I have a love for thought leaders and people who tell it to you straight, which is why when I found this interview featuring Author, Speaker and Brand Strategist Erika Napoletano, I knew I instantly had to do a write up with take away points. This interview with Erika was featured as part of the Good Life Project, produced by Jonathan Fields.
Some Background Info:
Good Life Project™ is a movement. A set of shared values. A community. A creed, bundled with a voracious commitment to move beyond words and act. First, as a manifestation of your soul. And then as a quest to have the adventure of a lifetime, and to leave the world around you changed.
It’s about building an extraordinary life, deeper relationships and meaningful bodies of work, businesses and movements. It’s about becoming a creator, a leader, a mentor, a giver, a doer. It’s about telling a story with your life that you’d want to read and share.
The Interview
It’s 45 minutes of AWESOME, and definitely worth your lunch break or wind-down time to watch. I promise the pearls of wisdom and insight will be tremendous takeaways in exchange for your time. You can watch the full interview here: http://www.goodlifeproject.com/erika-napoletano/
My Thoughts and Take Aways
Here are some highlights from the interview, to encourage you to watch the interview and in turn expand your own horizon.
On Doubts
“Doubt can sometimes be a gift,” because it challenges you to push forward and lean in. Ultimately it can be the catalyst that forces you to take that leap.
Writing Stories
“Today is a new day. How are you going to frame the next chapter of your life? Don’t join somebody else’s story. Write your own.”
“Disclaimer: Past performance is not indicative of future results.”
On Giving Advice
“My path isn’t to write your story, its to write my own.” There are a lot of people who want others to write their stories for them, and equally plenty of people who are willing to do this. We often hear a lot of “you should do this, you should do that,” but I’d welcome advice that says “I’d invite you to explore this,” or “I’d invite you to think about this.” Don’t talk at me, talk with me.
Why You Matter
There are 2 realizations that equal a happy life. Realizing who you are, and why you matter. “You have a story and it matters to somebody,” even if you don’t always feel that way in the moment. Own who you are (because you are amazing). Own the fact that who you are is good enough.
On Being A Better You
The concept of trying to be your best self can be tricky, because if you do reach what you consider to be your best self, well…. where do you go from there? As humans its almost natural that in our minds we are secretly thinking of the next step.
“Evolve into you next better self, not your best self.” Forecast your life in the near future, instead of always thinking of where you will be years and years from now.
And also give yourself credit for your journey. “We’re built to discount ourselves.” Sometimes we don’t give ourselves our well deserved moment of awesome. We don’t allow ourselves to have fun. We can actually cut ourselves a lot more slack.
On Evolving
“Evolve with people, it’s a shared experience.” Welcome to the human race. We have a lot more in common than you think. We are all on this journey. It’s okay to be open and unapologetically you.
“There is no growth without data,” and allowing those you trust to have access to your authentic, and sometimes vulnerable, self, is what strengthens your evolution. Also, you will attract people in your life that will enhance it drastically.
Be Yourself
Throughout everything, and even though the concept of self evolves and transcends with time and experience, “It’s exhausting trying to be someone who isn’t who you really are.” Be brave. Be you.
Jess Watson is the CEO & Creative Director of Points North Studio. She's the co-organizer of Baltimore Womxn in Tech, a big believer in Baltimore city, and a pioneer of working remotely while traveling the globe.
