How Will You Inspire Someone to Try Something New?

Or....How Floridians Survived Their First Snowshoe Hike!

When was the last time you inspired somebody either through your actions, through your words, or by sharing your knowledge and experience as a mentor?

You remember trying something new for the first time - how it can be intimidating and you have a number of concerns, fears and questions and how much easier it is when you have a trusted buddy or mentor with you.  Someone who has done this before and hopefully knows enough about this new whatever to make it safe and breaks down any roadblocks to make it way more fun and more productive.

So Join me as we talk today about how inspiring others on their next fill in the blank and sharing the gift of your time and expertise can truly help another but also bring YOU so much joy and the keys to making some new and wonderful memories as an awesome coach, cheerleader and mentor.

Transcript

When was the last time you inspired somebody either through your actions, through your words, or by sharing your knowledge and experience as a mentor?

 You remember trying something new for the first time - how it can be intimidating and you have a number of concerns, fears and questions and how much easier it is when you have a trusted buddy or mentor with you.  Someone who has done this before and hopefully knows enough about this new whatever to make it safe and breaks down any roadblocks to make it way more fun and more productive.

 So Join me as we talk today about how inspiring others on their next fill in the blank and sharing the gift of your time and expertise can truly help another but also bring YOU so much joy and the keys to making some new and wonderful memories as an awesome coach, cheerleader and mentor.

So you all know I talk regularly about inspiring your next and what chapter YOU are focused on. But today we're going to pivot, because I want to know what was the last time you helped somebody else with their next.

 Think about it. Right?

 I mean we help others all day long, whether it's, you know, answering a question at work, whether it's helping make lunch for your older daughter before she goes to school, whether it's giving someone a ride to an appointment, etc.

But when was the last time you inspired somebody either through your actions, through your words, or by sharing your enthusiasm, your joy and expertise as a mentor?

As a gal who spent most of my adult life in a southern climate, I have lots of friends who spend more time near the beach or in warmer locations.  Daily life is focused more on shorts, flip flops and sunglasses.  I didn't own a really warm winter coat and even lost a few when I first lived in a colder climate.

So fast forward to when I moved to Colorado and I started to discover the joy of spending time in the mountains. I newly discovered not only do like hiking and trail running and the mountain biking, but I also discovered more surprisingly a new love of snow sports. My parents were not skiers and I was never raised going on ski trips and even looking back now, I don't know that my parents or grandparents ever tried downhill skiing - I have to ask. I was never raised cross country skiing or Nordic skiing or snowshoeing, or downhill skiing - none of it. Although I lived in Michigan and Ohio as a younger kid, I spent most of my time swimming and hanging out at the local YMCA after school.  

I was able to get out on the very tiny ice skating pond near our house, and every once in a while an ice skating rink.  

I didn't pick up downhill skiing until after college, and I didn't pick up snowboarding until years later. 

So snow sports were not something ingrained in my growing up. 

My previous and only association with snow was as a young kid in the upper Midwest and it only being a downer when it came to having to drive anywhere - not an environment of fun and not really a positive connotation. So now as an adult, I've found I LOVE downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snow hiking. I was supposed to go snowmobiling for the first time in 40 years but weather cancelled it and I'll have to wait until next snow season.  

Admittedly I have not been ice skating much, but at the same time I'm finding that there's this whole world of snow sports that I didn't even have in my realm of possibilities. So, I also believe that most of my friends who live in the warmer climates don't normally think of these things.  Maybe they go on an annual ski vacation, and maybe they just fly to the resort, or you know, close to the resort and just stay there and spend a few days on their downhill skis and then go home. 

But there's so much more out here to explore. 

So I was really excited when close friends came to visit recently from Florida, and gave me the opportunity to share my love of what's out here in the snow, with somebody who hadn't done much in the snow. They've skied and snowboarded a bit, but had never snowshoed. And so the snowshoe hike was the perfect opportunity to take them into something new, and help them with their next fill in the blank. 

Now, anybody coming from sea level to a mountain territory is going to have to go up in elevation, and that's already going to be some work physically. So we helped them prepare ahead of time with some fitness training for lack of a better term and hydrating a TON.  The few days pre-flight were spent preparing to make sure that the time spent at altitude would be more pleasurable & something more fun, hoping to avoid the possible headache that you can go through if you have to acclimate and aren't ready for it. 

I researched the scenery and hiking options in the area of found a great trail, one that wouldn't require a lot of walking uphill because we were already going to be up in elevation in the mountains, so it could already be a bit challenging to walk for somebody coming from Florida sea level and the beach, but I chose this trail thinking we could just walk out and back on an easy, clearly marked trail and walk or go as far as we'd like before turning around. That we could walk as far as it was still fun. The way out on the trail was slightly up, so we knew that walking on the way back, walking slightly downhill would be easier.

I took a backpack with extra water extra jackets and supplies since I've done this before and since I've hiked this area before.  I know it well and knew that my friends didn't know what they were getting into to the point of knowing what clothing to wear or what to plan for that so it was my job -  to make sure I had extra gear. Extra gloves, hat, water, food, whatever, to make sure that, since they were new to this, that it was really fun experience. 

So, we, we started off on our trail & we put on snow shoes, even though we may have been fine without the snow shoes just walking in snow boots. But this was a first for them both so it was an easy way to experience what it felt like to snowshoe and after getting them on, we proceeded into this beautiful winter wonderland. Slowly, and just in a way that we could soak in all the nature, all the beauty, all the clean mountain air - the whole experience. 

We walked forward and kept making progress at a comfy pace. It was like, you know, 39 or 40 degrees we were in short sleeves and because the sun was out, it was beautiful day, and it was warm and so any activity any walking around at that elevation was going to generate some heat so we didn't have a problem NOT being cold. We paused when we needed to rest and kept drinking water, and little by little we kept progressing until we made it out to this absolutely gorgeous open area, out of the trees. We were now standing there in the middle of the snow globe on a calm and sunny, clear sky day, surrounded on three sides by walls of snow going up the mountainsides. 

One of the best things about snowshoeing in my opinion is that ANYONE and EVERYONE can do it.  We passed a number of people, some still walking up the hill and some coming down, some walking, some snowshoeing, and they were people of all ages. Some even hiking up and skiing, back down to the base, but all out there. All of us of all ages and sizes and abilities out there at the same time, to get a little sun, a little vitamin D, and beautiful, soul-enriching mental and physical activity in the mountain snowglobe.

What I was most excited about was their reaction. The fact that they were enjoying it and kept talking about the beauty, the peace, and nothing but big smiles on everybody's faces. So it made me think a little bit more, again, about how much joy, I was getting by sharing my knowledge with others, something that was still pretty new to me. And so I'm by no means an expert, but I know enough to help somebody who's never done it before, and make sure I'm thinking ahead so that when they try it. It's as positive, and as fun and as soul enriching experience as it is for me. 

So, think in your life, about all the expertise you have. Now, for those of us here, over 40 or over 50, we've seen a few things and we have a lot we're able to use to help others. Think about the knowledge that you can share with someone else today with how you can mentor another to help them with their NEXT.  Put this as a to-do item on your schedule for the next 30 days.  Find somebody that you know may need either a helping hand or a little pick me up or a little inspiration.  Maybe they're you've heard explain or comment that they've always wanted to try x, or that let's say they love that you like to sail and they've never done that before.  

Don't let that comment go unnoticed. 

Think about how to talk with them to identify a time where you can take them out, show them what it's like to go sailing or teach them about it and ask them if they're ready to go and spend just a couple hours out on the water.  The same applies to anything that can be a part of your NEXT.  It can be a creative endeavor like teaching someone how to play the piano or help them use the camera for better pictures on their new phone.  It can be something active or outdoors. It can be taking them to a new outdoor diner or museum or park they've always wanted to visit.  I recently tried an indoor rowing class for the first time at the recommendation from a friend who learned about it from another friend.

There is so much out there and it's time you get out there for YOU and to help someone else.

Then it's your job as the mentor, as the person with the knowledge to prepare your student, make sure that they know what they're getting into and plan to make sure you've thought through the possible scenarios and planned accordingly. Like in this example, if they could get seasick, or if they're nervous because they don't know how to swim well so you want to make sure you would have a lifejacket ready to show them how to use. 

For my snowshoe hike, I talked already about how I brought extra water, because I know hydration is an issue from coming from sea level up to that spot where we would be hiking. I brought extra gloves and hats. I had toe warmers, I had equipment with me, in case they were cold or wet, hungry, thirsty.  Whatever it would be that could interfere with us enjoying the time together and plan ahead. 

So it's your job as the mentor, to think about those things and plan ahead.  Plan accordingly.  You will also have to set the right expectations for the day or lesson - that nobody becomes an expert after a short time and that the focus of your playtime together is about FUN.  Take all the pressure off and know it is not a day for expert terrain or really advanced information to learn.

Your challenge today is to mentor someone on their NEXT within the next 30 days.  To share your knowledge and expertise with someone as they take on their next fill in the blank.

Think about what you love to share with someone else, and that you have unique experience or expertise in. It may be a handful of ways I could help someone.  I can share not only how to snowshoe but I could teach how to pack a backpack for the day. I could teach the type of granola bars or the type of snacks that are best to take on a hike.

Think about the people in your life, and who has expressed either an interest in doing something you do, or made a statement that they'd like to get out more, or they'd like to try something new.  Something that makes you think - click - that is somebody who could use a little help right now. And then actually set up the time to talk with them and actually plan the event and then actually go do it.  Don't just talk about it but actually go and do it or complete it within the next 30 days.  Then see what joy you get out of it. Not just the fun and planning it together, but the fun in seeing somebody experience it for the first time, possibly taking a misstep and laughing, but creating more fun memories and hopefully liking it as much as you do.

Sharing your experience and sharing your knowledge is a gift.  I hope you have an opportunity to take me up on this challenge over the next 30 Days and find someone that can benefit from your mentorship. Because I guarantee, not only will you help them, but you'll feel great in the process.

I had a blast with my friends, snowshoeing for the first time from Florida, and I hope it sparked a bit more interest in wanting to come back out and play with me in the snow again next winter.  Maybe get out more and try not only snowshoeing, but maybe try something else. 

That's part of what keeps this life interesting and this is part of what keeps us happy.  Focusing on our joy, focusing on enriching our soul. Spending time with others, mentoring, relating laughing over stories and creating new memories. 

I want to recognize that my podcast is being brought to you by our Inspiring Your NEXT Community and invite you to join our other upcoming challenge - a 5 Day Challenge to Kick Start Your Bucket List.  It's really for us busy women leaders over 40 who need a bit more time for themselves and a bit more time focused on FUN, so we'll spend 5 days with ideas and then walk through the key steps to plan the road map to actually take on and complete something new - at least 1 but hopefully 2-3 items on your bucket list.  We'll wrap up with us having our timelines and planning underway and then we'll check in at 30 days as an accountability buddy or coach to ensure life's little daily fires haven't derailed what WE've prioritized and what WE want as part of our FUN this year.  Go to www.inspiringyournext.com and sign up today or request additional info.  There's a special bonus for those who sign up by this Friday, so check it out and make sure to put yourself as a priority and have more fun.

So get out there yourself and inspire others.  Turn your mentorship into really fun memories, and then I want you to post your picture and tag us - Inspiring Your NEXT - in the next 30 days of what you take on and accomplish with a friend. 

Thanks again for joining me today.  Let's keep leading by example to show others how much fun is out there, how we can inspire and share our expertise and let's show others the joy of making memories while mentoring.