The C-H-A-N-G-E Advantage
In one fascinating study, Dr. Alia Crum told a group of hotel housekeepers that their cleaning tasks counted as the recommended daily exercise. Freed from the belief that they “never had time to work out,” these housekeepers showed real improvements in weight and blood pressure—even without a change in their routine. It’s a vivid reminder that the stories we tell ourselves can transform our health, perspective, and success.
At the recent Women In Digital Switzerland event in Lausanne, I had the pleasure of sharing my C-H-A-N-G-E framework—a straightforward yet potent way to stay ahead when the world feels shaky. No, I didn’t invent curiosity, but trust me: using it with intention can open doors you never imagined possible.
Think of it as your personal toolkit for navigating uncertainty.
- C – Curiosity: Ask new questions and stay open.
- H – Harness Fear: Channel anxious energy into purposeful action.
- A – Achievements: Recognize your wins—no matter how small.
- N – Network: Lean on your community for knowledge and support.
- G – Growth Mindset: Remember: you can always learn and adapt.
- E – Experiment: Test ideas quickly to discover what works (and what
doesn’t).
Missed the event? Join Alina Ignatieva and myself for a free Mindset Masterclass on 4th April at lunctime and grow your career. Live online event.
Is it for you? Yes, it is. Give us a chance ;-) Sign up and leave a like on the LinkedIn event announcement.
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The Power of Mindset
Let's stay with mindset still. I was talking with a client recently, and she told me how she managed to overcome some pretty big career hurdles. Honestly, it sounded almost effortless. You would think she had stumbled on some magic trick, but really, it came down to her changing how she thought about things.
Together with her executive coach, they tapped into her mindset.
It might seem like executive coaching is just another buzzword. In reality, it’s a focused, time-bound process that dives deep into a person’s way of thinking. Unlike mentoring or consulting—where advice typically flows one way—coaching keeps the individual fully accountable, driving their own transformation.
And you know, people sometimes dismiss executive coaching as just another trendy thing or something you need to correct what is broken, but it's really not.
It’s a structured, focused process that really gets into how someone approaches problems. It’s different from mentoring or consulting, where you are mostly getting advice.
With coaching, you are the one driving the change, and you are held accountable for it.
Here, I outlined the main difference:
2 ways to accelerate your career growth
This client had been making the same decisions repeatedly, day after day. Through a structured coaching approach, she developed action plans, addressed underlying obstacles, and established new thought patterns. Meanwhile, the coach offered guidance and maintained her accountability to her commitments, without simply providing pre-prepared solutions.
It can be unsettling because nobody else can perform the challenging work on your behalf. Accepting personal responsibility—rather than depending on another person's predetermined plan—can feel intimidating. However, this "unsettling" space is precisely where the most significant breakthroughs happen.
What we are seeing in leadership development is that when people take the reins themselves, through tools like coaching, they truly commit to change and grow much faster than with traditional mentoring. They are shaping their own path, not just following someone else's steps. And instead of just one-on-one accountability, group coaching offers a fantastic way to start exploring coaching, while also getting that valuable support from your peers.
Therefore, we are launching The Bootcamp, a group coaching program intended to enhance confidence, clarity, and energy.
As a subscriber to this newsletter, you will receive an outrageous 30% discount. We really want you to benefit. And what a learning program, check it out:
Experimentation & Innovation with AI
Now, back to the C-H-A-N-G-E framework and what you CAN control.
Let's dive deeper into E - Experiment, especially in the context of AI.
We're in a wild era where AI is rapidly changing the game. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to wait for a giant AI encyclopedia to drop before you start exploring. In fact, you can’t afford to. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty with some quick, low-risk experiments.
Think of it this way: instead of waiting for the perfect AI strategy to magically appear, why not start small?
Start Small
Don’t wait for the perfect moment or big ideas. Pick one simple AI tool and test it on a small scale. Think of it as a mini-experiment—just enough to gather information. For example, try using an AI writing assistant to draft a social media post or an AI image generator to create a quick visual.
Get Fast Feedback
Once you’ve tried something, ask: What worked? What didn’t? Be honest and gather feedback from people you trust. This isn’t about proving success—it’s about learning. Did the AI tool save you time? Did it produce the results you expected?
Adapt and Try Again
Use what you’ve learned to adjust your approach. What’s the next smallest step you can take? The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. If the writing assistant didn’t quite get the tone right, tweak your prompts and try again. If the image generator missed the mark, refine your description.
And if something doesn’t work? That’s not failure—it’s information. It’s one more step towards finding what will work. The key is to stay curious, stay flexible, and keep moving forward.
I’ve been experimenting with a few AI tools myself, and I’ve found some real gems that have boosted my productivity and creativity.
Check out my list of AI tools:
Updated: My Tried-and-Tested AI Tools incl 2 hit prompts
You might be surprised at how quickly you can integrate AI into your workflow. This is the essence of the experimental mindset: it’s not about avoiding mistakes, but about learning from them and pivoting toward something even stronger.
So, stop waiting, start experimenting, and let's see what breakthroughs you can achieve!
Did you miss our last newsletters?
Inboxes can get a little crazy, right? Just in case you missed them, here are the links to our previous newsletters:
In the meantime, here is a peek at what you might have missed:
- Newsletter #4: I am exploring the importance of a change-ready mindset and how it helps navigate uncertainty in AI, politics, and the economy. → LINK HERE
- Newsletter #3: I am diving into the latest AI tech breakthroughs reshaping the way we work and create. → LINK HERE
- Newsletter #2: We are offering a limited number of complimentary 60-minute executive coaching sessions! → LINK HERE
- Newsletter #1: I shared some tried and tested, favorite AI tools that can be a real game-changer for busy professionals. → LINK HERE
Thanks for reading. Just drop a quick reply if you have any feedback.
Wishing you a great weekend ahead.
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Warm regards,
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