Client Spotlight: N. Chloé Nwangwu, the brand scientist, is a former international conflict mediator and the founder of NobiWorks, where she partners with underrecognized brands, leveraging science to ensure they are impossible to ignore. A graduate of Pathway to Publication, she recently published Why We Should Stop Saying "Underrepresented" in Harvard Business Review.

Well, hello, ,

Every quarter, I take a mini-sabbatical. I schedule zero business calls and networking events for an entire week, avoid email and LinkedIn, and mostly ignore all business books, blogs, and newsletters.

If this sounds like a luxury few can afford, I thought so too.

But my friend Chloé Nwangwu swears by this practice. And I have come to believe that mini-sabbaticals are essential for me and my business.

My sabbaticals have a different rhythm than my usual work weeks. I still wake up early, make a cup of tea, and write every morning. But I don't have a schedule when I'm on sabbatical, so I can write for as long as I wish.

I make breakfast when I get hungry. I read. A lot. And somewhat chaotically. I typically switch between a novel, a non-fiction book, The Atlantic Monthly, a book of essays, and a book of poetry.

I take notes while I read, underlining passages that catch my attention and jotting down my thoughts in the margins.

Monstrous, I know.

When I start getting a bit drowsy, I get up and go for a walk. I do some of my best thinking, noodling, and daydreaming on my walks.

Then, I do a little deep work or head to Spark Makerspace and work in the stained glass studio. Finally, I dive into my cookbooks and find something new and exciting to make for dinner.

This sabbatical started with a strained back.

And that got me thinking about how I take such good care of myself on my sabbaticals but otherwise tend to neglect my health and well-being.

That needs to change.

So, I bought myself an ergonomic chair for my office. It's one of those quirky kneeling chairs designed to make you sit up straight and take the pressure off your lower back.

My vintage goldenrod Herman Miller chair is fun, but it is not designed for someone to sit in it for hours, slumped over their computer.

Because I was desperate to relieve my back pain, I tried some gentle yoga. When I was in law school, I bookended my day with yoga. I want to reclaim that practice.

My strained back helped me realize that I need to take better care of myself every week, not just on a sabbatical week.

I am my business.

If I am unwell or in pain or incapacitated, my business and my ability to serve my clients is directly impacted.

Taking care of myself is taking care of my business.

While I recognize that I should take care of myself for myself, the truth is that I don't find that compelling. As a recovering workaholic, tying my health and wellness to that of my company is compelling. And if that's what will get me to do it, that's what I will do.

How do you take care of yourself? How do you take care of your business? How do you take care of the people who matter most to you? I'd love to hear what works for you.

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"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."

~ Ovid, Ars Amatoria

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Recommended Resources

The NDA Navigator + Negotiation Guide™ 

How often do your clients ask you to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)? I'll confess that I've signed my fair share without even reading them (and I'm a recovering attorney)! My friend and brilliant IP attorney, Erin Austin, developed a resource for anyone who has to sign NDAs and wants to protect their intellectual property. The NDA Navigator + Negotiation Guide includes annotated templates, video tutorials, and a plain-language playbook designed to help you navigate the language and clauses of NDAs. I'm not an affiliate; I just know Erin and the incredible value she delivers. Learn more here.

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Join the Conversation

Pitched to Published™ 

Interested in learning how to pitch, write, and publish articles for industry trade journals and high-visibility publications? Join me Wednesday, December 13 at 11:55 AM Eastern for a free mini-training on using your experience as a contributing writer to pitch more competitive publications, write a book, or secure speaking engagements, followed by a Q+A. Register here.

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That's all for now! If you're a consultant who would like to build your authority and differentiate yourself from the competition, book a call. I'd love to chat with you about your next steps.

Take good care,

P.S. Are you looking for guest experts? If you have a community of consultants, I'd love to show them how to develop their body of work or write for high-visibility publications like Harvard Business Review. Hit reply, and let's talk!