Plus Marc

12/15/2023

“Do you want to feel more alive?” 🙄

Early in 2022, I learned about the opportunity to spend a year in training with The Conscious Leadership Group (led by Jim Dethmer and Diana Chapman). When they posed the question above, I rolled my eyes, wondered if CLG was a cult, and then answered their question quietly to myself.

Overheard in my head: “I guess I don’t *have* to feel more alive, but yes, I want to. I’ve got so many important boxes checked — personally and professionally, but… I wouldn’t say that ‘full aliveness’ is one of them. What’s up with that? And ugh, what does feeling alive even mean?”

Based on an info session, a podcast, and some chats with alumni, I knew I was flirting with a deeply provocative, unique, and valuable ride. Beyond that though, I wasn’t entirely sure what the journey would entail. In fact, I was scared $hitless about it.

And then… I jumped. I trusted my heart and my gut before my brain was 100% on board 😳

This was *not* typical Marc behavior. Often, I require pretty extreme intellectual clarity and confidence in something before diving in. This habit does serve me, but… oof, it’s costly too. See: coming out of the closet at 26 🏳️‍🌈 🙃

All of this is to say that a year ago, I allowed for something else. I let go a bit. I snatched the wheel from the grip of my brain and gave it to my body — and what followed was one of the most meaningful and transformative experiences of my entire life.

I now know myself at a new depth. And, lovely as that is (really, really lovely), I’m more excited to have learned *how* to see, and know, and accept myself and all of my parts — over and over, beginning again and again, as life unfolds in all the ways.

Thanks for slowing your scroll and connecting with me... and yourself 🤓

If this post speaks to you (and/or scares the $hit out of you), I’d love to jump into the sandbox with you. I’ve cleared some space in my schedule to play and explore (free of charge) with folks who are navigating change (of any sort) and would like to do so with greater awareness, consciousness, and integrity.

To schedule, comment here, DM me, or shoot me a note: marc [at] plusmarc [dot] com. Magic just might unfold if you trust your heart and gut ✨

06/30/2021

List of things not to bring on vacation: work. Y/N?

We need *more* time to rest and recharge, not less. And from that perspective, my initial reaction to the concept of a "workcation" was... no thank you (to put it lightly).

But then, for some, Covid brought opportunities to work from anywhere — for a month, a year, forever? And, increasingly, I learned of friends and clients taking workcations. Some sounded truly delightful. Others sounded brutal.

Never would I condone this in lieu of true time away, but as an opportunity to leverage greater flexibility in addition to full-on vacation... maybe. Or, if you're not taking any time away from work, perhaps this offers one step in a positive direction. While scenarios differ, it seems to me that well managed expectations and clearly established boundaries will make or break these opportunities.

Have you taken a workcation? I'm curious to hear how it went.

Big thanks to Emma Banks and Rewire / TPT - Twin Cities PBS for reaching out to chat!

How some employees are dealing with the pressures of constant connectivity.

10/05/2020

When you’re juggling a lot, which things do you tend to drop? And, taking a step back — do you notice when things do, in fact, drop?

As we travel through life, we pick up responsibilities along the way (some more voluntarily than others). Since I love to cook, I think of these commitments as plates. Some are fancy (Heath Ceramics), some are not (IKEA), and some aren’t plates at all (Tupperware U.S. & Canada).

For a while, I thought the goal was to keep every plate spinning. After all, that’s what everyone else seemed to be doing… until I began to observe more carefully. Turns out, the real experts focus on which to pick up, which to put down, and which to drop when too many are spinning (with minimal shattering, screaming, and/or barking).

Throw on some closed-toe shoes and sharpen your skills in this Wednesday’s workshop, Navigating Change, where you'll learn how to make smart decisions, prioritize, and enjoy it - before you drop grandma's china. RSVP link in comments.

PS. It's free of charge this time!

10/01/2020

What if the rest of 2020 could happen *for* you instead of *to* you?

Even during a year of relentless storms, a year in which Q1 strangely crept into Q4 (oh, hi Q4), a year that’s still very uncertain — you can take the wheel.

I’ve been working with a leader who recently gave herself permission to step out from the weeds, clarify what she wanted, acknowledge her obstacles, and focus on elements within her control.

“I never thought I could make such big changes happen in such a short amount of time. I know I gave it a bit of a jump-start when I quit my job, but the timing could not have been better to do some rapid prototyping and get a quick turnaround — while also rebuilding pieces of my core life/career pillars at the same time, laying the groundwork for ongoing, long-term change. This was one of the best gifts I've given myself.”

The trailhead for that path is just ahead and over a hundred of us are meeting there next Wednesday. It’s a stroll with views that you won’t want to miss and there’s room for a few more (it’s a wide, virtual path). Optional/encouraged: dogs, snacks, and drinks!

The Navigating Change workshop is on Wednesday, October 7, and it's the first time I'm delivering this outside of my usual gated corporate environments. Link to RSVP in the comments!

09/29/2020

A few weeks ago, I got curious about directly offering a workshop for the first time, and I consciously acknowledged the fear (eep!) and desire (woot!) that I experienced. I led with desire, put the opportunity out there, and was promptly wowed by the fact that over 100 people (!) signed up.

In your work and life, do fear and avoidance run amok and steal the show, or do you let desire lead?

If you want to be inspired, fulfilled, and confident, but that seems out of reach, I invite you to ask more questions. Questions like:

When you consider an opportunity, what immediately follows? How you might fail, or how it could be amazing? Support is here for identifying and working through motivating, action-inducing questions.

Want to sharpen your tools to realize personal and professional opportunity? RSVP for Navigating Change on October 7 -- link in comments!

09/23/2020

In instances where you struggle to advance, what gets in the way?

I often ask prospective partners how they suspect coaching could help them accomplish their goals. "Accountability!" I hear frequently—and I agree, accountability makes a big difference. But... accountability in support of what, exactly?

While it's important to clarify and sustain focus on outcomes, leaders often struggle to give themselves permission to adjust their process more than they struggle to keep their eyes on the prize.

When this process struggle is real, clients find a ton of value in accountability, structure, and support that specifically makes it easier and safer for them to shift from awareness into action. It's a more sustainable and more effective approach to change than adding extra oomph and muscle to general accountability.

Want to enjoy the exploration of paths forward instead of finding yourself a bad cop to rely on? RSVP for Navigating Change on October 7 for tools to do so! Link in comments below.

09/08/2020

What would greater clarity make possible for you in the coming months?

Labor Day always seems to push my head out of the weeds — just enough to see the rest of my year. And, well, after the first eight months of 2020, I’m inclined to cover my eyes with my hands and peek through my fingers. Anyone else?

For the past few years, I’ve relied on some of my favorite coaching tools to clarify goals, build actionable plans, and... actually follow through on them. Crazy, I know 🙂

These tools are the foundation of my signature workshop, Navigating Change. On October 7, I’ll be hosting via Zoom (once at 12:00p ET and again at 5:00p ET) — and for the first time, it’s free of charge and open to those who could use greater clarity, now and/or down the road.

Ready to navigate change and focus on the things you have control over? RSVP through the link below, and feel free to tag / share with friends or colleagues — sooner rather than later. Space is limited. Hope to see you soon!

https://www.plusmarc.com/navigating-change

08/25/2020

New idea — who’s in?

I’m thinking of offering a virtual session of Navigating Change, my signature workshop, free of charge.

In short, it’s an interactive discussion that helps you increase alignment between your decisions and what you care most about. We chat about values, types of change, and managing the ways in which we get in our own way — and judging by the smiles of about a thousand participants to date, it’s fun :)

If you’re curious, comment here and I’ll keep you in the loop!

08/17/2020

Have you ever done something awesome, but then... never shared it? If so, join this party and get sharing!

This video series was a ton of fun to make and I’m really excited about how it turned out. Big thanks to the incredible team at Sleeves Up Productions who helped me bring these clips to life.

If you or someone you know is curious to explore work with a coach, please feel free to reach out or make an introduction!

This is "Plus Marc // Leadership and Career Coaching" by Marc Dickstein on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

05/12/2020

A big thank you to Primary Venture Partners for inviting me to share Permission Granted: Making an Impact Without Leaving Happiness Behind with their incredible community of experts today. It's easy to see why so many of my friends, peers, and colleagues work at companies in which Primary has invested — Chief, Bravely, and Alma come first to mind! It's a pleasure to support leaders who prioritize not just drive and commitment, but also curiosity and authenticity.

05/06/2020

While our brains love clear dichotomies (as they have value), quite a bit gets lost when nuance is left behind. Check out this great piece from Romeen Sheth and Steve Schlafman.

"Being firm, decisive and staring down an existential crisis is not mutually exclusive with applying empathy, gratitude and generosity."

I've always been most inspired by leaders who strive to lead through challenges "without leaving a wake of carnage or damage to the foundation they have spent years building." It's not always easy, but it's always worth it. Those who lead "with their heart and values and will be remembered for how they carried themselves, treated their employees and guided the company through the crisis."

The peacetime CEO/wartime CEO framework is clearly valuable — it forces us to dissect the behavioral shifts necessary to survive in a crisis. That being said, it needs to evolve.

02/18/2020

Back for another amazing day of collaboration with the incredible women of Chief ✨💥⚡️