Stories from Kristina + Breanne

  Shared by Kristina Smedley And… It feels like I don’t know when I’ll be back again! I’m going on an adventure… to a retreat/course outside San Francisco. And I can’t wait! I’m going to be on a ranch for about a week. Surrounded by rolling hills and nature. It will be a relatively small group (I think) and the description includes: “breaking up old beliefs that don’t support your vision and then taking massive action in another direction.” Perfect! I love this type of personal development and increased knowledge and understanding. So, it was all good… until late last night when (at the last minute of course) I opened up the packing list/info and actually read the details… – Ear plugs, for light sleepers – A robe and flip flops for the shower area – A flashlight – Sturdy but loose pants… I don’t know what that means these days, but I haven’t owned those since 7th grade!! – Outdoor gloves with leather palms – A cocktail dress – AND, think about what I’m willing to risk this week! Im...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley I was reading a fellow IOD writer’s story today and realized I too make rainy day excuses. And, it was perfect timing, as I just chatting with my professional coach yesterday about this. She asked me what was new since the last time we spoke. Wow, did I have a lot to share… “Our team won the Boeing Chairman’s Safety Award… “I’m reporting to a new Director and my team is doing awesome things to support the business!” “I was accepted into the New Ventures West Coaching program and am SO excited!” “Breanne and I are developing our Mindfluent Leadership philosophy, have an LLC, and are getting a trademark!” “I’ve written 10 stories in a row and posted them (along with my vulnerability) on Facebook!” etc etc Then she asked, “And what are you doing for self-care?” Meditating Working Out Reading Getting 7-8 hours of sleep “OH… and I’m married.” “ I guess it would be more healthy if I planned in time for date night and doing things with him.” WOW. Hello. Yes! I...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley When was the last time you did a pull-up? One without bands, without kipping, and no jumping? Strict. The first pull up I can remember was in 7 th  grade. Remember the Presidential Fitness Tests?! (Side note… the shuttle run was the worst!) Then there are no memories… because there were absolutely no pull-ups. Until we started the RepX classes at Beach Fitness, in Seal Beach, a couple years ago. I remember one of our favorite trainers telling me one day that I was going to do a pull-up. My response: “          !“ Nothing. I literally didn’t know what to say, besides that would be cool AND there’s no way I could do a pull-up. Maybe he didn’t notice the length of my arms, the lack of arm strength, or the “strong” (as they say) lower body I would have to be pulling up! I filed the idea away. Something not worth thinking about any further. Then, a few months later, I was doing kipping pull-ups! It was fun. I...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley Today’s thoughts are going to be a little brief and I would really like to know what you think about them. I’m thinking about what it takes to make tough decisions. We all encounter them. They vary in degree, severity, and implications and in most cases are very subjective… at least as far as determining if they are tough or not. But I think the reason they seem tough is because we want to make the best long-term solution and our brains have too many variables to consider. Too many options. Things are too complex. The risks feel high. A few we have faced recently, or are facing, include: Should we move back to Seattle after loving living and working in SoCal for the last 4 years? What if we don’t get relocation, would we pay to move home? We found the perfect house but don’t have the down payment until we sell our SoCal house, should we put an offer on it anyways and figure out how to get the down payment some way until our SoCal home sells? Do we want ...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley Checking in today on how I’m doing on my commitment to high integrity to myself, and creating the morning habits I desire (mostly working out in the morning). And now I know why… why I can’t wake up in the morning for my ideal morning routine… LEXI! (yes, we let her sleep in bed with us!) I mean, seriously, how can I get out of bed when this little doggie just wants to cuddle. My alarm goes off… blaring Tibetan gongs in my ear. I think about a 30min Peloton ride. I consider that my workout clothes are right here and I only need to walk down the hall. And it feels so good to work out in the morning! I think about my commitment to myself to get up and work out, creating a good morning routine, and having more time in the evenings. Then I look at this little dog, who’s 13 years old, loves to cuddle, and then I think… maybe I’ll just stay in bed a little longer. She can use a few more pets. And, I’m tired! In all seriousness though, I’ve committed to having...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley Last year, my friend Megan somehow gifted me an Ellevate Network membership. If you haven’t heard of this before, they describe themselves as: “Ellevate is the leading network for professional women, a community to lean on and learn from.” Along with classes, networking events, sharing of success stories, etc… they also host 12-week Squads, where 5-10 women are strategically placed together to support and grow with one another. So, of course, I signed up! What a great opportunity. And then I volunteered to be my Squad’s moderator. (this checks the box for in line with my goals and purpose – “less is more”) My Squad is awesome! It’s ladies of all different ages, in different cities, with totally different careers (a statistician, real estate lobbyist, professional coach, and more!). Some sessions are dedicated to discussing and sharing about pre-selected “Hot Topics”. And, all squadmates get a “Hot Seat” day to talk through their goals, challenges, etc. ...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley Do you all remember back in the day when we made popcorn at home in machines rather than microwaves? Popcorn didn’t come in a bag, at least that I remember. Instead, my parents had a big round, greasy machine that we would drag out of some large cupboard. We would set it on the counter, plug it in, add oil and kernels from a bag, and wait. (I don’t really remember if us kids were the ones playing with hot oil and popping kernels, or if my parents did it. But, in my mind, we were the brave kids who made real popcorn on special nights.) Then suddenly, POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! Tons of overflowing popcorn explodes inside that greasy machine. +butter +salt = delicious! This is also how my brain feels sometimes, and this is why I have a hard time following the “less is more” idea with commitments. I chat with my friends, have experiences at work, take new classes, and it’s all rolling around in my brain. Then, suddenly… ideas start po...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley As Sennad and I were getting ready to sell our Huntington Beach townhouse a few months ago, we spent hours getting it ready for our agents to come over and help us get ready to list. See, we had awesome agents. Two bad a$$ women. Great marketing plan. Caring and honest. No BS. So, maybe it was a little bit of my ego… but there was no way I was allowing them in our home with dirty windowsills, chipped paint, clutter on shelves, and unorganized closets. So, Sennad cleaned windows, window screens, and everything else I put on the list. I touched up trim paint, wall paint, and anything else I could fix with a paintbrush. I filled HUGE boxes with picture frames, books, thank you cards, printer paper, coats, sweaters, and all the other stuff we wouldn’t need in the next few months. “Is this really necessary?” he would ask. YES! For about a week, we lived in what felt like an empty house. It actually echoed when we spoke to each other. It was weird. A little u...

  Shared by Kristina It was the spring of 2016. We lived and worked in sunny SoCal, where we very much enjoyed our jobs, had a monthly run club with old and new friends that really focused on the most important question… where to eat brunch, and I was back in school learning about organizational leadership. And we were soon getting married in Mexico. Life was great! One day, I walked into work, saying hi to all the smiling faces I passed, and got to my desk to find a sticky note on my keyboard. See… I get to work a little later than everyone else, so many times there are notes on my desk that someone came by needing something, that I had to call someone when I got in, etc. This time, it said: “Our culture change started when you arrived. Thank you, Kristina – Jim.” I almost started crying. First, you have to know Jim. I only had the opportunity to work with him for a few years before he retired, and in those years I saw a leader who remembered everyone’s names, remembered the last ...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley I checked into the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach this evening, remembering how beautiful it is in SoCal… every day. Always 70, always sunny. I dropped my stuff off and decided I should work out before dinner. Since sweating before a glass of wine is usually the better order.  I wasn’t too pumped for this workout, but drug myself down to the gym, walked around the corner and… aaahhhhh yes! They have a Peloton bike! I was just texting with Jackee about the Boss October rides that Ally Love is starting and couldn’t wait to take the first one! It was a great ride! But what stood out to me the most was her saying: “Your Strength is Equal to Your Vulnerability” Really? Is this true? Is our strength equal to our vulnerability? I was hoping to come to the conclusion of NO. You see, vulnerability is one of my weak spots. Throughout my Master’s program, vulnerability was always the topic I needed to work on. It came up in self-reflection and i...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley For any other lovers of the “bike that goes nowhere” – Peloton – and the best instructor – Ally Love – you already know… it’s Boss October!! “Boss October is a month deemed for consistency, discipline, and living purposefully to become the people we want to be.” I’m 5 days late to this challenge, so I have some making up to do, but here it is What is the one “thing” you will give up? Cheese (this is going to be hard you guys!) What virtue/habit will you focus on? I will build a good morning/daily routine (including shifting my mindset away from the idea that routines are boring to routines are foundational and impactful What physical movement, sweating/workout will you add? I will incorporate kettlebells into my workout 3x/week (I’ll be buying one tomorrow!) I write and share this to make the challenge real. To have the integrity to myself, to overcome a challenge, and to have focused attention on my own self-care. With everything that’s going on right ...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley It’s a weeknight and I’m hurrying through making dinner while persuading Sennad, my amazing and super helpful husband, into helping me cook – if only we could have a personal chef! Then we’ll enjoy dinner together, while Lexi (our little doggie) lays in her favorite bed waiting for us to drop some lettuce or other tasty treat! Before we know it, it’ll be 8pm; just a little bit of free time before 7 to 8 hours of glorious sleep. Side note… I love sleeping, but I especially love sleeping in our bed! So, there’s rarely ‘staying up too late’ because I love going to bed! But there’s so much I want to do in my couple hours before bed! I want to read! I’m currently in the middle of: Tim Ferriss’  Tools of Titans , Dan Heath’s  Made to Stick , and now Paulo Coelho’s  Aleph.  I love learning how people operate, how we relate to one another and ourselves, and how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. I’m excited to read the Impact Club pro...

  Shared by Kristina Smedley “You have your hands in everything and it’s not appropriate. Stick to your job.” “Some people are telling me that they’re sick of you giving them direction. Come through me; they don’t report to you.” “Times have changed. Get over it.” This is some of the “feedback” I have received in the past from upper management while working with our grassroots teams to create positive change in our work environment. And it hurt. I started crying (which made me feel worse). Did they not understanding anything about me? Did they really think I was trying to amass power through getting my hands in everything and telling people what to do? Who did they think I was? I was mad. Mad that someone was so uncaring that they couldn’t see the bigger picture of what we were trying to build. I was offended that they would attack me for coming to work every day with good intentions and almost endless passion and energy to make work a great place to be for all of us. I was honestl...