It's All A Recombination

I don't like being called an expert at anything.

But, after listening to Adam Alter's book The Anatomy of a Breakthrough this morning, I might be open to calling myself a "strategic recombiner."

When my coaching work stalled out because I was getting overwhelmed with carrying the weight of all my client's "bad boss" experiences, I knew it was time for a change.

I decided to RECOMBINE.

I didn't want to leave coaching and supporting people behind, but I knew that I needed a new combination to keep me going.

Here's what I combined:

Teaching begrudging middle school students in fun ways + Loving to learn through books + My desire to support leaders and have less "bad bosses" in the world + My creativity and desire to never get bored

Toss them all in a bowl, and VOILÀ, book circles were born. (It wasn't that easy, trust me.)

Last week, I attended a "serendipity walk" with the amazing Lily Higgins, where she took us on a journey through our neighborhoods and ourselves.

Now, I am thinking about all the ways that I can combine that experience, with a book circle on The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul, where she talks about how we think better while in motion.

I don't want to steal Lily's work, but I do want to recombine it with my own way of leading book circles.

Here's another example:

This morning, Susanne Fest sent me a short video on creating an "Earth Altar," which inspired me to create my own during lunch (photo). I took apart a Mimosa branch and recombined it to create something new.

No new elements used, just a recombination of old elements.

Now, I realize that I do this all the time (thus the "strategic recombiner" label I want to give myself.)

Do you ever recombine things to create something new, and old at the same time?

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