Lunch with an astronaut

There I am, standing with Charles "Charlie" Walker, he's traversed the vastness of space 3 times, logging 20 days hurtling through a vacuum at 17,500mph. He flew his space missions in just 17months travelling over 8.2 million miles! 

I love it when memories pop up in your photo app! For sure I was younger back then with curious hair, but his story of pioneering, possibility and mental adaptability to change stayed with me and has become ever more relevant. So, what did I learn by listening during lunch with an astronaut?

Charlie was a rejected NASA applicant who became the world’s first commercial astronaut, talk about a masterclass in resilient self-leadership. He didn't just knock on NASA’s door, but when it resolutely shut, he found a side window. He made himself so indispensable to NASA they actually ‘needed him’ in orbit. It's more than a lesson on persistence, it’s a powerful lesson for all of us navigating the often-isolated capsule of managing change. How often in hindsight have we learned the most direct route isn't the only one, and often time, not even the best!

In terms of adapting to change, his description of the brain's frantic dance with space disorientation was memorising. When the shuttle's engines cut out, he recounted feeling as if the entire world had shifted. His internal compass spun wildly, demanding a complete rewiring of "up" and "down." He spoke of "Space Motion Sickness" not as a personal failing, but as the brain’s incredible, albeit uncomfortable, process of calibrating to a changed new reality. 

During disruptive change, like the type we experience more frequently than ever today we know already our brains are inherently wired for stability and resist new landscapes. Walkers discomfort a testament to our human neuroplasticity and capacity to adapt and grow even when our world feels utterly inverted. I mean, who hasn't felt like they're in an isolated capsule, experiencing that 45-degree shift. The key though? To re-calibrate our minds!

To hear him speak and share how in space he missed the "smell of the soil" and the "sound of the wind" while orbiting our pale blue dot….earth and seeing a world without borders was emotive on steroids. Our planet more fragile and fragmented than ever.

While we humans intimately understand the concept of a closed system, as we live and breathe in an age, where every resource, every decision, impacts the whole unified globe. Walker’s words were a philosophy, a reminder that our dreams, even the most seemingly impossible, can be realised through adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to navigate the uncomfortable transformative journeys within each of our own isolated capsules of change with minds and hearts open.

Furry Influencer

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but apparently, an old dog can teach a seasoned facilitator a thing or two. Last week, Mr. Scoobs, my sixteen-year-old companion who has reached an age where most of his peers are either fossilized or featured in scientific journals had a stroke. It was a scene of high drama, one moment he was navigating the kitchen with the dignity of a retired admiral, the next, he was caught in a neurological whirlwind. I truly thought it was the end…but no! Watching Scoobs recover from a stroke is proving to be unimaginably inspiring!

They say resilience isn't about returning to exactly who you were before a crisis, it’s about the brain’s (or an organisation’s) ability to reorganise and find a new way to function despite any damage. 

When the stroke hit Mr. Scoobs specific neural pathways were damaged. Yet somehow his doggy brain, even one of sixteen years, evidently immediately began looking for workarounds.

The power of Scoobs work arounds and micro-wins played out in those first few hours then days right before my eyes. I was astonished as Scoobs one small step at a time, stood, lifted his head, took small shaky very slanty steps. To a casual observer, it was a mess. To Scoobs each movement was a triumphant!

In life we often push for a grand transformation but real change, the kind that sticks, is built on dopamine-driven micro-wins. Each small success reinforces the safety of the effort, lowering the brains threat response and allowing us to engage in progressing. 

As I type, one week later, Mr. Scoobs is currently blissfully snoring. He is 16, if you saw him you wouldn’t believe it, let alone that last week he had a stroke. He is a miracle. 

For every precious day we get from here on out, he is a reminder that whether you are leading a project, your studies, a government department or just looking for a snuggle, the goal is the same, keep your nose forward, find the new path, and never, ever stop your tail from wagging.

Our furry, feathered, or scaly companions might not be accountable for quarterly outputs, deadlines and meeting objectives but they sure do teach us so much!

Vanishing Act?

Have you lost your post holiday 'new me'?

It is one of the great mysteries of the human condition right up there with the Loch Ness Monster, that one can meticulously craft a 'New Me' workplace blueprint, only to have it instantaneously incinerated.

You arrive each day at the car park, smelling of resolve. You have intentions. You are going to be a zen or productivity master, set boundaries, prioritise strategically, take a proper breaks and then it suddenly feels like you never left. Read: The snap back!

Blame your brain (specifically the basal ganglia), the part responsible for habits and procedural memory. While your vacay brain was busy dreaming of a streamlined you, your basal ganglia was simply lying in wait, clutching the pre-vacay blueprints of all your stress patterns.

From the moment you sit in the same chair, open the same laptop, hear the same voices and pings, your brain is deafened by pre-vacay contextual cues, and within seconds your neural pathways are dialling 911.

It kinda feels like calmly explaining a new system to a colleague while part of the building behind you is being accidentally demolished by a runaway bulldozer. You try to hold onto your good intentions, but the sheer velocity of it all can be overwhelming.

The way forward? Interrupt the pattern. 

When my brain is snapping back I change the environment. Within my extraordinary limited space I’ll move and change whatever I can, I even go and sit in a different space at times. Why? Basically, I try to break the visual, audio cues that set off my basal ganglia. The open office for me is a bit like listening to 50 live podcasts on any given day (read: It’s a lot for my adhd self).

Perhaps also there's opportunity to rethink how you handle communications? Before you get jumping into a chaotic sprint to get your messages to zero, why not take a breath and rethink ... because honestly constantly reacting to every beep, chime and ding as they come in isn't helpful. Research shows it can take a whopping 23m to refocus after a distraction. Perhaps try chunking communication. Set a status message then dedicate specific times to tackle the numerous comms apps if you can. This way, you can dive into tasks with full focus, without the sting of pings.

Do you have a cognitive offramp so to speak? So when that quick question arises IRL that you know will be anything but short. My off-ramp means, I acknowledge them with my signature warmth and provide a boundary, "sounds great! I’m currently knee deep in e.g. xyz my calendar is up to date though, pick a time or shall I pop by you in while?”

What else … take your breaks seriously. Some workplace culture sometimes treat overworking like a competitive sport. Eating at a desk? Snacking constantly? Working late. Check yourself! Are you being conditioned to think this is all a sign of dedication. Research, yup, it tells us it's the opposite my friends, non-stop work causes stress to build up in your brain, having a real neurological impact. The solution? Regular breaks stops stress from accumulating, keeps your brain sharper and your energy levels higher. So, set a timer, get up, stretch, hydrate, go to the bathroom and just stop. It's not a luxury, it's a physical necessity.

I'm willing to gamble that on holiday, you likely had a lot more idle time. Some people still believe a wandering mind is inactive, again, neuroscience proves when our minds wander, different parts of our brain light up and connect, enhancing problem-solving and creativity. So schedule some down-time, it is literally one of the most productive things to do. Anything less is like being paid to be simply unimaginative and kills energy and motivation for sure!

Lastly, forgive yourself, the psychological weight of telling yourself you're failing your ‘new me’ promise to yourself is a massive drain on your brain. If you left work today, got home, lost your cool with yourself or those you love because you felt swallowed by the day, don't spiral. It wasn't a moral failure, snap-back is simply a neural reflex. Notice the patterns and break them.

Career Jungle Gym

The onset of the new year, has everyone asking about goals, new challenges and top of mind perhaps is the thought of seeking a new challenge in the world of work through a new role, or even a new organisation. To this end, I'm serving up some alternate lenses!

Firstly, what’s the worst that can happen if you forget that notion entirely? What other opportunities or options might you be overlooking? 

Is it a job you idealise, a career, a particular organisation? Perhaps, instead hone your focus on building a life that is genuinely exciting to live every single day of which your career, job, organisation is a part (rather than the other way round). I'm talking about an attempt to intentionally design your day, week, nay...life. Think big picture!

I say this because too often your ideal job, career or organisational destination can be something of a mirage. Jobs come and go, job titles and families change (more frequently than ever) for example, I guarantee that right now, there are potential jobs in your future that haven't even been dreamed into existence yet! So, when you think about a successful career, don't think vertical climbs - think ‘big picture and life’!

Try this, start by picturing Tuesday at 9am. Where are you? In a bustling city, a quiet home office, or out in the fresh air? Who are you talking with? Clients, colleagues, numerous stakeholders or just your cleverest self? What is your rhythm? Structured deadlines, or autonomy, the freedom to follow your curiosity? What life does this allow you to lead?

The young man who dreams of being a senior executive is maybe picturing the glory of the title, car, compensation and respect, but hasn't considered the reality of the 24/7 on-call life and the vast majority of their free time being swallowed by a relentlessly repeating schedule. Then there are the weekend catch-ups…

When I say visualise, I don't mean in the lofty sense, but rather, become conscious of what an ideal daily life needs to offer you right now (knowing the needs will change!) because this is the ultimate career compass of the truly smart! 

Another thought I want to offer up is the power of networking and your social life! Don't be the person with the perfect GPA and no friends. A whole world is happening without you! You might find a potential mentor, collaborator, friend or partner for life. In my 20s a chance meeting on a train coming home from London after a night out, I met Helen. Helen was a recruitment professional and head-hunter, we hit it off immediately and over several years she single-handedly moved my L&D career, from that of regional trainer to development manager with the largest retailer in Europe, to business development manager with the biggest optical provider, to UK L&D Manager of the biggest hotel chains in the UK! 

Your network is your net worth (seriously, stop studying for qualifications so much, yup, there I said it. IKR!) From all my years in the learning space I can candidly say that qualifications are not the key to the kingdom. In truth, they are a ticket to the starting line and nothing more. Once you’re in the race, (and the human race is afterall ginormous) it's relationships, the ability to make an impact and add value that are the true turbo boosters. The biggest mistakes I see is persons simply trying too hard and/or leaning on a network just for favours. A network isn’t a collection of contacts to use, it's an ecosystem of mutual support and inspiration. The people you meet and genuinely connect with will open doors, bring opportunities, and provide meaningful insights and guidance. So, consider, could prioritising connection over resume perfection add value to your career too?

This last one is personal. Let your quirks be your superpower! For too long, I tried to fit myself into the idea of a corporate cookie-cutter. Black suits, shift dresses and court shoes. I worried about my love for obscure trivia, passion for soca-dancehall, my need to be social after 10pm, I thought these quirks made me "unprofessional." The opposite is true. Our unique traits are not flaws, they are your brand (and your filter). When you hide them, you attract people who only like the generic, watered-down version of you, it's exhausting and potentially unsustainable. I'm talking about just being authentically professional.

Remember organisations don't just hire your skills, they hire 'you' too. Your distinct perspective ethics, energy etc. this might be what sets you apart in a crowded market. This is why I always recommend interviewing for new roles/challenges when you've never been happier in your current role (it’s my personal secret super-power thanks to Helen) because you always show up as your true best self and actually you are the one doing the interviewing! 

Sleep Abyss

Who hasn’t found themselves awake in the dead of night, staring into the dark, our personal troubles feeling exponentially sharper and utterly catastrophic.

You know how it goes, in the silence of the night, our thoughts, already a little burdened, begin a relentless, psychological siege. But wait…there is a culprit! 

The core culprit is the ‘circadian nadir’. IKR…The say-what-now? This is the point when your core body's temperature hits its lowest level, and, crucially, your psychological vulnerability peaks. 

During late-night hours, our key cognitive tools are deactivated. In short, our executive function goes on strike! The network (or more accurately task positive network) houses our executive function, used for rational problem-solving and self-regulation, is naturally impaired (not to mention also severely eroded by sleep loss, note…caffeine, alcohol etc. not helping either). 

Meaning the circuits we need for cognitive clarity and emotional resilience are temporarily compromised and our poor brain's ability to regulate impulses falters, leaving us vulnerable to emotional overwhelm. 

In short, difficult personal experiences stop being problems to be solved and become insurmountable, painful realities. This gives the amygdala the keys to our brain treasures and as sleep deprivation mounts, the emotional centres of the brain undergo a destabilising shift. 

Then we become hyper-reactive and primed for fear and anxiety. (curtains become monsters, noises become burglars, sticks become snakes and such). The result is a brain primed for catastrophising thoughts, unable to manage the fear of bad things that might come true, we magnify any negative feelings already present.

Usually, emotional turmoil surges between midnight and 4am and as a long night wears on, mounting sleep pressure can cause the brain to slip in and out of the lightest stages of sleep. Typically we are unaware of these brief transitions, but the effects on our perception can be profound. When our sleep is highly fragmented like this, we sometimes get those incredibly vivid sensory experiences as dream fragments bleed into consciousness, blurring the boundary between thoughts and reality (aka: hypnagogic hallucinations). I guarantee like me, you've had these wired, wierd and sometimes worrisome experiences right!

Fortunately, (deep exhale) this psychological abyss is only temporary. As the first hints of the morning light appear, the brain begins a process of neurobiological recovery. The circadian rhythm nudges the brain toward arousal and the network starts to reassert itself, rebooting and restoring access to the cognitive tools necessary for perspective and problem-solving.

Those emotions that felt overwhelmingly catastrophic in the dark become more manageable with the break of day. 

So next time you wake up in the middle of the night and your problems feel like an apocalypse, try to remember it is not you, it's your brain's faulty night shift, and a highly predictable, neurobiological phenomenon! Sleep tight!