Hey There, Take a Moment,
I know, I know, it supposed to be a short newsletter! but this short month brought long thoughts; so take a moment to lean back, and get inspired while you sip on a good cup of coffee (or tea...).
February 2021 - Let's go!
Before Shorts
A few years ago, I added to my personal development goals the goal of reading biographies.
Why reading biographies?
I believe there is a lot we can learn from the stories of others - to think outside the box, you not only look forward or to the sideways, but it is also important to not be arrogant and look backward.
Last March (yes, when the pandemic started), I realized that my inability to READ long books is my capability of listening to very long books. That's when my love story with audible started and I saw the opportunity of listening to long biographies, beginning with 35 hours of journey to the invigorating life story of Golda Meir - Israel's fourth prime minister. She was the first and only female Prime Minister in Israel and the first woman foreign secretary in the world.
Here are five things I learned from Prime Minister Golda Meir's Story:
Short 1 - Speaking in English was Her Forte and her Barrier
Golda (she liked to be called Golda) was born in 1898 in Ukraine, but grew in Milwaukee, US. She was a feisty young lady; when her parents wanted her to leave high school and go to work, she ran away from home and moved to live in Texas with her older sister. Influenced by her older sister, she was introduced to the Zionist Movement and quickly joined the leadership to recruit members and ask for financial support for the early settlers in Israel. When she moved to Israel with her husband, she was scolded for speaking in Yiddish (the European Jewish language) and English: "Speak Hebrew" People yelled at her when she tried to speak in meetings, but she always felt less competent when she spoke Hebrew.
If you heard my story I definitely connected with Golda's experience - when speaking which was her forte, becomes your barrier.
Even though her Hebrew was never as good as her English, her ability to craft her talks with emotional storytelling made many people follow her and send her back to Israel with Millions of dollars to support the young country. And of course, choose her to Lead the Israeli Labor party and become the prime minister.
Short 2 - She Led With Emotions
"Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either. Golda Meir
And if we talk emotions – she brought tears into her leadership and didn't apologize for it.
She teared a lot, especially when she saw suffering; she was a mother and understood the pain of a mother, and was attentive to it. And still, she has been described as the "Iron Lady."
Short 3 - She Was the First Female Foreign Secretary
When she was asked: how does it feel to be the first female foreign secretary in the entire world, she answered: "I don't know, I was never a man."
Short 4 - Fail is Not Always the Whole Story
"I am not the same woman after Yom Kippur War, I should have listened to my gut feeling." Golda Meir
Golda will always be remembered for her bad decision before Yom Kippur War. As the story tells, she went against her intuition and didn't move the army forces toward the Israeli borders. She followed the advice of most of the Israeli generals who didn't believe anything is going to happen before the end of the holiest holiday for Jewish People "Yom Kippur" and the war caught Israel by surprise. This decision cost a painful war with many casualties and impacted the country's morale. She resigned from her Prime Minister role.
Still, I learned that Golda did so much before and after Israel was founded; being Israeli, I didn't realize that her hand was in endless important decisions of the country. When the country focused on building fast to address the massive Jewish immigration - She made sure immigrants' kids will have playgrounds next to their buildings. She passed labor laws to protect working mothers before any country in the world. And she raised millions of dollars that, without that money, Israel, might not thrive and even become a country. She was a lioness.
Short 5 - She was an Extrovert
"Don't be humble you are not that great!" Golda Meir
Golda was an extrovert – When her kids were older and left her house, Golda missed being with people at all times. Traveling, long hours meetings, conversations in her kitchen – that's what fed her spirit. Although she did have many lovers (some of them are very famous), she chose not to get married again after separating from her husband. "Even though she showed up as humble, she needed people's attention and loved when people asked her questions," her daughter shared. This is why she made sure to always invite people for a cake and conversation in her kitchen. "Golda's Kitchen;" or "the kitchen" is a known Israeli phrase still used to describe political moves being "cooked" outside of the "meeting room". What many don't know is that as much as Golda was good at cooking and baking political movements, she was not a good cook or baker.
To learn more about her, check this video HERE
February What's New at Noa Ronen Coaching?
The Change Formula
I am so excited to share with you the CHANGE formula.
When I share the Change Formula with leaders and teams it creates a simple language to express where each one of us, or where the team as a whole is right now.
--> Are we too much in the action and we should lean back and take a moment to think and reflect?
--> Are we too much in the being; too much thinking or letting the feeling lead your way with no much movement?
Check the article HERE
Re-Mind - New Podcast-Mini-Series with Dr. Darian Parker
8 Episodes - 5 minutes each - starting March 1st
"Noa I have an idea! I want to partner with you and do a mini-series podcast that is different, theatrical, even Avangard."
"What?" I said, and then added: "Okay, Darian if you see that in me, I am game!"
Darian is one of the coolest podcast hosts I met in 2020 who also became a good friend. The Re-Mind Mini-Series consists of eight short reminders of what we know but sometimes forget or need to connect with our actions through mindful practices.
It was such an excellent experience, and you can subscribe to Darian's podcast - HERE. Darian will release a new episode every week. Each episode is around 5 minutes.
Darian also has tons of content so check him out!!
Check out other podcast interviews with me HERE
Walking Mastermind 2021 - The Virtual Option
Walking mastermind is back – we are virtual but we keep meeting monthly. You can sign up here
Here are the topics for the next 4 months topics for 2021
March 12 - Permission - Just Do / Just Be
April 9 - Act on vs Acting out
May 14 - Building on the momentum
June 11 - Resourceful vs Resources
Everyone is welcome!
You can sign up here for all the next sessions and start the year strong with networking and personal growth. It can feel good to know you have a networking plan all ready for the year!
Will You Write Me a Book Review?
Have you read my book? Thank you for the support! and if you found value in my book will you share it with others? I would be BEyond grateful if you share your book review on Amazon – Link here.