The Power Pause
E89: Rediscovering what you really need to maintain your health and success
On Sunday, I returned from five days in Paris, where I spent every evening watching athletics in the Stade de France. By the time I got home, I felt joyful but frazzled — like I’d been running on adrenaline for days.
On Monday, I had an excitement hangover.
As I settled back into my routine, I was feeling slightly depressed at no longer soaring with the roars of 75,000 spectators willing athletes faster, higher, and stronger or Plus vite, Plus haut, Plus fort – Ensemble.
We had squeezed so much cheering and adrenaline into each second that five days went by without pausing to ask a simple question:
What do I need right now?
Pausing is hard when you're having fun
When you're at a once-every-four-years event, it's tempting to make the most of what's on offer at the Olympics.
We cycled to the Olympic cauldron.
We walked to the Eiffel Tower and explored the Parc des Champions.
We met up with friends who were over from Sweden, the US, and UK.
We tried out new restaurants.
With all the running around — we literally ran to the train station after the evening sessions finished to avoid the queues so we could meet up with friends in the city centre on time — it was a hectic, adrenaline-fuelled five days.
No wonder it was difficult to pause from the program — it was so much fun!
Pausing is hard when it matters most
It's no different at work.
But unless — like me — you've found a way to have fun at work, it can be really stressful if you don't find those moments to pause to check in on what you need.
Like one of my clients who wanted to have a holiday this August. He felt obliged to work in the office despite it being quiet, but then felt a pang of guilt and regret as his colleagues were out of the office for two weeks.
What was the missing need?
Kindness.
The sort of kindness that allows you to be compassionate towards yourself, and take a break from the office without feeling guilty.
Or another client who's been feeling overwhelmed by the constant demands of people at work.
They were stuck in a cycle of doing more and more and pushing harder and harder.
This is the common path to success, right?
When we paused to consider what they truly needed, it turned out that the answer wasn’t more work—it was simplicity.
They could then let go of what was in their client's control, but not theirs.
They could respect their time boundaries to avoid rearranging multiple meetings in their diary to accommodate avoidable last-minute client requests.
👉 Over to you!
Without a pause, it's almost impossible to focus on what you truly need.
The beauty of identifying what you need is that it’s easy for smart people — like you — to create strategies for meeting those needs.
Like what can bring you joy during a high-pressured project at work.
Or equanimity when you're lying in bed awake at night fretting about your client who's angry that your deal is not going to plan.
So when life gets hectic, stop and ask yourself, “What do I need right now?”
Whether it’s rest, kindness, or a bit of joy, tuning into your needs isn’t just about self-care—it’s essential for sustaining your success.
Here are some resources that might help you pause to discover what you need. 👇
If you’re wondering how to better understand and meet your own needs, check out ET 85: Seriously, What Do You Really Need?
If you’re stuck in the office this August and feeling stressed and anxious—perhaps your colleague has dumped you in it—my seven tips in ET 46: My Entire Career Has Been Defined by Stress and Anxiety might be helpful for you.
If you feel like you're failing, ET 88: Success Beyond Winning Gold guides you to achieving success beyond the win.
p.s. What do you really need right now? I’d love to hear what’s on your mind. Reply and tell me — I read every response.
ps If you’re an entrepreneur, a lawyer or another high-flying professional - who’s looking to pause when you most need it to live and lead in a way that feels effortless, get in touch and let’s have a conversation.
That’s it for this week!
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To your health, joy, and success—one step at a time!
Eric
...what a trip!..as for your prompt “i need” to improve my machine...tighten my insight buttons...zip up my understanding paint job...rotate my output wheels...refine the oil of creativity...i need to add cruise control and an automatic shift to my beloved manual labors...and then i need the proper place to park and/or cruise...
Just watching your video of all those people in the stadium gets me all amped up. I would have done exactly the same had I been in Paris. I know I would have found it impossible to walk away from all the possible sights and events in favor of rest.