And then I realized that, obviously we bring our own kind of perfectionism and tendency to procrastinate that go together and all that kind of stuff and our people pleasing.īut actually there are big systemic problems and I think we have a crushing culture of overwork. And I thought, gosh, so it’s got to be, you know, you can tick all the boxes, but actually it’s what we pay attention to that makes the difference. Because everybody wants a piece of me and at about four o’clock I think, right, what was I worrying about at 4:00 AM that I wanted to get done today and why haven’t I done it?Īnd they just kept saying this over and over again. Zena Everett: So I’m a coach, like you said, and I would say to my clients, something sort of nauseatingly coachy like, you know, how’s that laser focus we agreed in the last session? And they’d say, yes, look I don’t do any of that, I’m just playing whackamole all day. So where did the idea for the book come from, for you? Just wanted to celebrate with you for a moment, because it was marvellous.īut let’s talk about the book itself because I have to say the whole crazy busy thing resonates with me rather more than I care to admit. So yes, what was your question?Īlison Jones: That was it, really.
Zena Everett: And it was a proper award, because when I was nominated, some of my friends said, oh right, well, you know, how do we vote? And I said, no, no, it’s not one of those things where I get every, you know, it’s not like getting… I’m delighted, really pleased.Īlison Jones: And now you’re over the disappointment of not winning, nobody can take the whole kind of, you know, award-winning author thing away from you. So, yes, it was a really, really good night. So it was really great to meet the people that were so helpful and to, you know, all that kind of stuff. Zena Everett: It was great fun and I had published my book during lockdown, so I hadn’t actually met my publishers. How was it? I mean, let’s not talk about so much about when they didn’t call your name at the end, but what about when they did call your name for the category?
Zena Everett: Well, I hope that she wrote a letter.Īlison Jones: I’m sure she did, a strongly worded letter. Yes, way to alienate all your fellow shortlisted authors, of course. Very well deserved anyway.Īlison Jones: I had Patrick Dunne on the podcast last year, he wasn’t so much in that situation, but his mum apparently was furious that he didn’t win the overall award and only won in category, which is hilarious but there you go. Zena Everett: I thought, oh, I was at the end thinking, oh yes… Isn’t it amazing how we can take the most amazing success and turn it right around. So a kind of bit me went home thinking, oh, I’m going to get some chocolate on the way home to cheer me up.Īlison Jones: Because I’ve failed. We just think nothing we ever do is good enough. So I said, I was saying to people, well only won best in class, not best in show.Īnd because I’m a crazy perfectionist, and I don’t know if this rings any bells, but we don’t want to be perfect. Although, I was preparing for this and thinking, oh, I should do some sort of female imposter syndrome, like little old me, because I have to tell you I was gutted I didn’t win the whole thing. Zena Everett: Oh, I’m thrilled, thank you. So first of all, welcome Zena, lovely to have you here.Īlison Jones: And secondly, congratulations on winning the award. And she’s coached on the Executive MBA program at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, and she’s a member of the Associate Faculty at Henley Business School. She then took further postgraduate qualifications in Psychological Coaching and Leadership with Neuroscience. Originally a recruitment entrepreneur, Zena sold her business in 2007, then she studied an MSc in Career Management and Coaching. The Extraordinary Business Book Club bookshop: Īlison Jones: I’m here today with leadership coach and speaker Zena Everett, who’s the author of Mind Flip: Take the fear out of your career and The Crazy Busy Cure, which won the Work and Life Category at the Business Book Awards this year. The Extraordinary Business Book Club on Facebook:
WriteBrained: A 28-day exploratory writing adventure: The 10-day Business Book Proposal Challenge September 2022:
Rubbish, isn’t it? Stop multitasking (you know it’s not working) and take half an hour to listen to Zena Everett, author of The Crazy Busy Cure, and purveyor of sane, practical advice on how to stop wasting time on stuff that doesn’t really matter and focus on the stuff that does. ‘ not actually dropping into the deep flow work and thinking that we have when we write, because that feels wonderful we’re switching all the time from one thing to another.’Īre you crazy busy? Of course you are.