Have you ever thought of being an amateur as a good thing?

Many of us learned from an early age that our worth was tied to excelling at what we do and turning it into something productive. And many leaders carry the belief that they must be certain, skilled, and polished at all times.

But what if the exact opposite were true?

When we allow ourselves to dabble, to be amateurs, to be just okay at things, our brains literally become more adaptable and our nervous systems learn to stay grounded in the midst of risk, uncertainty, and vulnerability. Just as importantly, leaders who model dabbling create spaces where families, teams, and communities are safe to embrace curiosity and exploration. 

Resilient leadership requires us to meet high-stakes challenges with adaptability, grounded presence, and compassion. Intentional amateurship prepares us for life’s curveballs by building those skills in low-stakes settings.

Today’s guest returns to make the case for being a dabbler as a practice of freedom, resilience, and leadership. She shows us how choosing to play, experiment, and simply try expands our capacity for presence and courage.

Karen Walrond is an award-winning author, speaker, and leadership coach on a mission to create a kindness revolution.

Her books encourage readers to identify their values and inner light and use them to make the world brighter for others.  Audiences around the world have left her keynotes inspired with hope and a renewed determination to serve.  And her one-on-one leadership coaching sessions, workshops and retreats, rooted in the tenets of positive psychology coaching, have helped hundreds of clients unearth their gifts and past triumphs to lead with confidence, compassion and kindness.

Karen and her family split their time between Houston, Texas, USA and Bath, Somerset, UK.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The restorative power of doing something purely for the love of it
• How following her curiosity has shaped Karen’s career and how she protects her amateur pursuits
• How Karen’s dabbling adventures tapped into her seven attributes of intentional amateurism
• How intentional amateurship helps embed self-care, self-compassion, and self-transcendence into our lives
• How practicing being an amateur helps us bring curiosity, compassion, and resilience to our leadership
• Why the humbling experiences of dabbling are a vital reminder for leaders that they’re in it alongside their teams

Learn more about Karen Walrond:

• Website
• Instagram: @heychookooloonks
• Facebook: @chookooloonks
• Connect on LinkedIn
• The Make Light Journal on Substack
• In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur
• Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell
• The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy
• The Beauty of Different: Observations of a Confident Misfit

Learn more about Rebecca:

• rebeccaching.com
• Work With Rebecca
• The Unburdened Leader on Substack
• Sign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader Email

Resources:

• Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times, Gregory Boyle
• Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, Gregory Boyle
• George Michael, Mary J. Blige – As
• Conclave
• Homeboy Industries