
353: Pain, Purpose, and PortalsâPivoting from Massage Therapist to Coach with John O'Connor
Pivot with Jenny Blake
Portals: Connecting with Others and Opening New Opportunities
This chapter explores the concept of portals as a metaphorical idea in life, emphasizing the importance of connecting with others and being generative in relationships to open new opportunities and resources.
âYou have to condition your nervous system to feel free, to access and hold that state, no matter the context.â
In this conversation, we talk about leadership advisor John OâConnorâs pivot from masseuse to executive coach. He shares strategies for listening to your true calling, which often emerges from friction and frustration, and how those manifest physically in our bodies. John describes how we can tune into yearnings in different dimensions such as health, finances, relationships, community, and business; and how to create portals for new opportunities while noticing who is already orbiting around you.
More About John: John OâConnor is a leadership advisor to high performers looking to go deeper, find their calling, and align with their higher purpose. With over 10,000 hours under his belt coaching CEOâs, social impact entrepreneurs, athletes and post-exit founders, he is skilled at guiding people to uncover the things that are blocking them from creating a sense of freedom and fulfillment.
đ 3 Key Takeaways
- Calling often emerges out of friction and frustration, and can manifest physically. Reflect: whatâs the desire under the frustration?
- Swap out the word purpose with: What is meaningful? And what is most important? What are the most meaningful, important dimensions of life? What wants to emerge? What wants to come through my life in each dimension?
- The Core Five: Health and wellness, finances, intimate relationships, community, business. In each of those, there is a callingâsomething that wants to come through, a yearning.
â Try This Next: When you find yourself complaining or irritated by something, honor how youâve been, i.e. âThe way this is happening doesnât work for me.â Thatâs how it has been; then ask, âHow would I like it to be different?â What are the three to five steps to make that happen? Write it down, and remember: youâre only a few simple moves away.
đ Resources Mentioned
- John on the web, IG, Twitter, LinkedIn
- The ManKind Project
đ Books Mentioned
- Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John Sarno
- The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield & Shawn Coyne
- Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business
- Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
- Life After College
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- 328: Accessing Your True Self Through IFS with Adrian Klaphaak, 332: IFS Part(s) TwoâUnderstanding Our âNot Enoughâ Exiles with Adrian Klaphaak
- 72: BREATHE. From Burned-Out Bodybuilder to Yin Strength Trainer with Anders Varner
- Free Time: 196: đŠ What Do Donuts, Coffee, Conversation, and Energy Cliffs Have in Common? (My Mini Daily Audio Diary from Attending TED 2023)
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đť Check out Jennyâs Pivot courses on LinkedIn Learning: Figuring Out Your Next Move, Holding 1:1 Career Conversations With Your Team, Managing Introverts, Coaching New Hires, and Coaching New Managers
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