Corporate Coaching & Recruitment Awards 2022

In a notoriously competitive industry, Go Nomading stands apart thanks to its commitment to its principles. By taking nomadic cultures and blending it with contemporary leadership, they have managed to create an leadership and coaching approach to growth that has supported many people over the past few years. The Nomadic Mindset is all about movement in multiple geographies – mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and social. You can read about it in the leadership book, The Nomadic Mindset: Never Settle…for Too Long. It’s the perfect antifragile solution to the uncertain and volatile unique problems we face today.

The team promises to teach customers the 5Es (Exploring, Expanding, Emerging, Experiencing, and Evolving) by revealing the power of the Nomadic Mindset and sharing it with leaders and organisations around the world. The flexibility of this way of thinking has brought incredible success, preparing business leaders so that they might be open to change and opportunity as it arises. Needless to say, it has brought a great deal of positive attention to what the team has done.

Since opening their doors, the team have tried to expand the breadth of their ideas, and are currently developing mental wellness practices under our self-care Resilience banner – on the Nomadic Pause – the ability to go slow to speed. Where people take on structured pauses in their lives, often to develop themselves or their organisations, Go Nomading is determined to assist wherever possible.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all that the team did, with events cancelled and the shift to digital uniquely challenging. With a hybrid world now upon us, it’s clear that the Nomadic Mindset is certain to play a vital role in every industry moving forward. Not only throughout 2023, but beyond, it is important to adopt a nomadic approach to life, being as adaptable, agile and flexible as possible. The team have streamlined numerous processes in accounting, virtual teams and are also developing an online platform for courses.

The development of new ideas is always a long process for the Go Nomading team, in order to ensure that the final product not only has mass-market appeal, but is entirely fit for purpose. The development process is one which is always considered carefully, because a lack of forethought can have a major impact later on.

Looking ahead, the future of the Nomadic Mindset will see a view on Holistic Well-being. This integrates with nature, sustainability, exercise, taking structured and strategic pauses, developing the inner world of individuals, spirituality and an arm that is in the quantum energy world – heart based products, processes and destiny. The changes we have seen in our lives over the last few years have created people and organisations which need to live simpler lives. As things get too expensive and complex, frustrations will arise. The work of Go Nomading, therefore, is to help people think very vastly or wide so they can expand their perspectives, potentials, opportunity, possibilities and hence self-leadership, and leadership in general. Evolution is the key and this is nomadic thinking at its core.

The 1st Nomadic Pause Retreat launches Feb 27-March 3, 2023 in Hoi An Vietnam, with new dates and a corporate retreat coming up.

Company: Go Nomading Pte Ltd
Name: Kevin Cottam
Email: info@kevincottam.com
Web Address: www.thenomadicmindset.com
Pause Retreat: www.thenomadicmindset.com/pause-retreat/

The post Most Innovative Team Leadership Coaching Provider – Singapore appeared first on Go Nomading Pte Ltd.

‘The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.’
Pierre de Coubertin

When I was very young, I was told to dream big and you will reach them. Were you also told this?

Every two years, the history of my Olympic dream comes back to me. As the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ramps up this week, I will watch on with glee, living through these great athletes – The Dream.

As a kid, I would spend my time laying in bed looking at the ceiling envisioning my big dream.  To be an Olympic medallist. It looked so beautiful and perfect in my mind as I saw myself standing on the podium receiving my medal and watching my flag ascend the flagpole.

My partner and I became National Junior Ice Dance Champions in Canada. We trained long and hard, got better and better and we achieved a lot in a short period of time. The stars aligned in our favour, politics was on our side and the dream looked so real. Then the tides turned. My partner and I broke up, my father retired and suddenly died, money was short and I was forced to quit and move on. My dream ended…so I thought…

As time went on, I became a dancer then an elite figure skating choreographer. As the universe would have it, it blessed me with an opportunity. I began to choreograph for a famous Canadian World Medallist, Brian Pockar. During one of our working sessions, we began speaking about the upcoming Olympics in his hometown, Calgary Alberta.

I said to him, why don’t we partner up and submit a proposal to create the Closing Ceremonies for the ‘88 Olympics? He jumped at the idea. As he was the famous one, he did all the political operating. Guess what? We won the bid. Was my dream coming true to be an Olympian after all, albeit in a different way? Brian became the figurehead, and I was the choreographer and director of the Ceremonies.

After months of rehearsing and challenges, the day arrived, February 28, 1988. My nerves and anticipation mounted. I remembered, there is only one shot, this is your big dream coming true.

I watch from the sound booth high above the massive artificial ice rink in McMahon Stadium. The music begins, the skaters flow into the stadium ice rink. They perform magnificently with national pride for 2 hours in sub-zero weather under a clear starry sky and mega lights. 60K live spectators waving candles with an estimated 2Billion TV audience. The biggest show on earth. Wow! My complete mind body and soul leaps joyously. Then after the uproar of kd Lang singing Turn Me Round, it ends with roaring applause I have never heard before. To this day I remain stunned. Was I finally living my dream…but in a different way?

Dreams do come true. As a young boy, I could never have envisioned this. I now realize the universe had its own version of my big dream. am deeply grateful.

1. Never underestimate the power of dreams and the universe collaborating for your best interest
2. Hold loosely to your dreams, set the intention/dream; Let go; Believe
3. Go Nomading and allow the opportunities to appear as seeds, follow with curiosity, the path is never straight

Kevin Cottam, Canadian, Global Nomad who helps dynamic leaders and organisations uncover their winning edge. He is a Professional Speaker, Executive Coach, Author and the originator of the Nomadic Mindset Podcast. A former elite choreographer to World and Olympic Figure Skating Champions and director of multi-million dollar productions including the 1988 Olympic Closing Ceremonies. Kevin believes we have become too narrow in our thinking and behaviours and we need to expand our innate global thinking to create a new now and future that brings humanity, economic practices.

The post Do Dreams Come True? appeared first on Go Nomading Pte Ltd.

“The white noise of an industrial and commercial society drowns out our ability to think.”
― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

REDUCE the NOISE

Have you ever been plagued with too much noise in your head or heart? I suspect you have, otherwise you just might not be human and rather an alien.

Today we are plagued by so much internal and external noise in our lives and we have a hard time to make sense of situations, relationships, work, decision-making…you name it. Covid has not helped the noise and has rather amplified it because of so many uncertainties, disinformation, unknowns, discomfort. The cacophony of noise can be deafening.

Noise can be explained as positive and negative. The default system of humans is normally the negative first. Noise creeps in and can escalate without you knowing it. You become numb to it as it is everywhere and everyone is experiencing it.

What is the noise I am speaking about? It can be anything.

Positive noise

comes in the form of birds singing, gentle wind, rain falling, sweet words of praise and support, a smile, a loving message, observing a child joyfully play, walking your dog and many things like this that move you inwards and fill your heart.

Negative noise

can appear, in the form of major distractions that are pulling you away from your core. Here we have plenty of examples, news, social media, smartphones, TV, sensationalism, negative news, non-stop voices in your mind, gossip, too much talking, sound of cars, traffic, city noise and much more. I think you get the picture.

How can one get a hold of it?

Recently, I been working with many coaching clients who are losing their leadership grip regards remote working and too much time on zoom. The typical symptoms they and their teams exhibit are worn out, less motivated, lack energy, yearn for social contact and the list goes on. The mental anguish was showing up in disengagement; lower productivity; resistance to multiple factors; bosses not trusting you while remote working; and reluctance to attend more meetings. Plus, communication instead of getting better is getting worse. I suggested to one client maybe exploring an Emerge Retreat while still working, could help her and her team members.

Emerge Retreat

An Emerge Retreat is a retreat focusing on reducing the internal and external noise, so that you can hear the voice of creativity, thoughts or ideas that are wanting to emerge from within you. When you reduce the noise from the external and all the devices you use, you can start to hear the stillness and quiet inside of you. There are less distractions. You slow down and listen more; become more calm; get curious and take on the role of an observer looking inwards rather than outwards. You are less pulled outwards. However, the ongoing caveat is, this takes conscious intentional practice to gain deeper awareness.

Simple Noise Reduction

What she did was not overly original or new, however, it again reminds us of the resilience, resources and knowledge that lives within everyone of you. She…

1. Stopped listening to the news on her phone, apps, computer and TV
2. Limited her social media presence to once per day for only 5-10 minutes
3. Began journaling her random thoughts
4. Took walks in nature with her phone and only checking it to discover the number of steps she was taking that positively encouraged her
5. Restructured how meetings would be done and reduced the amount.
6. Started reading self-development books
7. Spend some time meditating.

She found that after a couple of weeks, she started to be more consciously aware of almost everything around her externally and internally. She could hear more positive voices inside of her; found she was calmer and able to handle her leadership better; see the seeds of opportunity more clearly; experienced new and creative positive aspects about herself and her work. Listening, sensing and seeing a bigger more expansive perspective was the biggest difference. Ultimately, after a month her energy flourished, she became more creative, resourceful and her productivity was better.

REDUCE the NOISE

Now she is more alert to the NOISE when it starts to build up and has interventions to help reduce it. Again, allow the voices that want to emerge to emerge so that you can evolve. Give yourself a chance REDUCE the NOISE so you can live your best

If you relate to this idea and want to know more about the Emerge Retreat, do not hesitate to connect with me at connect@thenomadicmindset.com

Kevin Cottam, Canadian, Global Nomad who helps dynamic leaders and organisations uncover their winning edge. He is a Professional Speaker, Executive Coach, Author and the originator of the Nomadic Mindset Podcast. A former elite choreographer to World and Olympic Figure Skating Champions and director of multi-million dollar productions including the 1988 Olympic Closing Ceremonies. Kevin believes we have become too narrow in our thinking and behaviours and we need to expand our innate global thinking to create a new now and future that brings humanity, economic practices.

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Have you ever found yourself or been told,

why don’t you just settle down; why do you continually move from job to job; why do you change professions so much; why are you running away from responsibilities or commitments; why do you keep changing your mind, just settle; why don’t you just consume and have a lovely home like normal people…and many more comments. I have an discovery for you.

In reflecting on my life

and connecting the dots back many decades, I have wondered and often been plagued by these statements. Was this way of being my mindset, my behaviours, my resistance to the status quo, what? In fact, I felt I never fit in…but maybe I didn’t want to either. My wonderful mother would say, ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss.’ I would smile and continue my ways. Something inside of me would say at every juncture, it’s time to MoveOn.

Today with Covid,

many people and organisations are going through challenges, loss of jobs, mental anguish, frustration from remote working due overworking with no boundaries and lack of physical personal interactions and the list seems to continue to expand. Fear and uncertainty are ever present.

MovingON

is more important than ever. If you don’t you will not survive and certainly not thrive during this next phase of Covid and moving forward.

From an early age,

my curiosity of the world and people was immense. I went from starting my life in a logging camp to living in a big city, becoming a Canadian Ice Dance Champion; to studying contemporary dance in New York City; to dancing the CanCan in Paris twice a night at the Bal du Moulin Rouge; to being an elite choreographer to World and Olympic Figure Skating Champions; to Directing and Choreographing the 1988 Olympic Closing Ceremonies; to choreographing award winning TV Specials and big multi-million dollar touring skating shows; to being an executive coach, author, professional speaker and ….

Each time

a shift or change would come or start appearing, I would feel it in my gut, heart and head – something inside me said, MoveON. Have you heard this voice before?

People

continued with comments like, you are a the top of your field; don’t be foolish; just keep doing this; and again something inside told me to MoveON. I have lived on 4 continents; in 15 major cities of the world and visited over 60 countries and it continues. I questioned myself because of what others would say. I wondered was I so wrong, weird, confused or running away from responsibilities? I have to admit though fear was never there, I trusted in that voice. Something inside of me said, MoveON!

Then, clarity struck.

my way of being, my mindset, came to me while sitting in a ‘gert’ or tent in the Mongolia Steppes doing research for my leadership book, ‘The Nomadic Mindset: Never Settle…for Too Long. I ask Ran, a nomad I was staying with, ‘why do you migrate?’ Ran said, ‘to make a better life for our animals and ourselves. To survive, in each place, we do need to settle, but we never settle too long, just long enough to reap the harvest of each location. When the animals tell us to moveOn, we do!’ This felt so like me.

All of a sudden,

I had an epiphany. I put two and two together. All these years I wasn’t weird or confused or running away or shirking my responsibilities or relationships. In fact, I was running towards learning, growth, experiences…a full life of expansion. I was evolving. Then, I realized, I have what I now call a ‘nomadic mindset’. My answers to my life of change, transition and evolution were in fact based on our natural way of being, our historical origins – that of nomadic cultures.

But

there is a ‘big but’ here. In my thesis though, having a nomadic mindset dominance is not about physical travel, albeit it can include this. What I was searching for, and have found peace in, lives within a quote by a wonderful Mongolian woman, Batgerel Bat. I asked her what is the true meaning of nomad. She said, it is ‘the movement of the mind’ – I was blown away when I heard this. It was like massive fireworks went off inside of me. The central meaning of the nomadic mindset, is just that, ‘the movement of the mind’. I have found my new purpose, reason for being. Wow!

In The Nomadic Mindset, the book,

I invite people to explore behaviours that you may have lost in this world and will help you get back on track. The biggest realization for me is that I believe we have become too narrow thinking as a human race and we must expand if we are to truly thrive. We must evolve.

My research

helped me MoveOn and has taken me to magical places like Mongolia; visiting the Maasai in Kenya; the Berbers in the southern Sahara in Morocco; the Himba and Bushmen of the Kalahari (SAN) in Namibia to further discover answers from ancient wisdom. This I have integrated with executive conversations. I have been told by leaders, the book gives answers and a fresh perspective to what modern leadership ought to embrace.

‘‘This is one of the best leadership books I have ever encountered because it addresses so many aspects in a meaningful and authentic way, of how great business needs to be led and organised in order to thrive and flourish. Olivia Leong, CEO Verra Asia

Most of all,

people have shared with me it gives them an answer, a realization, a peace from what they have been struggling with all their lives and not realized why or been able to put a ‘frame’ or ‘term’ to it. They now know they have been triggering on and living their innate nomadic mindset. In many ways it is a healing to the discomfort felt. Is this what you have been looking for?

In fact,

my polling and research has shown that the nomadic mindset is the mindset that is needed most today in organisations and in communities to help them through this unclear passage of hyper speed digital transformation, the uncertainties that surround all of us daily and the mental anguish many might be going through.

Triggering your nomadic mindset

that lives in everyone and every organisation will help you over the fear of MovingON, because for centuries, this is has been your natural way of being. It is nomadic legacy. You have been told through industrialized thinking, education, cultures, families that you must stay put, build and settle. In most cultures, you are not taught or really given permission to MoveON. Life is about MovingON. For organisations it is about MovingOn. To survive and thrive you must learn to accept and MoveON. Otherwise, the dinosaur is just around the corner.

Nomading is not

a frivolous adventure, it is the ‘movement of the mind’, growth and evolution. It brings expansion and profound awareness that all things are interconnected.

You now have a positive answer

to how you can thrive in the Next Future. Your mission, if you choose to accept, to begin your journey to the nomadic mindset, your evolution and MovingON. Let’s go nomading together.

‘I could not put this book down and completed my journey in a week! Grateful to Kevin for sending me off on a movement to be a better leader for my team, partners and the community.’

Olivia Leong, CEO VerraAsia

I invite you

to connect and share with me your thoughts.

connect@thenomadicmindset.com

www.thenomadicmindset.com

https://bit.ly/2GZripI

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-cottam/

Kevin Cottam, Canadian, Global Nomad who helps dynamic leaders and organisations uncover their winning edge. He is a Professional Speaker, Executive Coach, Author and the originator of the Nomadic Mindset Podcast. A former elite choreographer to World and Olympic Figure Skating Champions and director of multi-million dollar productions including the 1988 Olympic Closing Ceremonies. Kevin believes we have become too narrow in our thinking and behaviours and we need to expand our innate global thinking to create a new now and future that brings humanity, economic practices, healthy democratic governances and nature/climate together. For this, we need to tap into our nomadic mindset. www.thenomadicmindset.com

The post Something inside of me said, MoveON! appeared first on Go Nomading Pte Ltd.

Today pretty much everyone is being forced, whether we like it or not, to leap into a new world of delivery methods of learning, sharing and communicating. What is being created is a new hybrid of sorts of design and storytelling using a variety of mediums – education, knowledge, entertainment, media, film/video, communication and list goes on.

Because of what I am seeing as a rush to share or promote or sell your message or products there are some very rudimentary to wonderful videos, live-streaming, courses, speaking moments being presented online. This is a learning curve and you will make mistakes, as I am continuing to do myself, but as a creator or scientist or leader you know it is a lot of trial and error … and lots of practice. This is all good.

14 Design and Storytelling Lessons

Therefore, I thought I would share with you 14 lessons (and there are more) I have learned during my filmmaking days which are applicable to all the new technological mediums and especially creation of Virtual Backgrounds as well as you being in the frame.

1. You are creating, whether it be a course or a speech or a meeting… a story that will transport people from a familiar world to a new world, a new discovery, a new learning that they don’t yet know.
2. Put your eyes in the eyes of the audience. What will they see and hear from the imagery in the background?
3. BE SIMPLE and do not overcrowd your visual environment with the unnecessary just because it is a wonderful picture or image. Unless that is done for dynamic impact.
4. You are taking people on a journey that is ‘appearing real’ to them. It is important they feel part of this not as a separate bystander.
5. Everything in the picture frame or virtual background has a reason to be there, whether it be image, colour, furniture, candles, whatever – it must have a reason – and also placed appropriately for impact. i.e. make sure you are appropriately placed in the frame, so you don’t have e.g. a plant or a pointed object growing out of your head.
6. All what is in the picture frame wants to relate to the story you are sharing or the lessons you are teaching or the impact you want to have.
7. Your backgrounds whether virtual or real, are metaphors to support your story, context and message. Remember you are creating an environment that takes your audience on a journey.
8. The colour of your clothing must not be the same as the background – something must stand out. E.g. if everything is white in your background and minimalist and you are also wearing white, then add colour in the way of lipstick or a shirt or this can also just be the beautiful colour of your skin and race. The point here is, you don’t want to disappear into your background. You are the expert and that is why people are here to be with you.
9. You are now the ‘subject’ in the frame and therefore ‘the actor’ and that has it lessons as well. Where do I look, what do I wear, how is my voice and more?
10. Your movements depending on how close-up or far away you need to be appropriate in size and dynamics.
11. You need to think dynamics in your delivery, movement, facial expression, words you use, tempo and timbre of your voice and more.
12. Think about this as movement – remember it was called moving pictures for a reason
13. To have a maximum impact in the rather experienced audiences of today you need to think length, tempo and visual experience not just the audio experience.  Today people have seen a lot in their lives online and you are now mimicking this world of Netflix and YouTube.
14. Remember pretty much anything goes in creativity and it depends on the impact you wish and who your audience and clients are. There are principles that the mind registers on – visual, colour, movement, sound and tempo.

In the end, it again comes down to the story you want to tell. There is a debate on how professional you want to look and be. The most important things are to be authentic, real and truthful in yourself with a balance of the design of your environment/set and storytelling that goes with your message.

Leap into the new world of technology of which I have to say I am slow at. As I say to all, this time the turtle is sometimes the right way to be, up to you. Observe what others are doing, then come back to who you are and what is your message.

Ask yourself the question:

What is it you want to be or do or say that will make a difference for …?

I hope this was helpful and if you wish to connect with me you can at,

E: connect@thenomadicmindset.com

W: www.thenomadicmindset.com

Pod: www.thenomadicmindset.com/podcast

and … if you want to see some of my dance videos (there are many videos, some great, some good, some well…)  hop over to https://bit.ly/35PpQ1n

Happy Designing your online environments and messages!

Kevin Cottam, Canadian, Global Nomad is a Professional Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach and Author of two books and the Nomadic Mindset Podcast. A former elite choreographer to World and Olympic Figure Skating Champions and award-winning director and editor of short dance film. He believes we have become too narrow in our thinking and behaviours and we need to expand our innate global thinking to create a new now and future that brings humanity, economic practices, healthy democratic governances and nature/climate together. He says to do this, we need to tap into our nomadic mindset. www.thenomadicmindset.com

The post Virtual Backgrounds: Think Design Think Storytelling appeared first on Go Nomading Pte Ltd.

Perfect Time

Even though the globe is deep in the middle of the crisis, many are starting to wake-up to the post-Covid time. That is great, but the gift is staying in the present now. As most are in lockdown, circuit breaker or the different ways to say isolation, many struggle with isolation as they are not used to being with themselves or family members or without friends.

Yet this is a tremendous learning period that can propel you to greater awareness that is crucial for your personal development and efficacy as an human being.  May I suggest you consider the following.

Three New Thinks

There are three behaviours that can assist in this New Thinking and they are to settle in and ‘idle’ a bit; go Nomadic Wandering (or daydreaming); and ‘Think Vastly, Act Narrowly’. All allow free mind space for Aha Moments to occur!  Your mind might be saying, how odd is this, how does this open up to creativity.  Read on …

What is an Aha Moment? Let’s Explore

Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence), shares that the Aha Moment is when ‘something new is coming together that has never been done before.’ Aha Moments are what some may say are the ‘lightbulb moments’ or ‘moments of realization’.

Aha Moments, I have found to be gifts and I have captured 27 short stories of these moments, in my first book, Aha, Mother’s Pearls. What I am sharing in my stories is, that everyone has Aha Moments and they are happening throughout the day. You just may not be aware or conscious enough to register on them when they appear. Why because your too busy in the mind and spirit and rarely take time to observe, listen and be still.  This is why this space of ‘isolation’ or the idle time you have and nomadic wandering are important.  https://bit.ly/3aUGmil.

In my recent leadership book, The Nomadic Mindset: Never Settle…for Too Long, Binderiya a millennial student from Mongolia said to me that nomads ‘Think Vastly, Act Narrowly’.  When you combine this quote and the scientific evidence from what Daniel Goleman says on how creativity happens, the combination lends fascinating credence and value for the power of Aha Moment and the nomadic mindset.

The Attributes of the Idle State and Nomadic Wandering

Goleman says, that ‘when your mind goes into an ‘idling state or rest state, you are then open to the Aha appearing’. This appears when you are quiet, meditative, silent, or allowing free mind space and exploration to happen. This state, supports you and opens you up to go ‘nomadic wandering’ or ‘day-dreaming.’

How many times have you been reprimanded by teachers, leaders, sports coaches, or family or friends to stop day-dreaming and come back to the present moment? Get on with your work, stay focused!!! You may even feel guilty, uncomfortable or even fearful at the moment for having too many moments of an ‘idle mind’. Let this notion fly away.

This is the perfect time to experience and embrace the ‘idling’ time that is needed to New Think your life and behaviours and allow Aha’s to appear.

The Scientific Explanation

Goleman’s scientific explanation allows you to realize ‘idling’ and the nomadic wandering are vital for your creativity as well as other skills such as critical thinking and cognitive flexibility. I believe this is all related to tapping into your nomadic mindset.

Goleman, shares ‘idling’ and nomadic wandering ‘leads to the counter-intuitive moment’! He shares three things that need to happen –

1. Frame the Problem  (e.g. shutting down your company temporarily)
2. Dig Deep   (e.g. what is happening, possibilities/opportunities, what can you do)
3. Let it all go  (idle – and let the free space in your mind for answers to appear)

He further explains in his video, what happens just before an Aha Moment appears.  Here is where ‘Thinking Vastly, Act Narrowly’ jumps in.

1. The mind goes into an alpha relaxed state – allowing ‘Think Vastly’ (exploration) to happen
2. Followed by a gama spike – when ‘Act Narrowly’ (solution/answer) and the Aha results.

He says, ‘this is when congruence comes together and the creative moment or Aha Moment or counter-intuitive moment appears’ with clarity. This Aha Moment is ‘when something new is coming together that has never been done before’.

Experience the Rest State

One of my Maasai Warriors told me that we in the west have ‘congested minds’.  Meaning not enough free mind space (i.e. when your computer or phone hard drive has no more space) which is congested by too much ‘stuff’.  This again lends great credence to allowing the mind to pause on ‘idle or in the rest state’ which gives you time to breath and let go of the ‘stuff’ while encouraging the gama spike to happen.

If you have a lot of time on our hands at home in ‘lockdown’ or ‘circuit breaker’, you can now experience and realize the incredible value of the ‘rest state’ and go nomadic wandering. Even if you don’t have time and say this is too theoretical or not possible, then this is perfect time to pause and New Think what is stopping you. Do yourself a favour – idle, go nomadic wandering and think vastly, act narrowly.  Even after the crisis keep this practice.

Use your Time Wisely

Use this time wisely as an individual, leader, organisation by tapping into your nomadic mindset and find new ways forward whether it be how you treat humanity; support others; need for a new business model and more …

One way you can expand your mindset is to ‘Think Vastly, Act Narrowly’ as a practice which allows you to have an Aha Moment and be more creative. What nomadic wandering and the Aha Moment can bring, are creative moments that you may resist or fight – give yourself a chance, let go, and explore a New Land of what can be. It is the same rush when you get to travel to somewhere new, or have a new relationship or find the job of your dreams or create an amazing start-up which is changing lives.

This is your moment to Let go and let the Gama Spike appear. Be that person or organisation, family or society you want to truly be.

Practices

1. Idle, rest, let go
2. ‘Think Vastly, Act Narrowly’
3. Go nomadic wandering
4. Meditate
5. Experience the vastness of nature
6. Journal or write random thoughts and whatever comes into your mind
7. Speak and share them with trusted others
8. Give gratitude for this gift
9. Take action and implement the Aha

Gratefulness

What I am grateful for in this period, is that there are truly amazing things happening socially around the coming together of humanity, plus the climate has been given a ‘temporary’ time to breath freely. That is to be applauded, big time.

My Gift to you. 

Here is the link to my mega discounted e-book Aha, Mother’s Pearls https://bit.ly/3aUGmil – there are three free chapters to download as well at https://bit.ly/34oICvS –

Support for Maasai Villages in Kenya

The proceeds of the complete e-book (.99 cents) goes to supporting some Maasai Villages of the Maasai Mara in Southern Kenya that have helped me in my research. During this Covid19 Crisis, they are in dire need of support as they are unable to take their cows, their financial currency, to market and sell them. Please share. In deep gratitude.

Kevin Cottam, Canadian, Global Nomad is a Professional Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach and Author of two books and the Nomadic Mindset Podcast. He believes we have become too narrow in our thinking and behaviours and we need to expand our innate global thinking to create a new now and future that brings humanity, economic practices, healthy democratic governances and nature/climate together. He says to do this, we need to tap into our nomadic mindset.  www.thenomadicmindset.com

The post Your Aha New Think appeared first on Go Nomading Pte Ltd.

When you read through the following story, pick out the words that inspire you to solve problems with a different way of thinking or mindset.   

Said Zaki, a proud Berber nomad from the Sahara in Southern Morocco, says to me, Berbers see ‘everything as an opportunity’.  This includes the desert and sand itself.  It is filled with opportunities.  Just as it is an opportunity for you read this e-book. This is an opportunity to learn or see things from a different perspective.  Imagine what your life and mindset might be like if you saw both positive and negative things as opportunities 2 learn or O2L  – even as hard as that might seem at times.

Said further says, nomads modulate their lives to the sand. The sand is always moving and creating unchartered territories. It never settles for too long and that is the same for you.  Never settle for too long, just long enough to reap the harvest. This takes an agile, flexible thinking mind that observes, listens and is alert to whatever may appear – i.e. the signposts.  These signposts of opportunities appear in different ways, large and small, and sometimes we are blind to the smallest and perhaps most important signposts.  They can appear as sounds, signs, marketing, a word someone uses, something in your house that you haven’t seen for a long time and the list goes on.  Nomads know these signposts will lead them to their destination. Being able or even willing to recognize those signposts can lead you to a different destination, like Einstein shares ‘a different thinking’, that you never thought possible.

Said says, the sand creates different opportunities and we must adapt and flow to the ever evolving new environment which is changing all the time, it is just normal and the way of life.  To be able to do this, he shares, they know they must be still, alert, actively listen and observe the signs that the environment will display. This is the nomads inner GPS.  To understand this inner GPS, you might want to tap into your innate nomadic mindset. 

As you enter into 2020, consider the way you see the world, make decisions, create new solutions that are sustainable or different than the way you normally think; take small steps to embrace the words of Said and the nomadic mindset that lives and is your GPS of life, but you just might have forgotten.  Look for signposts that will take you in a different direction and experience something fresh and new.

2020: Time to Rethink – still, alert, listen, observe, agile, flexible, adaptable, opportunities, signposts, evolving, new environment, unchartered territory, flow, create, never settle for too long, direction, destination, journey, experience …

www.thenomadicmindset.com

#thenomadicmindset #leadership #opportunities

#solutions #decisionmaking

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What does this mean to nomads?  What does this mean to you?  How can this help you transform how you make decisions in your life or business or simply see the world?

For nomads, she says, this means they are able to see the wide angle, the global viewpoint, big picture perspective. Translated into contemporary life and viewpoint, they gather all possibilities; viewpoints on situation; ideas on a creative project; topics of a meeting and more. Then they narrow in and rapidly make a focused decision and move forward towards that destination.

This means starting wide, standing back and looking a situation from a separate and distant position physically, mentally and emotionally.  Kind of like standing on the top of a mountain and looking at the 360 view point.  Most of us, harbour all things in our mind, body and soul which put you in a narrow, often constricted position, and things can seem quite entangled.  Like the saying, ‘you can’t see the forest for the trees’.  When you are entangled, it is hard to remove yourself from the narrowness to disentangle whatever you want to solve or how you want to be.  Luckily as humans, we are able eventually able to sort things out … or not.

Try this physical body scan to expand yourself and disentangle!

1. Stand upright with your arms held out sideways at shoulder level.  Feel what this is like – is it light or heavy; can you breath freely; how does your mind feel; what about the rest of your body – is it strong, flexible and loose – does it feel freeing?
2. Next, with your arms out stretched slowly bring your arms together in front of you (at shoulder level) and again go through the body referral scan.
3. Then fluidly flow your arms back and forth wide narrow, wide narrow a few times. Feel it. Now, look at your situation from the ‘vast’ position.
4. When you wake-up, start the day with your arms wide and in your mind – looking at your day, before you narrow into your activities, meetings, conversations.
5. When you are at work start wide with your plans, projects, meetings before narrowing in.
6. During the day, take time to stand at a window and look out with your arms wide. – Just practice the width more than the narrow.

Just remember you need both – ‘Think Vastly, Act Narrowly’ by Binderiya – this will make a difference in your well-being, decisions, clarity and much more.

#thenomadicmindset, #leadership

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Have you ever been accused of daydreaming? 

I have many times in my life. What about you? I believe, depending on your cultural and educational norms, this intuitive and natural practice has been shunned too often and for too long. This practice—this ability—has always been highly undervalued.

In my early years, I remember many times in school, or even at home, when my focus would wander from my real purpose, whether studying a particular course at the direction of my teachers or performing a mundane task my parents had asked me to do. In fact, generally, something I was learning, doing, or sensing at the time was the trigger for me to go wandering into multiple dimensions. I was, more often than not, reprimanded for this, which usually led to much disagreement with those in positions of authority.

Denying ourselves this natural internal journey limits the freedom of our minds—our creativity, imagination, and cognitive flexibility—and can force us into a narrow thinking pattern that creates tight, inflexible thought borders. This is dangerous for the present and the future. We need daydreaming more now than ever with the state of world affairs and Industry 4.0 to encourage consideration and contemplation.

Daydreaming or nomadic wandering?

I would rather call this practice of daydreaming, nomadic wandering.

How do you think all the great creations and innovations came about in technology, art, music, writing, and more? It all started with a process of nomadic wandering: an openness to possibilities, a curiosity, and an exploration of potential, of something better. Nomadic wandering could allow people more purpose and meaning and result in positive forward movement. And anything that offers purpose and meaning is, in my mind, a good thing.

Maasai Mara wandering

When I was wandering around the Maasai Mara with my Maasai brother, Joel, while doing research for my book, The Nomadic Mindset: Never Settle…for Too Long, we talked about the Maasai and their cultural ways and where their culture stands today. We stopped once at a tree, and Joel tore off a branch, chewed the bark off the end of it, and moved it around in his mouth. He said, “This is how we clean our teeth.” So, I tore off a branch and repeated what Joel had done. Then I found myself wandering around inside my mind and body enjoying the sensation and searching for a way to use this as a personal anecdote. Perhaps I could use it as a business opportunity, I thought. After our pause, we continued our nomadic wandering. This wandering like I did with Joel gives you so many thoughts and sensations that encourage you to continue your nomadic wandering.

Here’s what I’m saying: we need to be free to experience nomadic wandering—regularly. This is how we need to live; it is part of our natural existence, and it is interconnected with nature—it’s one of our natural, instinctive ways. Natural, normal, nomadic wandering is about a variety of nomadic qualities such as flexibility, fluid borders, adaptability, agility, freedom, openness, and more. We are all capable of this. Sadly, because of our old, tired, cultural ways; family; and education, workplace wandering and nomading is shunned and even sometimes drained right out of us.

If we are to survive and thrive in Industry 4.0, we must allow this practice to flourish. Then we can tighten its focus and harvest the rewards.

World Forum skills for 2020

In my research with executives, 100% of them told me that what their organisations need more of is people with a nomadic mindset. What, you may say, is that? Batgerel Bat in Mongolia defined it best: it is “the movement of the mind,” a.k.a., nomadic wandering.

If you look at that which has already changed and that which is yet changing—fast and furious—such as artificial intelligence, robots, job losses, original job creation, and more, the World Trade Forum says, “The top three skills needed are complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity—and in the number 10 spot—cognitive flexibility.” How are you going to acquire those skills? Take another course with inflexible borders? Or go wandering? Or a combination thereof? To be successful and thrive when you’re acquiring these skills, possessing and practicing the qualities that represent nomadic wandering, hence the nomadic mindset, is a paramount essential ingredient.

If this is the case, then how can we encourage more nomading, and what, potentially, does this look like?

Here are 10 big and small ways to encourage nomadic wandering:

1. Embrace the practice of nomadic wandering—or daydreaming.
2. Encourage children to nomadically wander, then help them harness their thoughts and turn them not only into skills but into a mindset to progress from. Being allowed to play freely to discover on their own is a good way to encourage this.
3. Change educational and cultural ways within organisations and school systems so you inspire and encourage this practice. Question and become curious.
4. Allow for more flexible working situations, both for yourself and your employees, such as at home, in a coffee shop, in a museum, or wherever it is that one can garner the energy and inspiration that drives nomadic wandering.
5. Change the location of the work stations in your office, i.e., allow for wandering within the organisation to stimulate ideas, collaboration, and growing networks.
6. For leaders and managers, wander from your office out to all levels of your organisation; take your laptop with you and sit with your employees, chat with others, and do some of your work outside your office and engage with the citizens of the world (your potential customers or clients).
7. Develop small working groups so your employees can wander to new ideas: create smaller, more direct innovation hubs within departments or units and smaller teams that can move fast.
8. Encourage and seek out internal and external employee movement or migration, e.g., to different departments, to other organisations, or to other countries.
9. Find new ways of leading that are more nondirective and coach-like and that promote questioning. This helps remove existing borders around thinking, creativity, and set ways and helps people seek opportunities to grow and learn.
10. Encourage failure as a way to nomadically wander, discover, and explore all possibilities.

For nomadic wandering to take hold in organisations or governments, it takes leadership that knows this is vital for survival in Industry 4.0. Some massive potential benefits are happiness, increased productivity, and better performance.

When I left Joel and wrapped up my wandering of the Maasai Mara that day, I realized—yet again—the importance of just wandering physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I realized it can truly impact my mindset and being.

I went back to my room and found I had left the balcony door slightly open. The monkeys had come in and had ransacked my room. I was annoyed, yes; however, in many ways, they, too, were practicing nomadic wandering to ensure their survival.

Go nomadic wandering today!

Kevin Cottam is a Global Nomad with outposts in Singapore, Vancouver, Lisbon, and Brussels. He is the author of the new leadership book, The Nomadic Mindset: Never Settle…for Too Long and he travels the world as a global keynote speaker and executive leadership coach and trainer on the subject of The Nomadic Mindset.

www.thenomadicmindset.com

connect@thenomadicmindset.com

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#globalnomadgrateful: When I reflect on my journey to writing The Nomadic Mindset: Never Settle…for Too Long, I remember so many things I experienced that have been enlightening in so many ways. That’s why I would like to share five points of gratitude with you as I sense they can be of benefit to everyone on every journey. We all know the points below unconsciously; however, it is important to consciously realize them.

1. Get a Mentor: We have heard time and time again that it’s important to get a mentor or coach. The spark that lit this fire of mine was working with my mentor, Fredrik Härén, on my theme, keynote, and creative idea; traveling with him; and having him challenge me . When he said, “now you need to research, both with executives and nomadic cultures,” I was instantly freaked out, frightened, and truly taken out of my comfort zone. Being Grateful for…being put in uncomfortable situations has given me a new lease on life.

2. Do Research: Research has been something I have never been fond of doing even though I have been doing it unconsciously my whole life. However, consciously setting out on a path of research turned out to be great, and even challenging at times, as it could have put me in some rather life-threatening situations. Being Grateful for…doing the research has given me a deeper sense of awareness and confidence; deeper, more diverse knowledge; and an acceptance of other cultures and mindsets.

3. Seek Feedback: Getting critical feedback on my manuscript from people in diverse environments was crucial. In fact, I benefitted from feedback at every critical milestone—from writing and marketing to cover design and internal book design—and this journey will continue for years now. But then, too, as I was told over and over again, you make up your own mind about what is right in the end. Being Grateful for…all the people who have given me critical feedback has pushed me in many new directions.

4. Realize the Emotional Journey: Writing a book is personal. It hits you inside and out with the multiple emotions that pop up at the most unexpected moments. The voice you want to create takes time and it evolves. You will go from elation to unhappiness, from sadness and anxiety to moments of light—your emotions go everywhere. This is good because now you are alive, so what you are writing must be alive. Being Grateful for…these very difficult emotions has helped me grow more and more passionate about this project and direction.

5. Set Up a Support System: Writing can be a very lonely existence as you intently, on a daily basis, sit to write. Sometimes a lot pours out of you, sometimes nothing does, or sometimes just a few words or ideas will trickle out. Frustration will set in, and you’ll have moments of despair and ask yourself, why the F… am I doing this? We all need a support system made up of those who have both enormous empathy and a dabble of persistence to give you those gentle (or sometimes forceful) nudges. Being Grateful for…many members of Asia Pacific Singapore Speakers, friends, and family has kept me going towards my goal: completion.

The journey has been worth it, even if at times it seemed it was stretching me too far. It is not over yet; still more milestones are on the horizon. I have to admit, this has been the most difficult project I have ever undertaken. I found it easier to create, write, design, choreograph, and direct large touring skating shows than to write this book. However, I am truly grateful that my past experience creating large productions has helped me get through this. In fact, this is my new type of production and choreography. Who knows? Maybe there is a show in this as well.

We all have our own productions or events in life. You don’t have to write a book to understand these lessons of gratitude. You can be a school teacher, a CEO of a multibillion-dollar company, a mother, a manager—anyone. These are realizations that suit everyone.

I am sure you understand all this. Just remember to Breathe, to Live every moment, as life is about movement inside and outside of us. Writing is massive movement that can take you everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It is all meant to help you grow. Pick up your pen and start writing … if that is your dream … then follow it.

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