EP 04: Whatever I do Next, It Hasn’t Been Invented Yet!

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A Conversation with an Executive Coach

This episode was recorded in October of last year, with a former colleague and now friend – Judy Issokson. Judy is the principal of Issokson and Associates and provides consulting services as an executive coach. In addition, she’s a brilliant practitioner of Leadership Development, Change Management, Organizational Design and Development, and the people-related aspects of large global system and program implementations. She’s worked in the education and technology spheres, and in a former life, lived on a boat and ran a restaurant with her late husband, Willie. She and her dog, Paloma, live in the Pt. Loma neighborhood of San Diego.

In today’s episode, we talk about the recent experiences she had at a coaching conference, the essence of real and generous feedback (advice you CAN take), her thoughts on plateaus within your work, her career trajectory, how the insights of others can help us find our hidden skills, and some big a-ha moments that have stayed with her throughout her career and life.

This is a portion of the conversation we had. A Part 2 may emerge at a later date. As mentioned, Judy lives in Point Loma, much of which is in the flight path of the San Diego Airport, so if you hear planes flying overhead, it will give you the feeling I had, of sitting in her sweet and comfortable living room, on a Friday night in October. I hope you enjoy this episode!

Reflection

And…Before we jump in, it’s time for a reflection and shout out. So…what has become clear since the last episode? As I was recording the previous episode, I had a day in which I was trying to record, and nothing went right. I couldn’t talk, I was stressed, I just wanted to complete the project so I could relax. On the one hand, I was telling myself to “be a professional…just get the job done. On the other, I heard this other message, which sounded a lot like my Mom, which was telling me to take a break, you’ll be fresher tomorrow. (Thanks, Mom. You are always so wise, and I know I should listen to you more.) As I kept trying to push through, I was getting more and more aggravated. I definitely put my sailor’s vocabulary to good use and finally gave up the ghost when I managed to dump water all over my computer. So… listen to Mom. When things are just not working, step away. You really will be fresher after a break, and things will go so much smoother.

Shout Out

I’d like to shout out to today’s guest – Judy Issokson. I know it may seem like a lovefest, but she has been an inspiration and support of mine for several years, and every time we get together, we have fun, we eat well, and I walk away buoyed by her spirit and feel significantly smarter. Judy, thank you for your friendship.

 Show Notes

So much is discussed in this conversation! Some of the highlights include:

• Judy talks about her coaching certification and the concept of Gestalt as it applies to coaching. (4:45)
• She walks us through her experience at a conference and the types of exercises done in pursuit of continued learning. How she then applied the learning in her work. (5:00- 23:00)
• The importance of an intentional exchange with clients and her professional breakthrough. (23:25)
• We talk about plateau’s – and what their effect can be on a career. (24:15)
• More feedback to Judy, which opened her eyes and woke her up: “You need to find a bigger platform.” We talk about how she was able to really receive and hear this feedback. (30:35)
• Judy shares the genesis of her career in education, the hidden skills and unexpected conversations that led her to her current work, and the big, freeing A-HA moment when she realized that “ Whatever I do next, hasn’t been invented yet!” (40:20)
• And…the funniest interview question that I’ve ever heard…. (43:35)

Thanks so much for listening/reading! Your rating, review or share would be much appreciated, and will help others find the podcast.  Until next week!

Photo Credit:  Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash