We recently connected with Ariel Naftali and have shared our conversation below.
Ariel, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I didn’t. From my experience, if you’re continuing to challenge yourself and get yourself in new rooms, there will always be a level of discomfort there. The goal is not to get rid of discomfort or fear, but to acknowledge it and move through it anyway. That is what resilience is really about.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I created Perform With Purpose to help business leaders align their career with their purpose so that they can use their natural talents every day, do work that fulfills them, and make a positive impact on others without sacrificing financial success.
I became passionate about coaching around purpose and fulfillment because of my own existential wonderings, career frustrations, and the challenges I saw high-performers facing in both sport and business.
I spent the beginning of my career climbing the corporate ladder in New York City. I felt the highs of promotions, raises, and fun work cultures. I felt the lows of responsibilities that were either under-stimulating or overly draining. I wrestled with the subtle sense that I was meant for something more.
After moving from NYC to Denver, pivoting to a career in psychology, and consulting with individuals and teams around performance improvement, I learned that defining success solely as a measure of external outcomes bred an endless cycle of dissatisfaction. I also realized that this feeling of dissatisfaction was really a symptom of meaning deficiency.
We all crave meaningfulness. We all want to feel like we matter in both our BEING and our DOING. My work exists to help you connect your being with your doing so that you can experience the meaning, satisfaction, and fulfillment that you deserve.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Humor – you cannot take this journey too seriously or you will burn out! Capitalize on your Zone of Genius – you have something unique to offer the world. Spend time identifying, honing and sharing that gift.
Care more about your impact/mission than you do about what people think of you. It’s hardwired us to care what other people think of us….that’s ok. Just don’t let it stop you from getting out there and doing your thing!
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Man’s Search for Meaning – Have a clear purpose OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF that drives you
– The only freedom that can’t be taken from you is the ability to choose your attitude in any situation
– Live according to your values
Contact Info:
- Website: https://performwithpurposecoaching.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-jaye-naftali/
