Amanda J Crowell - Great Work

PRAISE FOR GREAT WORK

Crowells inviting guide helps turn overcommitted, exhausted readers into productive and engaged dream-followers.

BookLife Reviews

The world of work is changing, and Dr. Crowell's strategies give us the advantage we need to end up on top.

Kevin Harrington , The Original Shark from ABC's Shark Tank

Amanda Crowells Great Work is a guide to achieving a meaningful career based on ones personal, distinctive talents.

Foreword Clarion Reviews

Dr. Amanda Crowell's strategies have the power to change lives.

Joe Theismann , World Champion Quarterback and Entrepreneur

We all have something keeping us from becoming our most fulfilled selves, claims cognitive psychologist and coach, Amanda Crowell. Here, she explores how to discover ones own Great Work, and then achieve it.

BlueInk Review

In Great Work , Crowell re-acquaints us with the work we love best, re-ignites our passion for the work that we value above all else, and gives us a practical framework to ensure we actually get to do that work. I am forever changed by Crowell's insights and inspired by her doable strategies for freeing up precious time to do meaningful work that matters.

AJ Harper , Author of Write a Must-Read , Editor & Publishing Strategist

Whether you are trying to figure out what your Great Work is or have already been doing your own Great Work for many years, you will undoubtedly benefit from reading this book!

Dyan deNapoli , Penguin expert and author of The Great Penguin Rescue

In a world of get happy quick schemes, programs, and books, Amanda stops to ask But what is your great work? In a way thats both fun and meaningful, practical and inspiring, prophetic and present Great Work will help your up level your experience of yourself.

Mike Ganino , Creator of The Mike Drop Method, Celebrity Public Speaking Coach

Dr. Amanda Crowells strategies are a powerful combination of high-octane motivation and proven tips that will change your life.

Patty Aubery , President, Jack Canfield Companies; Past President, Chicken Soup For the Soul Books

A must-read for anyone who wants more out of life, and feels like they are being passed by as they work harder and harder without getting to where they want to be.

Julie Ellis , Author of Big Gorgeous Goals , Keynote Speaker, Leadership Coach and Co-Founder of Mabels Labels

Crowells approachable, engaging style encourages us to exchange our distracted worries for what makes us feel alive. This work is a rallying call and armament for us to make a difference, be authentic, and do Great Work.

Dr. Meghan Bathgate , Director of Educational Program Assessment at the Yale Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning

Great Work was a great read, from start to finish. I encourage anyone who wonders how to leave a legacy, or who wants to enjoy their time at work more, to read this book.

Michelle Arpin-Begina , Founder and Chief Behavioral Officer of Michelle AB

Dr. Amanda Crowells book, Great Work , has provided the blueprint for where I need to focus my time and effort on what I feel called to do my own Great Work!

Matthew Kusza , Founder of Mythos Creative Writing

Great Work: Do What Matters Most without Sacrificing Everything Else

Copyright 2022 Amanda Crowell

All rights reserved. No part or any portion of this book may be reproduced in any form, mechanical or digital, or transmitted without the prior written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

This book is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. It is the intent of the author to provide general knowledge and helpful information on the subjects discussed to assist readers in their quest for greater understanding and utilization of the ideas, thoughts and principles presented. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation.

ISBN-13: 978-1-7373741-9-0 (Trade Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-1-7373741-8-3 (Ebook)

ISBN-13: 978-1-7373741-7-6 (Audiobook)

Cover and Book Design by CB Messer

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For David,

who believes before I do,

supports without fail,

and pushes me to keep going when

doubt and worry crowd my mind.

True love lasts a lifetime.

Authors Note:

Names of clients and colleagues have been changed to preserve privacy.

Contents

Introduction

What am I going to do?

As the other seventy people left the webinar, Beatrice waited silently. Finally, as the last person logged out, Beatrice asked her simple question.

What am I going to do? she said again, this time mostly to herself.

Beatrice had just attended an hour-long presentation focused on how to do the work that matters the most to youwhat I call Great Work. One of the activities we do is The Project Audit, a rough assessment of how many projects an attendee is trying to cram into their life at one time. The numbers can be staggering . Fifteen or twenty projects is on the low end; some discover that they are trying to manage fifty or sixty different projects at the same time.

The Project Audit regularly stops people in their tracks. When you are juggling sixty projects, it becomes clear why the most important ones arent gaining traction. Beatrice, it turns out, was keeping forty-five projects going. She was running her own coaching business, managing the backend of her husbands creative agency, renovating her house in preparation to sell it, and taking care of her aging mother. Though she was exhausted, she was keeping these projects afloat through sheer force of will.

What she wasnt keeping afloat was her Great Work. Great Work is my term for the work that matters the most to you. We often think of it as our lifes purpose and, sadly, its usually the first thing to go when we get busy, or life becomes complicated. This is certainly what happened to Beatrice. She was not writing her book or launching her group coaching program, two projects that excited her and would have taken her coaching practice to the next level. Beatrice knew that if she could just get her ideas organized, she could move from a one-to-one coaching model to a one-to-many coaching model. This would pave the way for more impact and more money, two things she badly wanted. And yet, there simply wasnt time.

Beatrice understood she wasnt prioritizing her Great Work, but she felt that she had no choice; everything else felt entirely non-negotiable.

Everybody needs me, Beatrice explained. My husband cant stay on top of his company without me, my brothers and sisters live out of state, and we need to sell our house because we just cant afford it. And now theres a pandemic, which has made it all worse and Im at my wits end. In fact, the only thing I can let go of is my Great Work, and I really dont want to do that. I just dont see another option.

Beatricea beautiful, fierce, powerful woman, who is admired by all who meet herput her face in her hands in despair.

Im so tired, Amanda. I just dont think I can do all of this. She looked up and I got the sense that she would be crying if she was sure that she could stop.

This was one time when the webinar format just didnt hold up to an in-person event. I wanted to put my hand on her shoulder and really look into her eyes. Instead, I leaned forward and looked directly into the camera.

Beatrice. I promise, you dont have to do it all. There is another way.

Beatrice puts her heart and soul into everything she does. She is driven and focused and a great coach. The problem is, she spreads herself too thinly. She struggles to say no when someone else needs help, rarely delegates, and because she doesnt want other people to know how hard things have gotten, she almost never asks for help. Beatrice is deeply committed to her family and to growing her coaching business. There is no question that if she knew a way to do it all, she would.