Jane Stevenson, Strategic Director of Magnetic Storm, debriefs u|Chief on an inspiring 10 days in Bali.
Finding flow
Ten days in Bali focusing on tools to build high performing teams that will accelerate Magnetic Storm on its business development pathway? You’d better believe it.
Many have wondered what I was doing in Bali, and few questioned if it really works. Now that I have come down from cloud nine, I can begin sharing snippets of the experience.
Behind the scenes, I have been studying to become an accredited Flow and Performance Consultant through entrepreneursinstitute.com, and the micro-degree culminated in a programme held for delegates at the Entrepreneur Institute course founder, Roger Hamilton’s Vision Villa Resort, in Bali.
Let me explain. Put simply; flow is the path of least resistance. Think of a time when something felt ‘easy’, and everything seemed to work. Those days where you feel you achieved more than you thought possible. That’s flow.
When you are part of a team in flow, productivity increases, results improve dramatically, you have more fun and feel more connected to the organisation as you are doing what comes naturally.
Understanding that everyone has talent and value to a team, it’s about focusing on natural abilities of individuals and assessing where they are best suited to serve the business needs. You need to have the right people in the right role, in the right team.
Once you have this, you then have an easier opportunity to build a happy high-performing team, a product of clear entrepreneurial vision and strong leadership.
As a qualified Flow and performance consultant I can now implement what I have learnt here at Magnetic Storm and within other organisations, to build high performance. It’s a process, not a quick fix but the results are phenomenal, and I cannot wait to get started. In addition to the time spent concluding my studies, I had a free weekend to explore the island. Bali is a magical island, and I left feeling enriched. The Balinese culture is one of sincere gratitude and humility. Shop owners thank you for visiting their store, as you enter, whether you purchase an item or not.
They believe in serving others. Their devotion to faith is felt in every interaction, in everything they do and say. It’s the little things that matter, like your choice to visit their business or the care and pride they put into meal preparation. Each ingredient serves a purpose to heal and care for the body and mind, and it’s presented in a way that would give professional Western chefs a run for their money.
Every person I met in my two weeks in Bali appeared to live in the moment; from sweeping steps to providing a tourist directions. And it’s not because there might be something in it for them financially. It’s simply the way they live, and it is so ingrained in them that it’s an unforced, natural way of being.
To be so giving, happy and full of love is their norm, despite the poverty and ‘lack’ of possessions. It made me realise how we get so caught up in the past, the future, what people think of us, chasing the next deal, what we own/drive, where we live. But imagine the happiness you would feel if you were in the moment, enjoying life for all it offers in everything you do? Perhaps it’s time to change our way of being and realising the potential benefits that would come our way.
Eat Pray Love indeed! Thank you, Bali, for feeding my mind and my soul.
- Jane Stevenson is Strategic Director of Magnetic Storm. www.magnetic.co.za
