like that. It teaches you that healing isn’t just about fixing something—it’s about changing your relationship with your body, your patience, and your expectations.
I also managed to spend a lovely afternoon by the sea with friends. I didn’t swim (not allowed yet), but being outdoors, hearing the waves, and having good company was medicine in its own way.
Thanks again for being here and reading. These reflections keep me grounded, and I hope they offer you something too—be it insight, inspiration, or simply the comfort of shared experience.
If anything resonated with you this week, I’d love to hear it in the comments.
Until next week, Grow Beyond.