Evoenix:Edits – Page 2 – Abbie Pierce
29th September 2021 CoachingWrite a comment2 views	
They are not you and you are not them.
You don’t see what they see.
We all have a unique filter calibrated to just us, and us alone.
It interprets and guides our thoughts, values, opinions and behaviours.
And it’s not necessary, or even possible, to re-calibrate to be completely in sync with others.
All we need to know is – it’s there.
And do the hard emotional labour of seeking to understand, see and hear others.
Not to change each other. Simply to collaborate and be open to possibilities.
And simple is rarely easy. That’s what makes it worthwhile.
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22nd September 2021 CoachingWrite a comment14 views	
The recent Brian Cox Planets series has been a fascinating watch and really does help to put things into perspective. Living on this tiny speck of dust we call home.
Even more so, other solar systems follow a consistent pattern – they are doing things their way.
Then there’s ours – and we are doing things our way.
Because our solar system was subjected to several unique events giving rise to some unique characteristics, yet to be seen in other systems.
It’s not wrong, just different. So even in the geological world, it thrives on diversity and is affected by lived experience.
But it begs a pondering and I don’t know which is scarier…
There’s a high probability, given the vast number of solar systems, that we are not alone.
The likelihood that because we are so unique, in fact, we might well be.
15th September 2021 CoachingWrite a commentOne view	
I started blogging through Medium (Instagram for writers) in May 2019, migrating to a website that August and I have never looked back. Maintaining a 2-year streak of weekly blogs.
It became a way for me to unpack ideas and challenge my thinking.
Which then helps others to rethink ideas and how they might unpack them.
It’s my way of expressing my thoughts and values. And if people reading it agree, then we have a connection.
And for those with differing ideas, we can connect in spirited debate.
I also know all too well those questions that will be whizzing through your mind:
Who’s even gonna read this shit?
Well, the only way to find out the answers to the questions is to start writing a blog.
And the hardest part is the sitting down to write.
But, I promise, that when you do the words will come.
And so long as you are interacting with the World, you will always have things to write about.
Blogging often gets confused with advertising and it’s used to funnel potential customers towards a product. It can be used in this way but will only work if you’ve already built a trusting community of followers.
For me, blogging has very little to do with sales and revenue. Blogging is my way of honouring the people who have given me permission to hear my voice and I can share other ideas with them.
One of my hero bloggers is Seth Godin. I not only admire his content but also follow his lead when it comes to WHAT a blog is for.
Maybe a podcast might be more your style?
https://seths.blog/2018/10/podcasting-is-the-new-blogging-2/
Becoming Smart, Always.
8th September 2021 CoachingWrite a comment3 views	
“It’s not what you know that makes you smart, it’s the connections between what you know that makes you smart.” – Michael Bungay Stanier
We’ve all done it. Read a book. Studied an article. Written an essay or posted on social media.
And we took the shortcut.
We hacked our way through. Reading to just get to the end. Writing to meet the assessment criteria. Hurrying to hit send.
And that makes us feel smart. We absorb or disseminate information to clock up our mileage.
But, what are we actually doing with all this information once we’ve digested it?
Because we may produce a blinding essay that meets all the criteria and is submitted on time. And we may even get a fancy piece of paper that tells us: “Congratulations, you have been awarded [insert grade]“.
Another A4 clear plastic, hole punched pocket was inserted into the professional development record.
We took what we had learned.
Stitched it together with other pieces of knowledge.
Applied it in some way.
Then studied the results.
Took the good, and thought about doing better.
Looked at the bad, and adjusted our approach.
Then, took what we had learned…
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Is Trust really a thing?
31st August 2021 CoachingWrite a comment4 views	
Or merely a set of secretly coded agreements that align, and sometimes not?
And boundaries that are maintained, or may get crossed?
So then, might it be down to us to keep communicating, tweaking, nurturing and course-correcting that relationship?
So that, we can all get along in life – without having to second guess our every move and interaction.
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Time. It’s all invented.
24th August 2021 CoachingWrite a comment	
“I appear to have several hours a day spare. I know, I’ll get a puppy!”
The same can be said when starting a family.
The desire comes first.
Then, we slowly begin to craft our lives around this small, helpless creature.
Making time, sacrifices and decisions based on outcomes we couldn’t possibly foresee.
And yet, often we pass on opportunities to commit to our health, development and growth.
Claiming, “I don’t have the time”.
The reality is, there’s never enough time.
And it’s not even the real problem.
Because when we decide to get a puppy or start a family, we know deep down why we’re doing it.
Even if we can’t fully explain it in words and pictures.
It’s just because we really want to.
And we will invent the time and energy to make it a success.
18th August 2021 CoachingWrite a comment3 views	
There’s no innovation, without failure.
I’ve smashed through this Netflix series called “Movies That Made Us” – fascinating stuff.
Namely because these classic greats were all doomed for failure.
Of course, there are thousands of films made and discarded every year… but some make it through and go on to become the movies of our lives. And yes, each one was fraught with doubt and uncertainty at many points along the way.
But there were some stark themes that kept recurring.
They all were flying by the seat of their pants and making shit up as they go. Literally! Sometimes the scriptwriters were only days ahead of the filming. And each time for various reasons the same phrase was uttered – “This was the first time that…”
Whether that was innovation in graphics, contracting the right lead actor or the company turned its hand to feature films when it’s expertise was in ads.
And another observation that was common among these greats – each and every project had 2-3 initial believers before the rest of the world got on board.
Remember the rule of 3 to start a movement as per Derek Sivers?
(not Phil Silvers, as I keep getting those two mixed up)
Yep, works in the movie biz too!
These may be large scale, overt and well-known unicorns. But, that doesn’t mean small miracles don’t happen in everyday life too.
When you’re about to quit – ask yourself – what am I quitting for? And is it a good enough reason?
In need of a binge watch? Here’s the series that prompted this thought: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80990849
And that Siver TED: https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement
Is it the end, a beginning, or merely what’s next?
11th August 2021 CoachingWrite a commentOne view	
For many, myself included, joining the military was a means to an end.
That “end” being – where we were at the time.
As opposed to the bigger picture end – as Stephen Covey quotes, “Begin with the end in mind”.
We weren’t saying to ourselves – right I want to work in X industry and joining the military is a good stepping-stone to get there.
Then we leave and it can often feel like starting over. And that can be very daunting.
It’s a fresh start – of sorts. But one with all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained over the years.
An opportunity to give your younger self a second chance, now.
What opportunity can you grab with both hands and not let go until you get there?
And do you know what that opportunity is for?
What it’s really for, in the end?
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4th August 2021 CoachingWrite a comment	
Last week I encouraged us to bring our unique selves to the problem-solving table. Because our perspective is vital for collaboration and innovation – to bring together all the POV and lived experiences.
And yet, another question remains…
Are we creating the best conditions for those unique perspectives to be heard?
Encouraging folks to raise their hand and welcoming the difficult questions.
To test, to fail by falling, learning how to get back up and move forward.
Because ignoring stagnant cultural norms and old-fashioned behaviours fuels the status quo and they might actually be the problems that require our collective attention.
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28th July 2021 CoachingWrite a comment2 views	
Is all relative to person, place, time and situation.
How to solve a problem – might be resolved with an easy internet search, asking an expert or referring to a standard operating procedure.
Then there’s another dynamic at play – How you might solve a problem.
What unique perspective, worldview and imagination do you bring to the table when there’s a problem that needs solving?
Because if it were easy or standard – it would be solved already.
And we need people like you to stand up and ask the difficult questions.
To do the hard work of test, learn, adjust and repeat.