Among your daily practices, which one do you credit the most for continuous self-growth in your professional life, and why do you find it particularly impactful?

The One practice I will give most credit for my continuous self-growth, is to go out and try to help someone who needs help/mentoring. Though there are other important ones like Continuous learning and challenging myself, I have felt more content and filled with purpose when my insights/help has impact one someone life and professional career and growth. Whether its simply mentoring College students or sharing my expertise as part of advisory board member for universities or simply helping/guiding the Intern I hired in my team, speaking on conferences and sharing my experience via various research papers and book, the continuous effort on giving back has had most profound impact on my Self-growth in my professional life.

Participating in Red Teaming regularly has been essential to my career development. This technique, which takes its cues from military strategy, entails questioning my business tactics, asking colleagues to review proposals, and proactively seeking out opposing views. I can identify my blind spots, improve my methods, and make better decisions by creating an atmosphere that welcomes constructive skepticism. This ongoing evaluation makes sure that my company plans are flexible resilient, and prepared to handle unforeseen obstacles. Accepting disagreement as a useful tool rather than a barrier has strengthened my leadership and fostered an innovative culture in my team. The skill of self-challenge is a potent stimulant for ongoing development and strategic agility in today's fast-paced business environment.

As a media agency owner with anxiety, being part of an organization for like-minded entrepreneurs has been pivotal. The daily interactions and idea exchanges with peers provide invaluable insights and support. This network not only inspires innovative strategies but also offers a sense of community, which is crucial for my mental well-being and professional growth. We meet monthly to discuss everything that is weighing on our minds an hear how others were able to overcome something similar.

Continuous language learning and engagement. As an immigrant twice over working with various multinational companies, I can very safely say that nothing keeps you progressing in your career like picking up new language proficiencies that you can then apply in the business and while networking. Beyond that, it gives you a very different perspective than if you stayed mono-lingual because you learn the underlying assumptions and bits of culture that aren't immediately obvious when working with someone else in an international environment by learning at least a little of their language. Picking up Duolingo is a good start, but it can sometimes feel like bashing your head against a wall so I would recommend actually trying out popular media in your target language after learning at least some of the basics.

Every day, and several times throughout, I prioritize frequent body scans, which have been crucial for my personal and professional growth. Think of it as a quick internal check-in to gauge how I respond to the day's demands, whether a new request, a conversation, or my ongoing to-do list. This practice strengthens my connection to intuition, helping me easily recognize when I feel a 'full body yes' about something. On the other hand, if I notice physical signs of tension, like tightness in my chest or changes in my breathing, it's a clear indicator of resistance. This signals me to delve deeper, asking myself whether it's fear, doubt, a misalignment with my values, or perhaps just an overwhelming workload. These body scans are key to staying authentic, ensuring that my actions align with my true self, and managing my energy effectively.

My secret weapon for continuous self-growth? The 60-second mindfulness break. As a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years in the game, I've seen firsthand how easily we slip into reactionary modes amidst the relentless pace. Yet in my own experience, I’ve discovered the transformative power of micro-mindfulness moments Here’s my simple personal ritual: Around a dozen times per day, I take 60 seconds to tune into my breath, ground into the present, and clear my crowded mind. Before major meetings, in the heat of stressful situations, when big decisions loom. These mindfulness breaks reboot my brain, opening space for focus, wisdom, and inspiration. Initially, building this muscle felt foreign. But the more I practiced it, the more second nature it became. Now it’s an indispensable support for me, keeping me centered in choppy conditions. The research bears out why - mindful pauses lower cortisol, blood pressure, and sharpen emotional intelligence. The impacts ripple out powerfully in my life. My communication is more thoughtful, composed, and empathetic. My resilience against exhaustion grows. And the creative juices really start flowing! By continually fine-tuning my internal compass, I stay strategically on course towards my entrepreneurial goals.

Consistently reaching out to mentors, coaches, and business friends to ask for their advice, challenge me on my assumptions, and share their encouragement has been game-changing for my professional life and the growth of my businesses. Nearly every day, I reach out to someone in my network to tap their wisdom, seek their advice, or debrief a failure. This regular practice has led to incredible benefits. Of course, in reaching out, I learn new concepts and strategies that I can employ immediately. In several cases, these conversations have led me to develop new service lines or systems. Entrepreneurship is often a lonely endeavor. The support and encouragement of friends and colleagues is so helpful in pressing through frustrating and stressful times. Finally, regularly asking others for their advice creates loyalty toward you because they become invested in you. For me that loyalty has translated to warm lead referrals, influencer introductions, and new talent connections. Most people I reach out to are honored that I would ask. People love being helpful and are often highly generous with their time and their counsel. The key is to reach out and ask for help.

Adopting a "Work Smarter, Not Harder" approach has really changed the game for me. It's more than just doing tasks – it's about smart use of tech, sharing work with others, and knowing when to say no. This way, I save time and cut down on stress, giving me space to think creatively. I've learned that it's not just about being busy; it's about making each day meaningful. For anyone looking to grow professionally, this approach is pure gold. It helps you balance work and life, and that's something we all need.

For veteran practitioners of any skill, it’s important to remember that beginners they are teaching can be so practiced that they forget the basics. Try learning to surf from a pro-surfer. You will make it out paddling toward the waves, waiting for an oncoming swell, only to be told to “stand up” once the wave reaches you. It’s easier said than done, and it’s the same for any practice. Taking a beginner’s mindset every day helps experts remember the learning curve and daily fundamentals of what they do. This is crucial for training new experts and talent and understanding customers’ perspectives, for example, when onboarding them into your brand or product. Expertise is critical but not more important than accessibility. Taking the beginner’s mindset regularly humbles us, keeps us empathetic, and, ultimately, is what makes us efficient.

The most impactful daily practice in my professional life, going from a failing solo entrepreneur to the Head of Marketing at one of the fastest-growing startups in the US, has been daily prayer, silence, and meditation. Starting my morning off like this has allowed me to step back from the day-to-day task list, give myself some creative time, lower my stress, and allow God to guide my daily life. Focusing on what’s most important for my life and our business at a higher level first thing in the morning, instead of execution, has become a crucial part of my self-growth and professional development.

My own coach introduced me to a daily practice that's made a huge impact. She calls it "future activating." Every morning, before I even get out of bed, I mentally go through all my meetings and other plans for the day, one by one. I look "back" on each one as though it had already happened, and "reflect" on what came out of it, how I'm feeling about it, how it went, in the most positive terms. I don't get specific on outcomes — because why stop at what we can imagine? What if something even better were to happen? I just get into a place of gratitude, excitement, optimism, whatever might be appropriate for that event or activity. This work fundamentally changes your perspective. Think about a meeting you've been dreading. What might happen if you could let go of any preconceptions and "see" it going amazingly well? How might that affect your expression and body language when you enter the room? The way you greet the other attendee(s)? Your focus? How might they then respond to you? How could those things affect the way the meeting goes? To increase the impact of the practice, every evening I reflect on (and write down) everything that happened during the day that turned out even better than expected, or that I couldn't have planned or imagined. Where your attention goes, energy flows. I've seen a big difference in my life since I started future activating.

One practice that has been pivotal for my professional growth is dedicating the first hour of my day to learning something new related to my field. This could be reading industry-related news, exploring emerging technologies, or even studying a new business strategy. For instance, when we were scaling, I spent these early hours learning about advanced digital marketing techniques, which significantly improved our outreach strategies. This habit ensures I'm continuously expanding my knowledge base, keeping me ahead of industry trends and opening up new avenues for innovation and problem-solving in my work. It's impactful because it not only keeps my skills sharp but also fuels creative thinking and adaptability, which are crucial in the ever-evolving landscape of startup management.

Every night before sleeping, I have a habit of reading a book. Now it can be one page, two pages, or even ten pages, depending on how I feel at that time. This has been my practice for years and keeps reminding me that it doesn't matter what kind of day it is or how busy, I am taking out time for it. Even if not a lot of time, at least I'm moving forward on the book instead of thinking I'll read double the next day, as that never happens. It has kept me motivated, as every time I feel low, I think of all the books I have completed, even by taking small steps like reading a few pages. For me, it's more of a sign that taking consistent steps is important; even if the steps are small, it's okay as long as you're moving.

I believe setting boundaries have been incredibly impactful. As an entrepreneur, and as someone that does not work in a traditional office space, there is no such thing as '9 to 5' where I begin work at 9 and leave at 5. Before, I found myself constantly working. I would work during 9am to 5pm, and then because I felt like I needed to utilize spare time, I continued to work until 8pm. I did this for a long time until I started to feel weird. A feeling I later realised was severe burnout. Now, I gave myself work boundaries of working between 9 to 6, and only giving myself 3 big tasks to do in a day, and only doing 1-2 meetings a day. I prioritised my breaks. With all of these, I found myself being well rested and more energised to work better and come up with innovative ideas.

I committed to taking a walk around the lake near my house every day for a year back in 2019. This daily practice is the one I credit most for my continuous self-growth in my professional life. It proved transformative, offering me a space to gather my thoughts and reconnect with my core passion for writing. It’s the discipline of this daily routine, combined with the mental clarity and reduced stress it brought, that reignited my creative spirit. This walk around the lake became more than just physical exercise; it evolved into a mental and emotional journey, paving the way for self-discovery and professional development as a writer. I walked around this lake in thunderstorms and blizzards just to get a picture for a coffee-table book I wanted to write. By committing to this daily practice, I not only rediscovered my love for writing, but also opened doors to new opportunities, proving the profound impact of small, consistent actions on personal and professional growth. I quit the job that was draining my energy in 2020 and have had a successful career as a writer, editor, and now entrepreneur ever since.

In the world of business, the ability to communicate effectively is non-negotiable. I often see entrepreneurs who read tens of books about communication but most of them are bad at it. So, I set myself a goal to make communication my strength. But how? There's no definitive guidebook; business communication is a dynamic, fast-paced arena requiring flexibility, intelligence, and creativity. For the past three years, I've practiced communicational labeling – identifying emotions and behaviors during interactions. Are they frustrated? Trying to manipulate? Genuinely in need of a discount? This helped us secure major deals with suppliers, partners, and clients, proving instrumental to our business success. Communication emotional intelligence can't be taught or bought; it's a skill honed over the years. It becomes a compass, guiding toward profitable deals. While new technologies and AI will continue to evolve, understanding human behavior remains a timeless asset. Trust me, this skill is invaluable.

As a medical malpractice attorney, I attribute my continuous self-growth in my professional life to my commitment to lifelong learning. Learning is an essential element to not only excel in my career but also better serve my clients. To me, it is not enough to have earned a law degree, passed the bar, and practiced for years. It is imperative to remain up-to-date with my legal education, industry updates, case law, and more. One of the daily practices that I credit the most for my growth is reading. I firmly believe that reading is an incredibly impactful practice that has helped me sharpen my legal skills, enhance my critical thinking, and expand my knowledge base. Not only do I read legal journals and publications, but I also read books outside of the legal world. I find that this helps me broaden my perspective, makes me a better communicator, and improves my advocacy skills.

Every day, I dedicate time to journaling, and it's been a key factor in my growth. It goes beyond just noting down what happened, instead I try to understand the deeper 'whys' behind my actions and feelings. It's about bringing understanding and actively learning from my own experiences. For instance, if I faced a challenge, I look how I reacted, what triggered me, and how I could handle it better next time. This process has helped sharpen my self-awareness, making me more empathetic and effective in my coaching. It's like having an open and honest conversation with myself, constantly adapting my approach to both my personal life and work while keeping me grounded and growth-oriented.

As a certified DEI trainer, the practice I credit most for my ongoing professional growth is podcasting and live streaming. Every time I interview a guest speaker from anywhere in the world, it's an opportunity for me to cultivate a wide range of skills. It's like running a personal masterclass in emotional intelligence as I tune into the emotions and perspectives of my guests. Active listening is crucial to ensure I'm truly capturing their insights. Each episode is a lesson in continuous learning, opening me up to new ideas and concepts. The networking aspect is invaluable, connecting me with thought leaders and potential collaborators. My public speaking abilities are honed with every conversation, and curating these sessions helps build my personal brand. In essence, podcasting and live streaming have accelerated my professional development, creating a platform for constant self-improvement.

Alright, spilling the beans on my daily self-growth gig. The hero move? Reflecting like it's my personal TED Talk. Every day, I take a beat to look back – what went well, what tanked, and what I learned. It's like a daily debrief with myself. Why? It's the compass for improvement. When you see the wins, you celebrate, and when you spot the oops moments, you pivot. It's not about being hard on yourself; it's about getting a front-row seat to your own growth journey. This daily reflection thing is like my backstage pass to leveling up in the professional game. Try it – it's a game-changer.