Talent Revolution, Hard Rock International and UCL London

If there was ever a perfect example of a time when I truly felt like I was living my UCL (Ultimate Career Lifestyle), it was this past week, in London, while working with the amazing team from Hard Rock International.

This trip made me reflect on a time in the not-so-distant past when Chris and I were working in a not-so-great place on a not-so-great gig. Our last evening there, over a little Knob Creek, I said to him: “Starting now, we are more intentional about the work we attract to our business.”

And here we are, shortly after that experience and deliberate choice, Susan and myself (sorry Chris) doing meaningful work with a kick ass company in London, UK.

Here’s a video that is just an appetizer of the experience:

I’m so grateful.

Living your UCL is a choice.

I’ll never dare say it’s easy, but I will say that every ounce of the uneasy stuff is worth it.

Here are a few of the key UCL principles we live by:

Embrace your authenticity. Unapologetically.
Until I became conscious and accepting of the person I am at my core, until I grew comfortable in my own skin, my life stood still. Being intimate with your passions, convicted with your principles, and high on your talent’s potential is, well, let’s just say pretty freaking awesome and undeniably powerful.

Make the decision to own and create your life. If you don’t, someone else will for you.
You’ve probably heard the saying that there are three types of people. People who make things happen. People who watch things happen. And, people who wonder what the @#$ just happened. Ask yourself: which one are you? Then ask yourself what am I going to do about it?

Write it down. Define, plan and act.
One of the first bosses I ever had taught me to define the outcomes that I want to manifest and be crazy specific when writing them down. That process, paired with having the discipline to take action in stepping towards them, changed the way my life happens. One of my all time favorite sayings as it relates to this is that “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” – someone super smart

Share your intentions with the people in your life.
I’m the big geek with a vision board on Facebook. Hell yeah I am. It’s there where I’m connected to most of the people I know and care about. By communicating my dreams, goals and intentions with the people in my life, they help support me in achieving them. My hope for them is that they share their dreams with me so that I can return the favor.

Stop making excuses. You’re worth it.
It’s 2010 and there’s no reason that any of us should not be relentlessly pursuing the things in life that provide the most meaning to us. We have the best technology, work and communication tools that we’ve ever had. The wisdom of many others who have achieved the goals we have is at our fingertips. Most importantly all of the resources we need we can find inside of ourselves. If we give ourselves the gift of time to explore them. But first we must acknowledge and accept the fact that we’re worth it.

Because we are.

I want to thank Calum MacPherson, Jim Knight and Alison McCue for giving us the opportunity to work with such a cool company. And to the team from Hard Rock International Sally Woodward, Stefano Pandin, Karen Burke, Elena Alvarez, Paulo Rodrigues, Dale Swift, Kristina Lange, Lucia Castro, Morag Ranford, Debbie Galbraith, David Pellow, Alison Larmond, Calum and Alison “Thank you for letting us be a part of such a special process in your life.”

Thank you Susan Fawcett for being my amazing coach, friend and UCL partner in crime. I couldn’t nor wouldn’t want to do any of this without you.

Authentically yours,
Amanda

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My New “Visible” Tattoo..

I got a visible tattoo. In a true sexy thinker fashion, we flipped it so you could watch and so that those of you who thought I might cry could see how tough I was.

Afterward I had a few conversations that went something like this:

“Hey what did you do today?” – them

“I got a tattoo.” – me

“Where?” – them

“On my forearm” – me

“Wow, you’re brave.” – them

“Why do you say that?” – me

“What will your clients think?” – them

“What if you decide to go back into the corporate world?” – them

“How are you going to hide it?” – them

“It looks like you drew it on with a marker.” – Bill Campion

Listen. Carefully.

It’s not about a tattoo.

It’s 2010, it’s about being able to be who you are.
The people you work for should judge you according to your results, your ideas and your talent. Nothing else.

If I’m not accepted in the workplace for a tattoo, I’m pretty certain there will be other more important parts of who I am that would not be accepted.

Look, sometimes we have to work a job we don’t entirely like, but in this day in age, should we still have to work in places where we can’t express ourselves and be who we are?

I’ve learned that only when you embrace your own authenticity, unapologetically, can you really explore your talents’ potential. By being true to yourself you attract the kind of people in your life who share your values. Including employers and clients.

You do have a choice.

A special thank you to @kwoodpartners for helping me figure this out and to @nwalls for being my sidekick on this experience.