You might wonder what my Holiday wish means for you, for me?
Let me share mine with you.
I desire to have a clear vision of myself going into 2018 across all sectors of my life. Over the Holidays, I will sit down with my husband and we will do a “check-in” for ourselves as a couple and individually: “How are we doing in our lives?” We both will reflect about how we can better ourselves going into the New Year, honor our health and live the life we want to live, not taking a single day for granted.
As you contemplate kicking off 2018, consider how the balance in our lives is achieved by knowing ourselves and honestly, intentionally engaging in all sectors of our lives with respect for who we are.Resolutions to run when we don’t like to run are punishments. Resolutions to seek a job to make more money or accept a role to define who we are with another title and not truly tapping into our natural talents, suffocate our potential. Resolutions to do something because it is “in” and not because it is something we are passionate about are sacrifices that we shouldn’t make. However, intentions to pursue new ways of living in harmony with ourselves, desiring to impact, leading and joining a board to truly maximize our potential, are empowering and rewarding. Individually, we become healthier emotionally, physically and holistically. Collectively, we become healthier emotionally, physically and holistically.
Throughout my career and my personal life, I have consistently been a companion to lend a hand to empower others to invite them to commit to know who they are, to understand who they are and to lead and live their lives with conviction in alignment with who they are. As a result of the clarity they gain seeing what gets in the way of being more fulfilled and effective, positive and needed change naturally occurs, and the eventual results are immensely positive. Boards I have worked with for just a few hours have joyfully attested that they were two years ahead after we collaborated, based on what we could surface together and how we could elevate the potential of their individual and collective leadership. Through appreciative inquiries, experiential programs and connecting without pretenses, I have had the privilege to galvanize others and they, me. My work has never been about routine checks. Many of you who are clients and friends know that I care to thoughtfully get to the truth and that any processes that I plan, lead and facilitate are conducted in a space of trust and that I am sensitive in identifying the right questions to enhance our effectiveness as leaders of our lives, communities, teams, boards and organizations.
My recent launch of the BonneFire Community one week ago is in alignment with my deep desire to help us lead our lives, teams, communities, boards and organizations with clarity and focus. My services offering through a “guiding newsletter” is not meant to be information-heavy in an information overload world. I am adamant to serve you with minimal interruption and with helpful content that I really care for you to read and absorb at your convenience, in privacy and at your own rhythm. Community doesn’t imply that people know that you are part of it. Every membership is confidential.
It is time for me to distill some of the essence of my one-on-one, boards and teams work to a selection of tools that will allow the BonneFire Community Members to benefit at their own pace and within a conservative budget. This is for anyone and everyone who has an appetite to live and lead a life that is in alignment with who they are– everyone who cares to be a more effective and transparent leader. In fact, some people are perhaps even uncomfortable reaching out for coaching, feeling exposed or vulnerable or not being at ease to attempt something different. I also greatly respect that some people have judgment about introspection. I know that I can make a difference for people close to me, as well as strangers, by simply being a supportive voice through writing. While I thoroughly enjoy coaching people in person, I also enjoy writing and being the friend from afar to lend support to people I have met years ago and lost touch with, and people I have never met and might never meet.
With my clear focus and choice of devoting time to launch and build the BonneFire Community, starting in 2018, I will no longer publish the monthly newsletters that I have published these past three years. I thank you for your support and your readership. I will continue to blog about board governance and to author select articles. I will continue to offer my services for effective and healthier leadership within our boards and organizations.
Be on the lookout for a refreshed JohanneBouchard.com in January 2018, and for my first newsletter for members of the BonneFire Community. The members of the BonneFire Community will hear about my first guest for my first event in the first quarter of 2018, an American athlete who accepted to share with me and all of you about “the importance to follow our heart and to know who we are.”
I am determined to help us build communities and organizations that we can be proud of. I desire to have a wide-open door to welcome anyone from anywhere who aspires to be more self-aware, mindful and healthier. Allow yourself to be a clear and empowering leader at home, in your community, within teams, in the boardroom and all that you engage in. I invite you to support me, to support us and our world at large and join me to build the BonneFire Community!
I wish you a fulfilling 2018 in all sectors of your life. May we foster healthier individuals and healthier organizations!
