Wow- I agree with the others- such a brave, heroic sharing! Indeed kept me reading to the end, which as we all know is something in these days of email bombardment. AND this is more than a little humbling- in that- if the most gracious person on the planet can "step in it" unwittingly lordy lordy how will I ever avoid such a fate. I guess the truth/lesson is... we can't, not entirely. As thought leaders on the cutting edge of making the invisible visible, by definition, we can never know what lurks beneath. By that, I mean the unconscious anger about systemic racism as well as our own personal unconscious baggage about a variety of issues. You have defined why I am almost paralyzed in fear when it comes to moving my subject matter ( daughters of difficult mothers) to a group forum. Fear that it will unearth both anger ( and sink in negativity) and resistance to that anger( denial or shaming the person feeling the anger) at differing levels. ARRRG How to respectfully make space for each individual journey. If I'm struggling in this way I'm sure others are too, especially at this pivotal time. Good for you. We need you now more than ever as we navigate untrodden territory.
Wow, this was a powerful read and share. Thank you for your transparency. I think sometimes it's scary to be a part of certain conversations due to the fear that we might get things wrong, but you gave me a new perspective and awakened a new willingness in me to know that I probably will get things wrong sometimes and life goes on. I think the motivation behind it all and the intention is so very important and I've always felt such heart and peace from you. <3
Andrea, I have known you for so long and I hear you and see the event with different eyes. I am in awe of this postmortem and I know that you will take all this gold and teach us what we need to know. Stay your course. We need your hubris. You give us permission to fail boldly.
Your honesty and vulnerability has been more impactful and appreciated than anything else I've read in your emails. It's made me think of the real gems in my own epic public event failures that I'd previously chosen to forget about for the most part, but occasionally haunt my memory. Thank you Andrea for laying it all out, including the ugly bits, to learn and grow, unashamedly from. Nothing rings as sharp or clearer than the truth, no matter how difficult it may be to relive it.
Wow, how did I miss this? ALL of this? I didn’t realize this happened with your event, and I’m so sorry. Oh man... The heartbreak you must have experienced. But wow, what an incredible journey and profound share! Thank you so much for being so generous and so brilliantly human. ❤️
Powerful work. Thank you for sharing your story and your insights. "I hope you’ll keep working on being human in a way that works for you, and the world you most want. Because how to be human is the exploration we’ve been given." Yes to working to a world we want most and I am so grateful to be introduced to you and your work.
Hi, I followed you through a friend and colleague and I remember when she spoke at this event. I wanted to thank you for your courage for this reflection and sharing it. WOW. I am totally blown away by what transpired. I remember seeing this event and didn't understand how racism and cultural appropriation fit into a 3-day seminar on Power of Coaching, because (as you now know :) ), it is an event to be held on its own. And for some participants to feel "duped" to have a conversation about this, shows just how much more work we all need to do, and by all, all HUMANS. I think in this new world of POC, particularly WOC speaking out about our (I am an immigrant WOC) experience, assimilation and seeing our culture being appropriated in the U.S. and Canada are important to express. What I hear from your experience with some of your audience members and speakers, it sounded like they were confronted with their edge. And as you are the leader in this event, you know how transference and coaching go hand in hand. I applaud you for having shared your vulnerable experience. As we walk in the world, most humans, our intention is to do no harm. And as we grow and learn, we become even more conscientious about doing no harm. I wasn't at this event, and I can only make assumptions and deductions based on your email. With all the other lessons that you have learned, here is another: you cannot control how people are going to react. We unconsciously do harm on each other by being alive, just by us typing on our devices we have done harm to the Congo and the exploited children mining the material to make our devices. And here in the U.S. our tax dollars go to the murder and exploitation of people of color in other countries. So you see, the harm we do no matter how much we do our best not to, is unfortunately built in today's society. My point is, we cannot control how people will feel while interacting, someone somewhere will get triggered and look for blame. That no matter how "woke" we think we are, we are unintentionally causing harm, somewhere in the world. It's unfortunate and ironic that on a podcast, they excluded you as being a WOC, and some speakers felt harmed by you. I see this competition in who can be crowned as "most woke". Folks, we all have a lot of our own inner work, we find offense int things because we all have a part of us that needs to be loved, and only we can love ourselves in our darkest places. Again, it takes a lot for someone who put themselves out there to publicly share their lessons learned and I hope that all of us, non-POC and POC find strength and solidarity, because, in this pandemic, we only have each other. We need to be all of our allies and instead of calling-out each other, have a dialogue, be open to communicating no matter how edgy it feels. Blessings for all of us.
Andrea, this has been the most valuable and moving message that is standing out among hundreds floating across my screen, in which everyone is teaching everyone else how to be and do better. As always, my sincere admiration and friendship is with you, inspiring woman!
Thank you for your deep honesty. I have always thought you spoke from your heart with clarity. What you shared will help me to be more honest about my mistakes and how to rebound. Life is filled with success and mistakes. Keep going..you are an inspiration.
Wow! I had no idea. You are awesome for sharing your deeply painful and powerful story, and for being ultra transparent! You are a warrior! I continues to be a privilege and a pleasure to know you and be your client!
Wow this is huge, such a powerful and vulnerable thing to share and so grateful that you have, it's so important for me, as a member of your audience, also trying to be brave and try new things, to hear your behind the scenes like this. Makes me feel better about my own mistakes and failures and makes me love and appreciate you even more than before. Thank you.
Wow- I agree with the others- such a brave, heroic sharing! Indeed kept me reading to the end, which as we all know is something in these days of email bombardment. AND this is more than a little humbling- in that- if the most gracious person on the planet can "step in it" unwittingly lordy lordy how will I ever avoid such a fate. I guess the truth/lesson is... we can't, not entirely. As thought leaders on the cutting edge of making the invisible visible, by definition, we can never know what lurks beneath. By that, I mean the unconscious anger about systemic racism as well as our own personal unconscious baggage about a variety of issues. You have defined why I am almost paralyzed in fear when it comes to moving my subject matter ( daughters of difficult mothers) to a group forum. Fear that it will unearth both anger ( and sink in negativity) and resistance to that anger( denial or shaming the person feeling the anger) at differing levels. ARRRG How to respectfully make space for each individual journey. If I'm struggling in this way I'm sure others are too, especially at this pivotal time. Good for you. We need you now more than ever as we navigate untrodden territory.
Wow, this was a powerful read and share. Thank you for your transparency. I think sometimes it's scary to be a part of certain conversations due to the fear that we might get things wrong, but you gave me a new perspective and awakened a new willingness in me to know that I probably will get things wrong sometimes and life goes on. I think the motivation behind it all and the intention is so very important and I've always felt such heart and peace from you. <3
Andrea, I have known you for so long and I hear you and see the event with different eyes. I am in awe of this postmortem and I know that you will take all this gold and teach us what we need to know. Stay your course. We need your hubris. You give us permission to fail boldly.
Your honesty and vulnerability has been more impactful and appreciated than anything else I've read in your emails. It's made me think of the real gems in my own epic public event failures that I'd previously chosen to forget about for the most part, but occasionally haunt my memory. Thank you Andrea for laying it all out, including the ugly bits, to learn and grow, unashamedly from. Nothing rings as sharp or clearer than the truth, no matter how difficult it may be to relive it.
Wow, how did I miss this? ALL of this? I didn’t realize this happened with your event, and I’m so sorry. Oh man... The heartbreak you must have experienced. But wow, what an incredible journey and profound share! Thank you so much for being so generous and so brilliantly human. ❤️
Powerful work. Thank you for sharing your story and your insights. "I hope you’ll keep working on being human in a way that works for you, and the world you most want. Because how to be human is the exploration we’ve been given." Yes to working to a world we want most and I am so grateful to be introduced to you and your work.
Hi, I followed you through a friend and colleague and I remember when she spoke at this event. I wanted to thank you for your courage for this reflection and sharing it. WOW. I am totally blown away by what transpired. I remember seeing this event and didn't understand how racism and cultural appropriation fit into a 3-day seminar on Power of Coaching, because (as you now know :) ), it is an event to be held on its own. And for some participants to feel "duped" to have a conversation about this, shows just how much more work we all need to do, and by all, all HUMANS. I think in this new world of POC, particularly WOC speaking out about our (I am an immigrant WOC) experience, assimilation and seeing our culture being appropriated in the U.S. and Canada are important to express. What I hear from your experience with some of your audience members and speakers, it sounded like they were confronted with their edge. And as you are the leader in this event, you know how transference and coaching go hand in hand. I applaud you for having shared your vulnerable experience. As we walk in the world, most humans, our intention is to do no harm. And as we grow and learn, we become even more conscientious about doing no harm. I wasn't at this event, and I can only make assumptions and deductions based on your email. With all the other lessons that you have learned, here is another: you cannot control how people are going to react. We unconsciously do harm on each other by being alive, just by us typing on our devices we have done harm to the Congo and the exploited children mining the material to make our devices. And here in the U.S. our tax dollars go to the murder and exploitation of people of color in other countries. So you see, the harm we do no matter how much we do our best not to, is unfortunately built in today's society. My point is, we cannot control how people will feel while interacting, someone somewhere will get triggered and look for blame. That no matter how "woke" we think we are, we are unintentionally causing harm, somewhere in the world. It's unfortunate and ironic that on a podcast, they excluded you as being a WOC, and some speakers felt harmed by you. I see this competition in who can be crowned as "most woke". Folks, we all have a lot of our own inner work, we find offense int things because we all have a part of us that needs to be loved, and only we can love ourselves in our darkest places. Again, it takes a lot for someone who put themselves out there to publicly share their lessons learned and I hope that all of us, non-POC and POC find strength and solidarity, because, in this pandemic, we only have each other. We need to be all of our allies and instead of calling-out each other, have a dialogue, be open to communicating no matter how edgy it feels. Blessings for all of us.
Andrea, this has been the most valuable and moving message that is standing out among hundreds floating across my screen, in which everyone is teaching everyone else how to be and do better. As always, my sincere admiration and friendship is with you, inspiring woman!
Thank you for your deep honesty. I have always thought you spoke from your heart with clarity. What you shared will help me to be more honest about my mistakes and how to rebound. Life is filled with success and mistakes. Keep going..you are an inspiration.
Wow! I had no idea. You are awesome for sharing your deeply painful and powerful story, and for being ultra transparent! You are a warrior! I continues to be a privilege and a pleasure to know you and be your client!
Wow this is huge, such a powerful and vulnerable thing to share and so grateful that you have, it's so important for me, as a member of your audience, also trying to be brave and try new things, to hear your behind the scenes like this. Makes me feel better about my own mistakes and failures and makes me love and appreciate you even more than before. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing Andrea. Powerful newsletter..You have always be a role model from a far.
Hm, big lessons here...I guess you will continue after that...hope so, multumesc