Hello Friends and Loved Ones,
One of the things I appreciate most about my life is that I live in an area surrounded by dramatic expressions of nature – Boulder, Colorado. Mountains, creeks, wildflowers and endless hiking trails are just steps away from my front door. But strangely enough, I did not really start to take advantage of nature’s proximity until I learned how well it meshes with my business life.
In this thriving entrepreneurial town, many of my meetings – with investors, media, speakers, partners, sponsors – get to be in person. Lately, about a third of those meetings take place on a hike.
It took some getting used to: I worried that I wouldn’t be able to articulate my vision without my computer. How could I refer to important statistics or relevant studies… and what if I forgot to say something important? But those worries fall away as the connection you feel with somebody when you walk together in nature blossoms.
I have walked at a snail’s pace, gotten my ass kicked by a triathlete, and everything in between. The results are the same – no matter how “important” something felt at the beginning of the walk, everything is dwarfed by the energy and majesty of the earth. Sure, we talk business, but somehow it seems less urgent, less charged, and more inspired as we climb rocks and breathe in the mountain chi.
“Our kinship with Earth must be maintained; otherwise, we will find ourselves trapped in the center of our own paved-over souls with no way out.” – Terry Tempest Williams, Finding Beauty in a Broken World
Every single one of us, as human creatures on this earth, are part of an ecosystem that makes use of absolutely everything around it. We are part of a whole, something much bigger and more significant than any one business could ever have. This reminder keeps me sane, reduces anxiety and stress, and helps me make the most of my humanity by committing to a life and a living that will support a healthy environment for us all.
This is why I am so proud to host Dr. Jane Goodall at Emerging Women Live. She uses the scientific study of plants and animals to help us discover our humanity. The luxury of our human consciousness is that we have the capacity for self-reflection, for evolution through awareness and analysis – and the choices we make with this gift are crucial.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Dr. Jane Goodall
For me, nature brings out the best in my perspective, my creative problem solving, my decision-making and my capacity for connection. Tell me: are you tapped in to your ecosystem? How does your natural world compliment your business life, and vice versa? Inspire us in the comment section – I’m always looking for new ways to plug-in as an entrepreneur AND as a human being.
Big Love,
Chantal Pierrat
Founder, Emerging Women
PS – Super Early Bird tickets to see Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Brené Brown and more are available until March 31st. Get yours before they’re gone!
