009 Being hot and healthy in business

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BEING HOT AND HEALTHY IN BUSINESS

Whats your definition of success?

Did you even make it up or did society, company culture or even your parents dictate it to you?

As one year draws to a close and we knock on the door of a new year, I thought this powerful message from Nicole van Hattem was the perfect way to finish 2016.

Why?

Because for many of us, the Christmas holidays is that one time of forced annual leave where we actually get time to kick back and reflect, to consider maybe whats gone well and whats a little crappy about the year that’s just been. To review whether our ladder is leaning against the right wall and whether we’re inching closer to our definition of success or fulfilment.

Nicole van Hattem is a fellow podcaster of the Hot and Health Podcast and TV show. She’s a bestselling author and international speaker who’s life’s purpose was birthed out of her pain. Formerly a highflying HR executive between London, Australia and the Middle East, whilst exciting from the outside, was slowly wreaking havoc on her health, her spirit and her body. This caused for a transformational shift which lead to a new definition of success. Nicole is now driven by her mission to save 1 million people from ‘death by desk’ and is a workplace wellness activist teaching corporate employees how to thrive and not just survice the 9 to 5. Or as Nicole puts it how we can be hot in business AND healthy in life.

NICOLE FLIPPED HER DEFINITION OF SUCCESS
OLD definition: Power, prestige, diamonds, holidays, fancy cars, travel…
which came with endless to-do lists, survival mode, striving, no sleep/rest, relationship breakdown, high stress, caffeine dependent, distraction, adrenal fatigue,
“I’m way too smart to be this stupid”

Ah-ha moment: 49 year old boss died just following Nicoles transformational ‘slap in the face’ after a health retreat in Thailand. His death lead to shock, denial, anger then to Nicole quitting her job and going on a quest to find answers to thriving in the 9 to 5.

NEW definition: healthy body, calm mind, rest, sleep, joy, peace, happy relationships, reflection, thriving, resilience…

Learnings:

• Definition of success is an individual thing
• Often we subscribe to other peoples definition of success
• We need to reflect and define our OWN definition of success

OUR PAIN CAN BECOME OUR PURPOSE

• Know and own your values: If your work is out of alignment with your values, you’ll experience ‘pain’ and compromised performance.
• Pain becomes purpose: The pain you experience, equips you to learn and understand how to get out of it, then you can help others in a similar circumstance.
• Nicole’s burnout at work became her purpose: she teaches others in the workplace how to avoid ‘death by desk’ and ‘thrive in the 9 to 5’.

HOW TO WE THRIVE IN THE 9 TO 5

1. Stop: reflect on the outcome of your life so far and make sure it aligns with your core values. Stop doing, doing, doing and take personal responsibility for asking those questions, decide, THEN do.
2. Hydrate: dehydration effects brain function, metabolic function and eliminates toxins.
3. Sleep and rest: we need them for vitality, yet often don’t give sleep or rest importance.
4. Lighten Up: don’t take yourself or life so seriously. Easy joy is an important piece of life. We’re wired for fun, joy and pleasure, so stop dragging our bums through the dirt.
5. Unpack thoughts: if you’ve got disordered or unsupportive thought patterns, NLP, positive affirmations, coaches, counsellors. These help to detox the ‘mind junk food’.
6. Practise morning success rituals: Ask yourself the questions: ‘what do I need to put into the first hour of my day to ensure it’s a great one?’ or alternatively ask ‘if I neglect this thing over a period of time what would give you the most detrimental effect?’ eg. Walk, gratitudes, front-end the days top 3 priorities,

WISDOM BITES

Nicoles Life purpose statement “I am the light that invites discovery and ignites the spark”

#itsallaboutme – “this is your life, you only get one life so live it and don’t get distracted by other people’s expectation of the life you should live”

5 TOP REGRETS OF THE DYING
I heard a friend present recently who shared about the top 5 regrets of the dying – determined by a palliative care nurse when caring for patients in their final 3-12 weeks of life. The very top regret was in line with #itsallaboutme and said:

Wishing you an absolutely wonderful Christmas break – leave work behind and be PRESENT with your family and friends as there’s no better gift than this.

If you’d like to give me a Chrissie present then all I ask is that you subscribe, rate and review the Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher in just 3 easy steps.

Oh and 1 more thing…

No Christmas celebration is fit without those terrible jokes that fill our bon bons, so heres a few to wet your appetite.

Why did Santa’s helper see the doctor?
Because he had a low “elf” esteem!

What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney?
Claustrophobia!

What says Oh Oh Oh?
Santa walking backwards!

RESOURCES
Eat the frog video – Brian Tracey
Thai Freedom House – Lisa Nesser
Hot and Healthy Podcast
Hot and Healthy TV Show – about being hot in business, healthy in life
Australian Institute of Business Leadership Podcast
Top five regrets of the dying blog
Nicole on The Point TV

CONTACT NICOLE
nicolevanhattem.com
Facebook
Hot and Healthy Podcast

*Nicole has offered listeners a Complementary Discovery Session (Value $374). You can redeem here.

I’m so happy to be bringing you this thought leadership and I trust you got a lot of value out of today’s inspirational episode with Nicole.

Until next time, continue being part of the solution in taking your workplace from good to great…

Continue the conversation at www.fitforworkaustralia.com.au, say hi on LinkedIn or flick us a personal note at [e-mail].