#LeanInTogether in 2017
At the time of endless resolution lists we won’t keep in 2017, I wanted to share one that could make a wolrd of difference — for your partner, family, people around you and yourself. Short and sweet — the resolution I’d suggest to all of you is to commit to #leanin during 2017 and beyond.
Prior to moving back to Sofia in 2015 and embracing change again, my wonderful wife Iveta and I were strongly impresssed by Sheryl Sandberg’s incredibly motivational book Lean In. It left in both of us a lasting impression not only from the perspective of Sheryl’s life and career approach and story, but also from the point of view of the partner supporting their spouse (both directions) to be a better version of themselves.
I have personally benefited from Iveta’s unwavering support in my professional and personal development and I couldn’t be more thankful for her love, inspiration, and guidance in that journey. So when she shared her idea about a company, whose mission is to help people lead a healthy and more balanced life, I couldn’t wait to play my part in her buildng it and see where that takes us.
A year and a half later, Iveta’s idea to combine two passions in her life — yoga and healthy food — has led to an app in iOS and Android, which is available globally and downloaded hundreds of times. It’s been featured in local and global media and the size of the team and product set is expanding. 2HealhApp’s yoga vidoes and healthy food recipes has inspired a ton of people, who have shared their stories about changing their lifestyles by using the app — we couldn’t be happier that at a small scale (for now), her idea is helping others get better and healthier.
Personally, I am proud and humbled by her achievement in an area that was not her professional habitat of choice (tech). I am also grateful to have been exposed, even at the most nanoscopic level, to a totally different way of thinking about companies and their growth. In exchange for my often illogical and potentially damaging advise in tech, in a very selfish way, I have learnt the important benefits of patience, listening, and following more in my limited hours working with her than in my work experience so far. And I believe that by #leaningin, we have built a marriage and a partnership that is equal and balanced and I am convinced I am better at my job as a result of supporting Iveta start and keep building her company.
Which brings me to the reason I wanted to write this short note at the beginning of 2017. If there is one resolution worth keeping more than anything else, Lean In! There are plenty of opportunities to do so and your attitude could be life changing for your spouse, yourself, and anyone around you. Don’t limit it to your immediate family (even though that’s a great start) and be an advocate for equality in your daily life — personal or professional. Make it a priority in 2017 and you will be amazed by the results down the line — for sure, longer lasting benefits across more people than attending the gym in January (or any other resolution for that matter). :) And if you need a bit more inspiration, here’s a number of tips and stories that can get you started.
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P.S. We’d love to hear your feedback about Iveta’s 2HealthApp. Please let us know how to make it better, either by dropping us a line on the site or DM directly. It is $0.99 (or equivalent), so if you would like to still give feedback but don’t want to part with half-a-Starbucks (or less), do let me know and I will send you a download code. In return, I will try to pay back in a drink of your choice next time I am in your zip code.
