I caught up with a couple of gorgeous OTs yesterday. We all used to work for the same company although at different times and not fully overlapping but this was our initial connection point. I was looking forward to catching up with them because we’ve been friends on Facebook and I knew that each had been up to some amazing things but we hadn’t seen each other in person for many years. The main purpose for our catch up was that one of these OTs was looking to move in to their own private practice work and I love supporting others to achieve their goals and felt I could offer some good insights given I’ve been doing my own work for a little while now and have learnt so much in that time (and had plenty of challenges and “learnings” aka mistakes along the way). I think that building a business is never quite linear or perfect and I’ve not always planned what I’ve done or how I’ve gone about things and I was happy to share my experiences and thoughts. It’s nice to do that when asked rather than offering my unsolicited opinions as I so often do!
Anyway, I caught up with these 2 incredible women for over 2 hours and the time flew by! And as I reflect on this, especially today which is my 41st birthday, I was reminded that we never stop learning and I was struck anew by the power of connection. You see, I went to this catch up expecting to share my learnings and experiences but I came away feeling so enriched by our conversation. I learnt a couple of super practical tips around the use of software which is going to be so helpful. I felt so affirmed by hearing of similar challenges (in a totally different context and work space to me) around toxic management approaches, psychologicaly unsafe workplaces and the struggles of middle management. We shared experiences of struggling with the approach of upper management and having to deliver and implement things you don’t agree with whilst being told to be happy and positive about that to your team on the ground. It was so validating to hear about someone else’s experiences especially someone who was so competent and had worked at such a corporate level with multiple companies. We talked about private practice; joys and pitfalls and options and niches and budgets and billing. It was reassuring and affirming to discuss shared values around honesty, integrity, transparency and communication within private practice. I came away feeling lighter; when I hadn’t even been feeling particularly down. I felt uplifted by our shared experiences despite all of us working in distinctly different work areas. Because, connection is just so important and powerful. I really believe that. We need each other. Life is a shared experience. We’re not entirely alone in our experiences, concerns, thoughts, values or our hopes and ideals. And we are enriched when we can share and receive these learnings as gifts in return.
P.S. If you want to connect with me, please get in contact. I have spaces opening up for mentoring and an exciting group mentoring trial program potentially starting soon!
P.P.S. We met in the café onsite at the Novita Tech building. What an awesome space and show room that place is! And I can attest that they do a lovely coffee! https://novitatech.com.au/locations/novitatech-hindmarsh/
