Episode #45: Doing the Right Thing Even When It’s Hard – Raquel Ark interviews Robbie

In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, I invited a true master of the art of listening to interview me about my own journey and the transformations that have happened – and continue to happen – along the way.

Raquel Ark, the founder of listening ALCHEMY and host of the listening SUPERPOWER podcast, deftly opens up a conversation in which I share what it was like to realise that my life was not what I wanted it to be, and how the pain of that realisation prompted me to look at uncomfortable things.

I now know that an experience being uncomfortable does not make it the wrong thing to do – and often, the opposite is true.

Raquel makes space for me to talk about how I discovered what is unusual and different about me, and how these things made me well suited to coaching.

Our conversation hones in on the transformational power of being true to yourself, being aligned with your values, and letting that inform the outcomes that emerge.

 In this episode, we talk about:

  • How Agile methodology guided a transformation in my life and career

  • Getting ourselves off the hook of the outcome

  • How to feed our energy, and not drain it

  • The people who see our potential and help us reach it

  • Leading with honour and putting all of you into your work

  • How to be successful without compromising your values

I also talk about the meaning behind my resistance to partnerships in a conversation that allows me to simultaneously discover and share insights into my development as a person and as a practitioner.

To learn more about me, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/, and to learn more about Raquel, visit https://listeningalchemy.com/

For information about my wider work, my writing or to buy my books, visit www.robbieswale.com.


Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.


Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

- Robbie’s 100 Podcasts Challenge https://www.robbieswale.com/writing/2022/2/4/the-12-minute-method-100-podcasts-challenge

- Robbie on Raquel’s Listening Superpower Podcast: https://listeningalchemy.com/listen-in/self-listening-as-a-powerful-tool-to-help-you-get-unstuck-and-keep-going-with-robbie-swale/

- Episode #33 with Raquel https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-33-raquel-ark

- Waking up the Workplace http://www.wakinguptheworkplace.com/

- Robbie’s train series https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12-minute-blog/2021/11/23/the-train-series-1-stories

- Robert Holden https://www.robertholden.com/

- Robbie’s 12-Minute books https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12minute-books

- Miranda Kaufmann http://www.mirandakaufmann.com/

- Jordan Hall and the two types of time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=933qDMh1J3g

- Career Shifters https://www.careershifters.org/

- Natasha Stanley https://www.careershifters.org/author/natasha-stanley

- Richard Alderson on the lean career change https://www.careershifters.org/expert-advice/the-lean-career-change-how-to-reduce-the-risk-and-increase-the-speed-of-your-shift

- Joel Monk https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coaching

- Agile methodology https://www.wrike.com/project-management-guide/faq/what-is-agile-methodology-in-project-management/

- Phil Bolton https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-2-phil-bolton-from-forensic-accountant-to-the-go-to-career-coach-in-london-and-on-to-work-with-ceos-mds-and-founders

- The Coach’s Journey Community https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/community

- Robbie’s former teacher, Mr Leeming https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/4491805.farewell-to-mr-leeming-and-the-travelling-teddies/

- Jo Hunter, co-founder and CEO of 64 Million Artists https://64millionartists.com/team/jo-hunter/

- Rachel Feldberg https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/posts/home/rachel-feldberg-step-artistic-director-ilkley-literature-festival

- Vegard Olsen https://www.linkedin.com/in/vegard-olsen-2944591

- The War of Art by Steven Pressfield https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/

- Rich Litvin https://richlitvin.com/

- Robbie’s blog, The Wisdom of David Gemmell http://www.wisdomofgemmell.com/author/robbie/

- Fred Kofman https://www.fredkofman.org/sobre-fred-kofman-ing.php

- Robbie on Raquel’s Listen In podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/om/podcast/self-listening-as-a-powerful-tool-to-help-you-get/id1457489060?i=1000578499986

- Robert Holden on dysfunctional independence https://www.robertholden.com/blog/dysfunctionally-independent/

- Enneagram Type 6 https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-6

- Mike Toller https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-32-mike-toller

- The Prosperous Coach salon https://richlitvin.com/the-salon-is-no-more/

- Katie Harvey https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-1-katie-harvey-14000-hours-of-coaching-being-part-of-the-uk-coaching-vanguard-and-being-a-generalist-coach

- Dan Sullivan on courage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBlJ5HbFpYQ

- The 12-Minute Method Podcast https://anchor.fm/12-minute-method

- Unleash Your Complexity Genius by Jennifer Garvey Berger and Carolyn Coughlin https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=34941

ABOUT RAQUEL ARK

Born and raised in Puerto Rico and Ohio, USA and now living in Germany, Raquel has over 25 years’ experience managing, coaching, facilitating, and teaching in the communication field.

As founder of listening ALCHEMY, Raquel is very curious about the conditions and capacities to hold a listening space that connects and inspires.

She has been researching and experimenting with listening beyond traditional training and has learned from and collaborated with listening scientists and professionals.

She hosts the listening SUPERPOWER podcast, which is focused on listening in teams and organisations beyond what we typically consider.

Stephen CreekComment