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Inspire future blogs! Suggest topics that are of interest to you and send me questions that you would like to explore further.

There are two ways to get in touch, by completing the form on this page or by emailing me at boicarpenter@inquisitiveleader.com.

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@inquisitiveleader

What if being lost isn't the failure you think it What if being lost isn't the failure you think it is? What if it's an invitation to discover something essential about yourself, your values, or your direction that you couldn't access while moving at full speed?

The link to the blog post is in the first comment. 

#InquisitiveLeader
In times of uncertainty, our first instinct is oft In times of uncertainty, our first instinct is often to move faster, grasp for answers, make quick decisions, and find the nearest exit from discomfort.

“Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you / Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here.”
 
“Lost” by David Wagoner (from Traveling Light, 1999) 🕊️ 

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

In this poem, Wagoner reminds us that being lost is simply a call to pause, to listen, and to be found by the present moment. His poem invites us to relinquish the need for instant clarity or control. Instead, it encourages a slower wisdom, one rooted in trust, awareness, and humility.

“You must treat it as a powerful stranger / Must ask permission to know it and be known.”

Uncertainty is not a threat to be eliminated; it is a challenge to be managed. It is a teacher. A terrain to respect. And most importantly, a place where you can find yourself or reconnect with yourself, your values, and your environment.

Whether you're a leader facing a hard decision or a human navigating a season of unknowns, Wagoner’s poem whispers a vital truth:

💙You are not as lost as you feel.

🌳Stillness is not stagnation.

🧭And sometimes, the way forward begins with allowing yourself to be here.

🌿“The forest knows where you are. / You must let it find you.”🌿 

🎯 Coaching Questions: 
Where in your life or leadership do you feel lost? 
How can you pause and listen so you reconnect with yourself, your values, and your environment?
What do you need to do to reframe your current circumstances?

#InquisitiveLeader
🌿Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Rest is a le 🌿Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Rest is a leadership strategy.

Too many of us push through fatigue, thinking that rest is something we earn after the work is done. But what if that mindset is costing us clarity, creativity, and connection?

🎙️ In the latest episode of the Inquisitive Leader podcast, I open up about something we don’t talk about enough in leadership: rest and renewal.

I share stories from my own journey, including the self-guided retreats that saved me from burnout and lessons from the book "Time Off" that reframed how I view productivity. We explore what it means to develop a rest ethic, how to design meaningful time away, and why doing “nothing” is often the space where your best ideas are born.

This episode is a gentle nudge and a loving challenge:

✨ To pause.
✨ To breathe.
✨ To remember that leading well starts with leading yourself well.

🔗Listen now and consider: 🎯What would it look like to give yourself permission to pause?

The link is in the first comment below.

#InquisitiveLeader #Wellbeing
Here’s the truth: Resilient leaders don’t just Here’s the truth: Resilient leaders don’t just endure the storm ⛈️; they adapt their rhythm to it. They work towards finding presence in chaos. They focus on staying grounded when things shake, and they help others find their way.

Learning to dance in the rain means:🌈 

💪 Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and staying focused on the bigger picture.

🌟 Optimism: Seeing possibilities where others see obstacles.

🌱 Growth Mindset: Using every challenge as a chance to learn, innovate, and grow.

🤝 Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing our own emotions, and empathizing with others, to foster trust and support through turbulent times.

🎯 Coaching Question:
How might you shift your mindset from bracing against the storm to moving with it?

#InquisitiveLeader #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence

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