I grow stronger and wiser after each community meet up.

Not necessarily in the set agenda. But in the soft air in between. In the grace shimmering as two humans set off on writing stories yet untold.

It is becoming somewhat of a habit now, on the train back to Malmö after a few days with the community of Visual Practitioners, I gather my thoughts. I’ll share some personal reflections with you here.

Kind confidence through grounding

In recent years I have become more confident and at the same time more sensitive. My time in Africa brought me back to myself. Lifted me up from a few years of lost confidence. Grounded me in my essence as a woman and as a leader. During these past two years since I’ve back in my hometown Malmö, I’ve taken a deep dive into an ocean of colors, meaning and lively creatures.

I came back after 10 years abroad and simply did what I always do. I dive. I jump. Into the unknown. Driven by heart and intuition. I am comfortable in the uncomfortable. In the not knowing. In being a novice. I’m curious and love discovering. Discovering the ocean of visual practice, that world we all have some connection to but not all of us dare to dive. Or there are circumstances that hinder the discovery.

In one way I was a novice when I dove into the world of Visual Practice and started an agency for Live Scribers. Just as novice as that time when I was discovering life below water at the coast of Byron Bay in Australia. It was raining cats and dogs. The boat took us far out in the ocean. The others jumped into the water with their diving gear. I didn’t yet dive so I took my snorkel and jumped in. The rain was loud as it hit the water. The boat behind me was rocking. I was slightly scared. Being in the middle of a storm almost. When I put my head below water. Silence. Calm. No worry in the world. I was immediately greeted by an old turtle. She was old and wise. Came straight up to me to linger for a bit. Welcoming me to a new world. Telling me not to worry because “you already know this world – it’s simply a re-discovery. You’ll love it. And you’ll love my friends”. I touched her back. It was soft with green traces revealing she’s got a few years on her cv. She looked at me with that old, wise look of reassuring confidence. Then she slowly headed back down to her friends, the fishes and sharks.

So, in another way, when I dove into the world of Visual Practice I felt like I was coming home. Like I entered a new world but it was extremely familiar. I also have one of the most solid backgrounds in terms of marketing and managing people. I’ve worked 10 years in business development and communications. Another 10 years in people management – which was basically about delivering experiences and making people smile. Making people happy. I loved it. And throughout my life, I’ve always loved and been confident in communicating in visuals and helping people understand ideas and connections. I’m really good at that. What was new, was the activation of my hand again and understanding the field of visual practice. The benefits, the operational side and especially what the customers need, what they want and how they want it.

My confidence is ever so slightly related with me having reached the golden 40. With age and experience comes wisdom. With wisdom comes a certain ability to chill and trust that “I know this” and it will all be alright.

My grandfather told me on one of the last days of his life:

You can only do your best and it will be good.

It was when I was visiting him at the hospital. The evening before a big talk. I was about to reveal a huge business failure of mine to the world. And I was nervous. His words will stay with me forever. A comforting confidence-pillow.

Grandpa Tore is one of the kindest people I’ve known. A humble Dalai Lama in his own practice. At peace. A loyal worker. Did his work good. To the extent he used to get rewarded and put forward to the important clients. Not that he was striving for it. He simply did a good job. He was kind and considerate. Sometimes the thought strikes me that he on purpose held on to life until my birthday had passed. As if he didn’t want to “ruin” my birthday with his passing. On my birthday 1st of April 2018, I came to see him with a cake. He couldn’t eat anymore. And that day he could hardly open his eyes. But he was present. Almost struggling to hold on. I spoke to him. With him. I told him he can let go. He has done good for so many people. He has loved and been loved. He passed away peacefully on April 2nd.  Resting in peace.

Do good. Be kind.

There is not a necessity to strive for the greatest good. Ethical leadership pursues the art of the possible for the greater (not the greatest) good. Sustainable success comes from winning what you can rather than all that you want.

I’ve gone through periods being content with doing for myself and others the greater good. I have strived for the extraordinary. I still do. But I find myself content and happy with simply doing good and accepting what is. That what is called being at peace.

Sometimes we try to push for things we strongly believe in. We believe it’s part of our purpose. Something that we know will have a great impact for many to come. What we sometimes fail to see in our pursuit is this: If we face several obstacles. If people are not with us. If we loose our sense of empathy. If we are not humble in our pursuit of our goal – then it is not to be. If you get caught by a current in the ocean that threatens your life by pulling you out too deep. What do you do? If you swim against the current, you will put yourself in greater danger. You fight against nature and loose energy. If you swim sideways, with the current, you will survive.

My confidence has evolved as a humble wave of love for myself and for others. I have always jumped. These days, I simply jump more deliberate and I swim sideways.

Sensitive or aware

I am also more sensitive. I get somewhat overwhelmed in big crowds. As if all the doors to my soul and heart are wide open and I want to be able to fit it all in. I go into overload. An opposition to my strong desire to discover deeper connections. Tango has played a large part in enabling physical proximity to not be a boundary in “real” life. It’s a liberating feeling that has surely contributed to my profound interest in connecting.

Or wait..  is it that I’m more sensitive? Perhaps it’s rather on an empowering note. I’m more aware. I’m more aware of the meaning of life – meaningful moments. And as a dear friend of mine recently put it: “I want to be able to give my all to a person and for that to happen I need to be fully connected to that one person – only”.

So in Prag, at the European Visual Practitioners meet-up, I grew again as a person and as a business person. After all, the theme was “how to create Business Value”. I’m gently coming back to my grandiose vision of becoming the number one business woman in Sweden. At the time when I initiated this vision I was at my last year of Service Management studies, reading DI (Dagens Industri – the financial newspaper) every morning and excelling in my Business Development and Change Management courses. I truly felt I wanted to become one of the senior vice presidents I daily read about. The difference now from then, is that:

1. ..to back it up I have a clear purpose and can execute calmly with meaningfulness as my side-kick. Peter Day reminded me of what it’s all about – making it easy for the client. Being of service. That is already in my DNA. (You may read more about that here: I’m a rebel with a purpose here to serve )

My purpose (my service in life)  is simple:

Bring back the power of hand-drawn visuals to make work-life more fun and efficient (aka more sustainable).

Obviously I still have a few things to work on until I can reach my vision. I am intrigued how I will make it happen.

2. I don’t need to become a senior vice president. Becoming the no 1 business woman in Sweden can mean many things. I leave it open. A broad vision. A guide in my pursuit to provide meaningful services to my surroundings. It may be an actual hard-target nomination. It may be a project of ours that is lifted. It may be in Malmö and not in all of Sweden. What it actually manifests as, is less important. It’s simply a good incentive for me to stay on path for myself and for my colleagues. Becoming better at those things I lack. Becoming the best version of myself that I can be. To be of good service. Not complicate things for others. Rather to make life easier for others. (and myself).

Before I’ve invested myself for some other authority. Now I’m investing myself for me and for my colleagues and collaborators. I am my own boss. Something I believe many more could do too. And should do too. If it wasn’t for the fear of insecurity, we’d have many more entrepreneurs and a much happier planet. Entrepreneurship is at the tip of the hand. Letting go of fear and that paralysing clinging to the branch of security. We can all be entrepreneurs and be part of shaping our own lives. Our own time. Our own goals. Living the successes. And experiencing the failures. It’s in that experience we grow.

Luckily I collaborate with people that are more than colleagues, they are also mentors and people who inspire me to be good and do greater good.

Mind control. Smile.

I also experienced in Prague one of my most important moments in life as I consciously took control of my mind and filled it with so many positive thoughts, there was no room left for doubts, fears or negative thoughts or emotions. I’ve trained many years in directing my mind. In essence I do believe I’ve always been doing it. Perhaps not as conscious as now. It has now become part of my natural state of mind. I don’t need to actually “take control” – rather nudge myself a millimetre in case of a heavy metal sword swooshing by. I let it swoosh.

That is not to say that certain emotions did not appear. I felt it deep in my heart. It brought me back in time to when I was a child and was left out. When I didn’t belong. We all have a deep need for belonging. When that feeling is compromised, it is as if the whole world may be tumbling down on you. As you’ve been caught in a wave that harshly swirls you around and around until you don’t know up from down and you’re almost out of breath. That feeling, you know it. But it is only a feeling. When I “took control” and put myself in perspective, I looked around the room and felt I DID belong. Just not in that one small corner. For now.

Gratitude

I’m blessed to be in my purpose and find myself in the community of all intelligent, humble and soulful Visual Practitioners. I’m grateful for Madrid, Copenhagen (IFVP), Hamburg & now the 4th meet-up/conference in Prague 28 and 29th of April, 2019.

Wonderful organising team Bea & co Katka, Klárka, Marclea, Terez and Jana. Most dedicated facilitators Mara and Sven from Visuality.

Carlotta – you know.

Reka, Dace – the Riga dream team, finally together 🙂

The Banana Team (Mette, Bruno, Tom, Aare, Susanne) wow two remarkable days together. Thank you for all the fun and shared learnings.

I had lots of laughs

 

and lots of deep thought-moments.

Gabriela you were on spot with taking us through the importance of branding and the power of archetypes.  It was a solid reminder for everyone to bring it up to the strategic level. Wether you’re a one-man business or an agency – having a well defined marketing strategy is key.

Mathias, comforting soup with an infusion of humble kindness

All old friends, all new friends: muchissimas gracias for our encounters. I cherish you deeply and can’t wait to see you in Sweden for the next European Visual Practitioners meet up.

Much love,

Mina

All pictures except if says otherwise is taken by the local photographer in Prague Vaclav: https://www.facebook.com/krasnesvetlo.cz/

And of course there was tango 😉

PS. I’ve got some reflections to publish as well from the Hamburg and Copenhagen sessions. And currently also writing on a more elaborate piece: The curse of the uncontrolled extrovert 😉