At TC&A, we are taking a deep breath in and letting it go, as we begin the month of May. We are grateful the 2022 year has been full with meaningful engagements and good work with our clients, organizations and industries. We’re also reminded of the boundless importance for us to set our intentions and “practice what we coach.” We often joke, “We are coaching ourselves when meeting with our clients, too!”

During the month of May, our desire is to communicate how we prepare behind the scenes for YOU! YOU are a key part of our purpose.

Aligned with our Find Your WHY Purpose

For Social and Emotional Learning

For Students

We are nearing the finish line with the third year for our Find Your WHY Seniors in High School. It has been an amazing year to experience our students ENERGY for life. It has been a privilege to support our students as they PROCESS their opportunities to attend college, work for family businesses or be a part of the workforce to advance their goals and dreams. As leaders and coaches, we are proud of our students DECISION-MAKING capabilities and the strategies they have created for future decisions that they will make. We are BLESSED to know our students are better equipped to structure the lives that will be most meaningful to them, along with the flexibility to rise above difficult situations and challenges. As leaders and coaches, we have the greatest respect for who they are and who they want to become – they are INCREDIBLE!

“Empowered leaders are the only ones who can induce real change. They can forcefully communicate at a level beyond telling. By having the courage to change themselves, they model the behavior they are asking of others. Clearly understood by almost everyone, this message, based in integrity, is incredibly powerful. It builds trust and credibility and helps others confront the risk of empowering self.”

- Robert E. Quinn, Deep Change

Quinn’s statement above, inspires us to “Lead ourselves … FIRST.” Our hope is that it inspires you to “Lead yourself … FIRST, too.”

As we define complexity, it’s important to note that complexity isn’t always negative or just having the ability to powering through a challenge. It is far more than that. The simple definition of complexity is: “the state or quality of being intricate or complicated.”

During the month of April, our Find Your WHY students will engage in their final coaching learning. The year has been filled with discovering ways to support their own transformation through believing and empowering themselves. They are more aware that who they are and who they want to be is empowered through the following ways:

- A Genuine LOVE for themselves

- A Healthy ATTACHMENT to family and friends

- A true sense of SECURITY within who they are

- A deep CONNECTION to themselves

- A sense of BELONGING to what is important to them

- An ability to deeply TRUST the strengths of who they are

- An ability to create INTENTIONAL and POSITIVE outcomes

Many of you may have heard of the book, Atomic Habits by James Clear. It is a number one bestseller on five renowned lists: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Audible.

His premise begins with this mindset, “If, you are willing to make small, tiny or incremental changes within your habits – you will experience REMARKABLE RESULTS.”

Who doesn’t want remarkable results?

From my reading and the learning that stands out to me, it is very clear, my results in my life stem from the core of how I choose to see myself. At the core of my results is my IDENTITY.

IDENTITY is our uniqueness, our character or our personality. Each one of us embodies a distinct identity in how we think about ourselves.

Over the last three years, the Find Your WHY program for Seniors in High School has supported our students in three significant ways. Each student has had the opportunity to be engaged in learning with the Japanese concept of IKIGAI (ee-kee-gahy):

1. The reason for their being – Discovering their internal being of WHO they are

2. The purpose of their being – Defining WHAT their external personal mission is

3. The potential of their being – Deciding HOW they are going to reach their internal and external potential

These three areas support the Japanese concept of IKIGAI – A person living with happiness or living within a value for one’s life, passions and skills.

ENERGY is a fluid word. It means:

Liveliness

Get-up-and-go

Vitality

Drive

Momentum

Strength

Force

Would you agree, ENERGY is a powerful word and influences your life every day?

Would you consider, “You are responsible for your energy” with each new day?

Have you ever taken time to think about you being responsible for your energy and the ultimate source of your energy?

On Monday, January 17, 2022, the Find You WHY High School Students met for their 2nd Seminar. Each student has entered into their second semester as a Senior in High School. This was a “day off” from school and yet, our students personally chose to show up for themselves and for one another.

From the beginning of our 3.5-hour seminar, they chose a story of gratitude. Every student was grateful for family, friends and their communities. The pandemic has brought a deep gratitude for family dinners, celebrating family culture, being with grandparents and enjoying time with friends.