Inspiring Insects, Transitions & Transformations

I have a quotable magnet on my refrigerator that has been with me in three apartments across two continents over a period of more than five years.  It reads: just when the caterpillar thought the world was over...it became a butterfly..."

I went through a period of time about a year and a half/ two years ago where I felt like I was waking up every morning in Punxsutawney to Sonny and Cher's I got you babe.  For all of you who aren't die hard Bill Murray fan's that's a reference to the movie Groundhog day.  Let me give you a visual aid :)

In the movie Groundhog Day, every day was the same, day in, day out, same street, same job, same (yes I go to Wagyu about five times a week ok), same blah blah blah. 

Well this quote, on this magnet, on my fridge of all places was a major source of inspiration to me during these times and can now be found on the back of my business cards. 

The butterfly has a lot of symbolic meaning in many cultures and I did some research, but I decided against writing a history paper.  You all have Wikipedia too.  For me, the idea that this phase of my life was not the last phase and that even though I couldn't see the next phase, I needed to just hang in there until I was done with whatever it was I was doing.

When the time did come for me to get out of Punxsutawney, I was ready!  But that doesn't mean it wasn't scary...

Transitions & Transformations

I speak to a lot of people about transitions.  I was previously a headhunter and now I'm a life coach, so working with people in changing their lives is at the center of both.  Some people find change to be exciting, exhilarating and refreshing while others find change to be daunting, overwhelming and paralyzing.  Of course we can feel some of both.  That’s only natural.

Most people who aren't from Hong Kong (uh - a lot of us) had to move here. And big moves are some of the greatest changes you can make in your life.  Some people who have moved here have had babies here, lost their jobs here, gotten divorced here, etc.  All of these things happen all over the world of course, but there is something about the demographic of young-ish expats moving somewhere for opportunity and experiencing these changes far from home that also provides for a profound sense of loneliness for some and community for others.

I have recently gotten involved with an amazing women’s networking group called Sassy.com.  At Sassy I have met countless women who have given up their jobs, and have recently moved to Hong Kong with their husbands, boyfriends, or fiancés.  They describe the initial time as a holiday (don’t I know it – you can refer back to my article Letting Go) but then it slowly turns into a time for them to wonder what is next?  What are they doing with their lives?    

I went to see Robin Sharma, www.robinsharma.com, leadership guru and bestselling author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, speak recently at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.  He was inspiring in so many ways, but one particular quote which stayed with me was "Small daily changes over time lead to staggering results".  It is so simple but so brilliant.  There are so many times when we are paralyzed by the size of a potential change that we do nothing at all.  I know I am guilty of that and I know I am not alone.  He suggested if you just do things 1% better every day, make small changes, overtime you will see brilliant results. 

In the film Groundhog Day Bill Murray’s character actually made small changes each day he woke up to become a better person, to become the man he wanted to be so he could win over Andy MacDowell’s character in one day.  He learned to play the piano, he helped others, learned poetry and even how to carve ice.  And then one day it wasn’t Groundhog Day anymore.  It was the next day and he was onto the next phase of his life.

So how do you feel about change?  Is there something you want to change but feel like you can’t?  What is stopping you?  What can you see in front of you that is small and manageable that you can change on a daily basis that will lead to great results over time? 

I’d love to hear your questions and feedback!  Please email me at perri@be-thebutterfly.com.

For more information on where you can see speakers like Robin Sharma in Hong Kong visit www.speakersconnect.com.

I will be holding group coaching sessions on transition during the week in the afternoon in Central for anyone who may be interested, again please email me for information.  www.be-thebutterfly.com

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