Working Like a Hummingbird vs. an Eagle

Can you relate to this? Since I entered high school, I have been pushing. Pushing to get better grades. Pushing to lead every organization I join. Pushing to wring more out of each and every day. Every hour. Every minute. Pushing, pushing, pushing.

It’s exhausting if you never take the time to GLIDE.

As an executive coach for women in Atlanta, I often tell my clients to push, push, glide. Why? The gliding helps you restore and gives you energy to push again. So, when am I going to glide???

Q4, baby! This is my time to glide, and it can be yours too. But, when it came time for me to set goals around gliding, I didn’t even know what gliding looks like. So, everyday, I ask myself: What does gliding look like TODAY?

What Does Gliding Look Like?

1. Gliding looks like interrupting what I’m doing to delight in what my family is doing.

2. It looks like stopping to talk to neighbors instead of rushing home to get to work.

3. Gliding looks like saying no to or not now collaborations and partnerships that don’t serve my short term goals.

4. Creativity takes white space and I’m giving myself more of it.

5. I’m giving myself some margin to lift up and see the bigger picture.

6. And, finally, I’m learning that my worthiness doesn’t rest on my productivity.

Learning to Soar

I ❤️ my work as an executive coach for women in Atlanta. And I know unlearning the habit of overwork is going to take me awhile, but I’m happy to have started the journey.

My 2020 Star Word was FLY and I am flying. There is no doubt about it.

But, how do I want to fly??

I want to STOP flapping my wings like a hummingbird and start soaring like an eagle.

Both birds fly, but one expends a heck of a lot less energy doing it. Eagles are also powerful and majestic and command respect.

The 80/20 Rule

The Pareto principle holds that 80% of your results will come from just 20% of your action.The Pareto principle is a “universal truth” about the imbalance of inputs and outputs. And, while it isn’t always an exact 80/20 ratio, this imbalance is often seen in business cases:

• 20% of the sales reps generate 80% of total sales.

• 20% of customers account for 80% of total profits.

So, how can you apply this principle to help you glide?

First, determine what 20% of your efforts account for 80% of your results, and become laser-focused on them. Then, analyze the other 80% of your workload and delegate, outsource, or eliminate it so you can DO LESS. An 80/20 mindset will help you to stay focused on what is working and to expend less energy flapping your wings.

If you’re ready to explore executive coaching for women with Wayfinders, I would love to hear from you!! Apply for a complimentary Discovery Session here.

And remember, anyone who doesn’t light you up is too small for you,

Sarah-Nell

Executive Coach + Trusted Advisor to Attorneys and Business Owner