Three Things I Can’t Stop Thinking About: #28 Ali Kershner.

Let’s Go! What’s up! Pause for a moment and think, have you ever had a moment where your identity evolved & changed for the better?

What about your current identity? Does it solely revolve around your job? Is what you do who you or is there more to who you are and your life? Who am I becoming? Those are some of the questions that I think about a lot and have realized more and more that I am not the only one. This podcast was perfect timing. Ali Kershner SHOWED UP & came to play in this conversation!

This conversation was one of those “ahhhhh yes, she gets me” moments. We dove straight into the things we are both deeply passionate about, connection, communication, evolving our identity, and our journeys through collegiate strength and conditioning.

Before her move to Art of Coaching, she won a national championship as the Director of Performance for Stanford Women’s Basketball, coached at Kansas, and was the captain goalkeeper at Duke during her playing career.

Identity and who we want to become have been top of mind for me these past few years. I could rant about this for days but we will keep this one concise and punchy. I love learning about people’s paths, especially the unique and anti-climbing the ladder ones!

When asking ourselves “What am I doing with my life?” it finds a way to convince us that we are the only ones asking that question. I have noticed how many people feel like they are the only one that feels like this, but the truth is so many people feel this in different ways. From the high school kid graduating, to the student-athlete finishing up their college athletic career, or when you’re in your 20s deciding if this is the job you want to do for the rest of your life. When you turn 31 or 32, asking yourself if you will keep doing this until you're 40. Then what? (I am pretty sure this one is me?). Even when you plan on retiring this year and deciding what you want to experience in your life once you retire

Everyone is in a very similar boat. Evolving into the person they wish to become. Here are three things from Ali’s conversation that I can’t stop thinking about.

1. Dr. Dre & Evolving Our Role & Identity.

Society creates this idea that the only right goal is to climb the ladder. Follow the structure that others have done. High school, college, job, family, retire, & then you’re good! Or in college athletics, it is the good ole, intern, assistant, and all the way up to director path.

Ali uses this killer Dr. Dre metaphor to shine a light on the importance of evolving our role. Dr. Dre started as a rapper, became a producer, and evolved into a CEO.

Take your role and evolve it! People don’t look back and think Dr. Dre was selling out. Be like Dr. Dre, attacking new and interesting problems unique to you instead of what you think society wants you to do.

2. Half-Life Messages For Clarity

One of her favorite practices to gain more clarity. Simply, say what you trying to say.

Give yourself a minute to say it, then say it in 30 seconds, 15 seconds, & finally in 7 seconds.

Clarity comes from constraint and a little chaos. Gaining clarity by getting in those reps.

3. The Work Questions

I love learning from Ali about her “path” and how she continues to evolve as a human being. The goal is to have her on the podcast again, with a bigger time block ASAP! I appreciate how much work she has done to discover what she wants and who she wants to become.

Three big hitting questions she shared that were inspired by Ikigai.

• What do you love to do? What fires you up?

• What are you uniquely qualified to do?

• What does the world need from you? Where is the gap where you can deliver value?

Thanks for checking out three things I can’t stop thinking about from episode 28 of the podcast. Make sure you check out the full episode, subscribe to this newsletter, and share it with someone who you think would find value in this! It means a lot and really helps grow the newsletter!

Keep killin it and making today the best day of the year, until tomorrow.

Ferate