I showed up in my cycling clothes to a business meeting…
Two weeks ago I had a first-time-ever meeting to chat about a potential collaboration with the coaching house. I was excited as the owner contacted me and invited me to chat about our missions and possibilities for future collaboration.
As I do not own a car (I live in Denmark and having a car here is a luxury), I bicycle to work. And also because I train for a long trip to Paris on a bike, I usually use any occasion I get to jump on a bike. On top of my day job, I run my coaching business, so when our meeting was scheduled at 4.30 p.m. and my job ends at 4.00 p.m. I had an option to either jump on my bicycle or take a tram and trust public transport to take me there on time. I chose bicycle and with that in mind, I chose to show up in my bicycling gear.
I was a little bit hesitant as I was thinking about how will I look and what will be the reaction of my future potential partner, but I quickly skimmed through my values in my head and I went for it. You see, I stand for being yourself, of showing up as you are. Cycling to this meeting for me was showing up on time, presenting an active lifestyle, presenting commitment to my goals (training to cycle to Paris), and bicycling makes me happy. My whole coaching is about making happy lives for ourselves.
And I was pleasantly surprised. The person I had to meet showed up in her fitness clothes as she had to run to gym class right after our meetup.
So you see, we are more alike than we are different, just if we allow ourselves to show up as our authentic selves.
The meeting went so well, we clicked right away and are already collaborating on some small projects and ideas. I am sure it will lead to bigger things.
What I want to convey here is for you to be brave enough to be more authentic. When we live our values, our truth, we will meet like-minded people, who will unleash more authenticity and excellence in us. We will feel free to be as we are.
I am sure by being me I help others to be themselves.
Have you ever tried to hide or shrink yourself in order not to be misunderstood?
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