Show notes
Everything Is Figureoutable: The World Needs Your GiftProgress, not perfection. That’s been my guiding mantra for years, and Marie Forleo’s “Everything is Figureoutable” has been both a compass and a flashlight through my own messy creative journey and career pivots for the last few months. This week, we close the circle with Chapter 10: “The World Needs Your Special Gift.” My hope is to bring the chapter’s transformational wisdom to you—heartfelt, unfiltered, and ready for action.Your Unique Expression Is IrreplaceableMartha Graham’s words resonate through this chapter and my life:“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”Once painted on my sister’s wall (true story) and now etched in my heart, this quote reminds me that holding back my gifts isn’t just limiting myself—it’s a quiet theft from the world. If creativity, insight, or compassion is blocked, it simply disappears—not just from me, but from everyone who might have been moved by it.Conversations with Katie: How Creativity Ripples OutMy recent co-working and real-life conversations with my friend Katie helped these lessons come alive in unexpected ways. Katie attended my webinar last week—a training aimed at breaking free from rigid, uninspired corporate meetings—and found that the experience unlocked new ways of expressing creativity, not just at work but in her textile art and daily routines. We shared how our “hobbies” often get packed into stolen moments, burdened with expectations to deliver joy or transformation, when real joy can be woven throughout ordinary workdays.Her feedback, those hugs, and her heartfelt appreciation reminded me that the things I show up to teach or facilitate don’t just make meetings less terrible—they are seeds of change and joy that ripple far beyond the immediate moment. Sometimes just showing up is the gift; sometimes our unique light is exactly what someone else needs.Stealing from the World When We HideMarie Forleo drives this point further:“There are countless people out there who need the gifts that you and you alone are here to give. If you don’t get off your ass and do the things your heart keeps telling you to do, the world will have lost something truly irreplaceable…YOU.”It’s easy to feel ordinary, to think facilitators or creatives are interchangeable—but Marie reminds us that each person’s timing and voice truly matters. The world needs not just perfect creators, but real, brave humans, offering what they can, when they can.Overcoming the Fraud Factor: We All Feel ItIf you’ve ever felt like a fraud, you’re not alone. Marie writes:“If you ever feel like a fraud–like any accomplishment is a fluke or mistake and someday people are going to find out–you’re clearly in good company. According to research, imposter syndrome affects a whopping 70 percent of us.”Brene Brown, adds: “As a shame researcher, I know that the very best thing to do in the midst of a shame attack is totally counterintuitive. Practice courage and reach out.” Naming shame aloud, starting my own “hype file”—whether a pair of mason jars filled with kind notes or an app with encouraging messages—helps me shine my light outward. When I’m focused on serving others, fraud feelings fade away.Marie adds, “...when your flashlight is shining out, you’re giving zero attention to your fraud feelings. Without attention, those feelings can’t survive.” Live trainings and real-time facilitation help me become a channel for service—letting the energy and inquiry of others guide me, making my gifts matter for someone, somewhere, in the moment.Life Changing Lessons from the EdgeBronnie Ware, in “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying,” offers a piercing truth: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”After facing my own cancer scares—and supporting loved ones through theirs—I realized how much courage and intentional living mean to me now. The desire to model this for my kids, so they see not just “surviving” but truly living, brought tears and a renewed commitment to show up more fully each day.Insights to Action Challenge: Your TurnThis isn’t just theory—here’s my call to action, straight from Marie and Bronnie’s wisdom:* What holds you back from your greatest dream or aspiration? Will those worries matter in twenty, forty, or sixty years?* Imagine death is imminent. Finish the sentence—“I wish I had…”—at least five times, as quickly and honestly as possible. Don’t overthink; let your intuition speak.* If you truly believed everything is figureoutable, what would you do, create, lead, or transform?Try this challenge: Grab a journal, unplug, find quiet, and write for fifteen minutes. Let your intuition spill out. This could be the spark for bold new action.Answering the Next Question—With Heather’s HelpBefore closing, I have to share how the next book for this blog and podcast series came to be. I’d tossed a question into the universe about what to study next—hoping for a dose of creativity, but unsure what direction to take. Later that day, my friend Heather posted in our facilitator group that she was reading “Creative Quest” by Questlove, and wondered if anyone wanted to start a book club around it. Heather, who follows this Substack and sometimes reads along, had answered the question I’d asked—almost as if the universe tapped her on the shoulder with the exact right answer at the exact right time. So that’s where we’re heading next: a journey into creativity, guided by Questlove, with community and curiosity at the center.There’s messy, exquisite aliveness in showing up with all your imperfect, wondrous gifts. The world doesn’t need a perfect version—it needs the real, brave, creative you. Everything is figureoutable, and your special gift might just be the spark that helps the next person find their own light.Let’s Make Work Joyful Again! (yes, that’s a little joke…but still my goal)If you’re ready to go on a quest to make to reclaim your time and joy at work, I still have a few openings for my Guided Experience Express trainings. It’s a super practical, 3-hour workshop designed to help you solve problems and create impactful solutions in less time.Since you read this far, I’ll reward you! If you or someone you know wants in, use code IMPACT60 for 60% off!You can pick whichever session works best:* Thursday, October 16, 9–12pm ET — Register Here OR* Friday, October 24, 12–3pm ET — Register HereUse discount code IMPACT60 at registration to knock 60% off the cost. The code is good through October 31, but space is limited, so grab a spot soon!Here’s what you’ll get out of it:* Hands-on experience: Practice running meetings that actually move projects forward.* Toolkit & templates: Access to my Course Readiness Kit with videos and guides you can use right away.* Team Onboarding Kit: Resources to make your team sessions more focused and fun.* October-only bonus: Two private 1-hour coaching sessions to use anytime this quarter.Plus, there’s a 100% money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied—just ask!You can pick whichever session works best:* Thursday, October 16, 9–12pm ET — Register Here OR* Friday, October 24, 12–3pm ET — Register HereSee you there! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit facilitationartist.substack.com