Celebrating 10 years of cultivating wisdom
Does it ever feel like you don't have enough time to both reflect and celebrate?
In late September 2018, Runway Consultancy turned 10 years old. Runway has been the name of my coaching business since it began - and in the last 10 years I’ve worked with some truly amazing people to help them grow and improve in their working lives.
And so, it seemed only right to have a party! The celebration was for my clients, acknowledging the energy that they have put into themselves and growing in their work. And it was also to mark the end of an era and the start of a new phase by giving my business a brand new name - Susie Lawrence Consulting. It was so great to see 65 wonderful people there on the night, sharing their stories with each other.
So that’s the celebration, but then where is the reflection, I hear you say? Well, on the night we were exploring the topic of wisdom… with a bit of help and inspiration to give us food for thought. The guests watched a short film I made with some of my clients over the long hot summer – you can watch it here.
I then interviewed Jonathan Rowson, philosopher and founder of Perspectiva, who has written a PhD on the subject of wisdom (I’m going to write more about him in a separate blog). It was fascinating to chat to him and hear him share his thoughts; I particularly liked one thing he said: ‘Experience is not what happens to you, it’s what you do with what happens to you’. I look forward to writing more about that.
We also listened to an original piece of spoken word about wisdom created for me by playwright Karen Cogan, currently appearing in her one woman show, Drip Feed, at the Soho Theatre. Here are her deliciously funny and wise words for your ears.
So, the night was a great success - bringing two good things in life together, reflection and celebration.
And with that in mind, I’ll leave you with my five simple tips for cultivating happiness:
Take the time to say thank you to people that you work with – gratitude goes a long way and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Don’t always rush to a solution, step away to consider multiple perspectives – this reflection will help you be more confident in your final decision.
Connect people that you think will enjoy and enrich each other – there’s nothing more satisfying that seeing new partnerships flourish as a result. Remember, social connections are as important to us as the need for food, safety, and shelter.
Go on, celebrate. Taking the time to do this not only really helps you to reflect on what’s happened, it gives you the chance to think about the future. And of course, celebration triggers all sorts of positive emotions.
And finally, and most importantly, cherish those that you love and be grateful that they love you. My three girls and my partner Will were a fantastic support and presence on the night which meant a lot to me.
Thank you for sharing the first 10 years of Runway with me – and here’s to the next 10 years as Susie Lawrence Consulting!