Why We Need More Heroes with Paula Reid

Speaker A: There are business leaders that are making so much more than profit in their enterprises. They're elevating their businesses, teams and themselves to add more value. And so can you. Welcome to the Chris Cooper Business Elevation show with host Chris Cooper. If you were looking for ways to elevate success while contributing to a better world, you'll want to listen in for the next hour. Now, here's your host, Chris Cooper.

Speaker B: Uh, hello, this is Chris Cooper and a big welcome to the Business Elevation Show. It's great to be back with you again for yet another week. Uh, this is the show where I bring to you, uh, special people, um, from around the world who, um, are really trying to contribute, uh, contributing to the world in a big way and contributing to it in a way that improves the world. And at a time where there are a lot of challenges globally, um, today I'm going to be introducing you to Paula Reid. I think you're going to find this an absolutely fascinating conversation. And Paula's in Ukraine as well, which makes, uh, it also extremely, um, extremely interesting. Um, so last, uh, week's show we had Judy Robinette. And Judy is a, ah, fantastic friend of the show. She's one of the most connected people I know. Uh, she is, uh, an angel investor. She has leading a firm now that is investing in organizations around space exploration. And we were talking about her incredible work around Connection. I always recommend listening to podcasts when I've done them with Judy Robinette because, uh, you'll always find something interesting. And on today's show we're going to be talking about why we need more heroes. Uh, we're going to be talking with, I, um, think somebody who is a hero. So we're going to be talking to Paula Reid, uh, today. Uh, she's, uh, been working with a favorite charity of mine called, um, Hopeful, uh, with a wonderful mutual friend, David Fox Pitt MBE, who's involved, uh, in that program. And also just before I do that, um, if you're recently, um, with the community that I lead called the Elevation Collective, um, we've created an ebook. It's called And Thrive and Do Good. Uh, and it's available for free from chriscooper.co.uk if you scroll down the page and share some insights and inspiration. We do mention Hopeful in there as well, um, around some themes that could help you to thrive and do good and contribute. Step up and contribute, uh, to something positive in this very, very challenging world right now. So, um, my guest today, uh, is, as I mentioned, Paula Reid. She's an adventurer. She's a speaker, she's an author and she's described herself as an adventure psychologist. Um, she has skied to the South Pole, she's yacht raced around the world, she's supported humanitarian activities in Ukraine and uh, she really helps people to perform and grow and thrive in uncertainty m adversity and challeng. And you know today uh, she's sitting in 95 degrees of heat uh, in uh, Ukraine she's been supporting uh, ah, feeding a thousand people, um, free uh, meals, uh, with the charity Hopeful. So just one example of the things that she does. She actually draws on more than 120 adventures. She's got a master's degree in positive psychology. She's pioneering work is around adventure psychology. She's ah, got a great TEDx you can check out as well which is we need more heroes. And we're going to talk today about some of her lessons around the need for heroes, her remarkable humanitarian work as well. We're going to talk about um, Hopeful too and I hope what this does is it inspires you to step up and ah, contribute in some way to improving the world to a better future for us all. And um, by the way, if you've not listened to this show before, the Business Elevation show is now one of the longest running podcasts in the world. We're just approaching 15 years. Uh, and um, it's just a privilege to keep bringing to you special people like Paula. So Paula, a big welcome to you from Ukraine.

Speaker C: Thank you very much Jacuyu, as I say out here, which is thank you.

Speaker B: It's an absolute pleasure. We had the privilege of meeting in person, didn't we, a few um, weeks ago in London M and what an amazing event to celebrate the work of Hopeful and all those people who've supported it, including you. Do you want to tell us a little bit about, you know, where, where you are right now and why, why are you in Ukraine?

Speaker C: Yes, I, I'm not going to show exactly where I am right now Chris, for security reasons, um, but I am in Ukraine, I'll say that. And uh, I've come out here this time. This is my eighth visit out here so get quite used to it. And today as you say, we were serving 1,000 free meals. Um, yesterday we were serving some children who were orphaned, um, or they were internally displaced. So missing family and, and you know, home of course it was a school sports day so we were giving them some bananas and ice creams and stuff. Ah, and the day before we were at a military hospital for the uh, Amputees and, and wounded with some shocking traumatic sites there, going around the wards and having a tour and again giving out just free food and, and really just having a chat. So that's just three days in a row out here um, of the sort of work that I've done. But we also serve animal shelters so I've been to two dog shelters out here as well. A thousand dogs all together, um, that we support and we've also got a PTS mental health program for veterans. Um and then finally we've got a huge um, challenge event in August out here in the Carpathian Mountains. Again it's for the veterans so um, everyone can take part but it's a great big jump as we call it, up to 80km within 24 hours. So huge endurance event that we're running. There are shorter distances for those that don't fancy taking on the gold, uh 80k. But um, it's done as part of a challenge of course. People quite mad people enjoy endurance challenges. So if any veterans want to take part and you know get their fitness back up. But also all the proceeds, all the money uh, goes to the veteran charities too. So that's in August and we've been out here wrecking the route and cutting away all the dead wood and getting all that sorted too. So it's been really busy.

Speaker B: That's ah, m absolutely amazing. And some of those dogs you're giving them, rehoming them with veterans um, aren't you? Is that correct?

Speaker C: Yeah, we're building, it's an interesting project actually. We're building a shelter in um, my which is um, in the east southeast of Ukraine really. And the idea is to have accommodation for 12 veterans where they stay for a period of time, uh, befriend the dogs, help look after them and then ideally they, they get a buddy relationship going with a uh, with a stranded stray dog. So you've got a two way mutual therapy going on between dog and person which is always beneficial as I'm sure everyone knows. And ideally uh, they walk out of there having adopted a dog or two. So it's a really good win win setup and we're just finishing building the actual accommodation. Still needs more money, Chris still needs more money for it. But um, the bare bones of the shelter are made and you know the concrete's there and the windows are in I think. So really excited to launch that probably again maybe August, September and get those veterans in there receiving therapy from the dogs and vice versa which is uh, yeah absolute win win as I say,

Speaker B: amazing how Much money do you need to find for something like that?

Speaker C: Well, we've been giving them trickle amount, um, we've been trying to give them 1500 pound a month for, for quite a while now. So I believe we, about another ideally £10,000, uh, to finish it off.

Speaker B: Yeah, it's such a, it's such a moving work that you do there. I think I met, when I came to your event, um, Andreja, who was working on the, on the front with, as a medic with a team, team of medics and working, been working, you know, working seven days a week for, with barely a break really, um, thinking she'd been there for three and a half years. And she described it actually as one of the best jobs in the world, which I thought was incredible considering the stress and the strain. And David told me there was a hundred thousand troops had come back from the front line with limbs missing.

Speaker C: Yeah, um, and that number's building all the time. So I've worked along the front line and at least there, there's some, um, there's a real focus. You know, the focus is to survive on the front line. It's literally just survive and it's very intense of course, load of pressure as you say. Um, but the simplicity is just survive. I think almost the sadder part of this now, more, more and more actually is uh, when you go from the east to the west and there you've got the re, the rehabilitation problem. So yeah, as you say, we've got a hundred thousand amputees now and building of course. Um, so, so you've got a critical energy in the east of survival. But actually in the west you've then got all the orphans, the IDPs, the wounded dogs, uh, the veterans with traumatic, um, moral injuries and stress and of course um, amputees. So it's actually quite sad in the west. Um, it's perhaps not quite as stressful, not quite some dangerous. But then you've got more depression and tiredness and you know, trying to find the will to live. So two days ago we were at this military hospital and there was a man there, ah, triple, uh, amputee and he's lost his eyesight in the same incident. So he's doing exercises on a bed with a physiotherapist and he's trying to move his one remaining limb to uh, try and build some muscles up. And yeah, he's lost three of his limbs and his eyesight in one, in one injury. But determined to um, recover and recuperate and that's Amazing, right? It's amazing. It's, it's um. The, the sight of him working out in the hospital has obviously burned a, ah, memory in my mind. Um. So, yeah, I just, I don't know what to say about that. It was just a, uh, very difficult site and one that I'll never forget. But that, that's going on out here and it's getting worse and worse as more and more people, of course, return from the frontline broken mentally and physically.

Speaker B: Crikey. And um. Well, how do you, how do you cope with that when you experiencing this? Because you've eight trips out there, you and 600 volunteers or so have been out, haven't they? To.

Speaker C: Yes. And, and you know, as you mentioned, Andrea as well, working under extreme duress. So, um, you know, you've got to look after your first aiders of too, of course. And m. I'm not a first aider, but you've still got to look after these people that are also trying to help. Um. So, yeah, Andrea is an extreme hero. I'm a mini little hero. But, um, I've got no military training, no military background, so. But I, you know, I feel like a normal human being, just someone who lives in the south of the uk, you know. And um, it's extremely distressing to witness and hear actually the stories that you hear. But I feel, um, it's an honor to, to be out here. It's um, an honor to witness or hear these people's stories or meet, make eye contact. Um, even though it's painful, you know, I think we can't turn a blind eye. And you mentioned heroes at the start of this, this chat, which we'll come on to. But there's something also about recognizing, acknowledging, seeing, hearing, feeling the things that go wrong in the world. Otherwise we're just going to, you know, be ignorant and, and um, maybe blissfully happy. But, um, for me, part of it is to, to see, to hear, to feel, um, what's going on out here. And being here face to face, heart to heart is really important.

Speaker B: Yeah. Because we can be very divorced from it, can't we? It can be. It just feels like a story. And, and Ukraine is the. That story is. It's been a long time now. It's ebbed and flowed, hasn't it? Sometimes it comes more into our conscious and other times when things like Iran happen, uh, it loses its focus. But it's been enormous, hasn't it, the consequences? And uh, from my perspective, the depth of depravity is, uh, unbelievable.

Speaker C: Yeah. There's ah, some incredibly awful things going on around the world. Um, and I can totally understand people need time out from that. So, you know, to choose to not, um, not think about it for a day or a week or an hour. I get that. And we need to um, cope so with, with um, people who, who are luckily enough not to be so much on the front line, wherever that is around the world. You know, it's a choice to have, to have some time out and to not think and remember these awful things that are going on. But I just think part of um, our obligation, if you like, is to, is to remember now and again. Right? To purposely choose to reconnect even though it's painful and difficult with some of the stuff that's going on in your neighborhood or in the world that um, to, to at least think about. There's a minute silence out here every day. So nine o' clock every morning the whole country stops. The traffic pulls over, people get out of their cars, uh, and there's a minute silence every day at 9:00. And then they play the national anthem, which I quite like. It's a really great national anthem, I must say. It's one of the rousing ones. Um, and it's fantastic. Right? And I, I almost feel like the whole world should stop for a minute every day at 9 o' clock to, to remember, to, to feel gratitude, to remind uh, ourselves of, of what it means to be human, to love and all that. So it works so well out here. And I almost feel like we all need to do that for at least one minute every day.

Speaker B: I think that's actually really a really good idea. Uh, definitely do. We should all, as you say, we should stop and we should think, um, yeah, and consider the challenges and maybe consider our role and maybe helping in some way, um, the. The world. Um, so I'm feeling a bit, bit choked up actually just thinking about what you're, you know, what we're sharing about at the moment. Um, let's just move away a little bit from, from that and M. I'm sure we'll come back again. M. Tell us a little bit about your journey and, and how you came to do what you do, what you do. We've mentioned the 120 adventures. You're not. You don't have a military background, but you, you've obviously had the wonderlust at some, at some point in your life started. Tell us, where did that come from? And tell us a little bit about, you, uh, know, an adventure or two that that really stick out in your mind?

Speaker C: Yeah, sure. I don't always look the type, so people need to sort of like, uh, try and connect me doing all these crazy, um, things and, and looking like a normal person, hopefully. But yeah, I, I think as a kid it was just, you know, starting growing up, exploring the local neighborhood, getting on the bicycle like a lot of kids do, and uh, you know, rooting around the woods and the fields and old houses and just having a great old adventurous time when I was growing up. Getting muddy and dirty and stung by stinging nettles and falling out of trees and all that sort of stuff. So it started there. Love being outside, love just adventuring, even locally. And then, um, then I did the classic one year backpacking around the world with everything, you know, in your backpack, doing the whole tour around the world and had a fantastic time doing that. Um, but then since then I've done some iconic um, adventures and some not so iconic ones. So there's the big famous things like as you mentioned at the start, sailing around the world. I did the Global Challenge around the World Yacht race, which is 24 hour racing, um, in very extreme conditions around Cape Horn, Southern Ocean. Um, crazy intense experience on the dynamic sea and in the weather and, and all that crazy. And then I've skied to the South Pole which is another iconic, huge adventure to do. And I, I think both of those are similar in how intense and impactful they were on me. So I'm equally proud of achieving both. But there was such different experiences. Solo mental skin to the South Pole versus Team dynamic sailing around the world. Very different, but both I think equally difficult and I'm equally proud of achieving them. Um, and then I've made up some adventures. You know, I've, I've been backpacking and kayaking and cycling in various countries. I've cycled across 20 countries now. Um, or getting my, get my little tent on my bike quite often, go on my own, cycle 80 miles a day, find a field and um, put my little tent up and eat some cheese and then go to bed quite early because there's not a lot to do when you're on your own in a very small tent but quite tired and get up with the sunrise, you know, so that's the nice bit. You wake up at five with sunlight coming into your tent and get up and you look around and you're on your own on this field and there's birds singing and all that. Get m. Get on the bike again. So I love that. That's a great Adventure, just traveling right across the country, experiencing the local weather and geography and culture and food and, um. So, yeah, I do that. I do one or two of those every year. And, um, had a fantastic time rafting down the Zambezi last November, um, complete with hippo attacks and, and rapids. So I love all that. And it's just I, um, feel fully alive when I'm doing that. So, um, you know, when you're fully present and, and you feel like really, you know, here and now, and then maybe you might experience flow, which is when you're doing something like playing a guitar or painting a picture or running, and you get that experience of flow when you lose sense of self and time. Um, so I love feeling present and alive and in flow, where you're really making the most of life. And for me, adventure does that easily. For me, it's full of well being for, for my physical, mental health as well. To be outside and exploring and talking to people and traveling, uh, kayaking, cycling. It's all good. I love it. I'm, um, as you can tell from my face.

Speaker B: And do you enjoy, do you enjoy being on your own as much as being with people?

Speaker C: Yeah, I, I always get asked Timor solo.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: And uh, it's very hard for me to choose because I think I am about 50, 50. I love when I'm on my own, I'm savoring more, so I'm more aware of my senses, you know, the smells, the sights, looking, listening. I'm much more savoring the moment and having this really mindfulness experience. But also it encourages me to talk more to other people. So, you know, you're more likely to sit down and have a coffee with a, with a stranger when you're on your own rather than just sticking with the person that you know. So, um, I love solo. And it, it means that you're really, um, liberated to make every decision yourself. You can stop when you want to stop. You can eat cake when you want to eat cake. You can crack on when you've got some energy. You can collapse when you've got no energy. You know, you're completely independent and free when you're solo and you haven't got somebody else to worry about. But then when, when you're with someone, you've got somebody to chat to, someone to laugh with, and quite often somebody to share, um, a challenging time with. Because if you fall off your bike or, you know, if you, if you have an angry person having, or you get lost, you've at least then got someone to Share that with. And I think that's good for us to, to have the social connection as well. So I love both.

Speaker B: Yeah. Because that's quite interesting because sometimes when you're, when you're so you, when you're on your own so you can experience things when it might be good to have someone else to share that word. And then if you're working, you know, closely with people on adventures, um, from the bits or bits I've done in my life, you can find there are people that become a little bit like a uh, uh, a piece of gravel in your shoe relationship. You start to kind of feel a bit abrasive, challenging and. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker C: That's all part of the challenge, isn't it? When you're doing a tough thing and then you've got a tough person to deal with. It's double tough.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: So what, I mean, would you describe yourself? Have you managed to make adventure then, um, in your profession? Almost.

Speaker D: Yeah.

Speaker C: I uh, weave it I think. Um, my clients, I work with a lot of leaders. Um, it's again the resilience of the Ukrainians fixing the electricity or the power or the wi fi and it, you know, they're fantastic. Um, yes. So, so uh, I weave I think the experiences and the wisdom that I get from adventuring goes down well with like you know, leadership. You know, you've got a lot of leadership in your audience, I, I bet. But it's about as you say, dealing with uncertainty, um, and the unknown and adversity and challenge and change and all that. So, so I think all the adventure stories and experience and wisdom and strategies are great with, with uh, especially leadership level, um, um, how to survive, cope and thrive difficult times. Um, but also as you, as you mentioned, I, my company is actually called Adventure Psychology. So yes, I do call myself an adventure psychologist, but the, the company that I own is Adventure Psychology. So what are the tips, tools, strategies, mindset that we benefit uh, from when going on an adventure which includes curiosity, being open minded and exploring, dealing, um, with uncertainty, unknowns, um, endurance as well. How do we endure? Because adventure is longer than a sport. If you, if you think about sports psychology, great, love it. It's about high performance but normally for a short period of time, um, within known conditions. So if you think the psychology, I don't know of a boxing match for instance, you know, there's a set piece right in time and, and physical space. But with adventure you've got to endure. So how do we eke out our uh, energy, mental, physical, spiritual energy to Be able to carry on and stay healthy. So endurance is a big one as well. Adventure psychology, how to cope, how to survive, how to thrive in, in difficult, challenging conditions.

Speaker B: And you do talk, uh, a lot about. You mentioned about going. Going into the unknown, knowingly.

Speaker C: Going knowingly into the unknown.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Straight, uh, line. Yes.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. So talk a little bit more about that because I think that is. It feels like a really important confidence step, really, for people. There's something about confidence in there to, uh, be prepared to go into the unknown. Um, I did a little workshop yesterday, day before yesterday, on confidence. And it was just very interesting that I'm working with young people around their confidence. And then I actually used, um, AI to actually say so, um, I'd use AI to help me with, uh, build some of this. And I asked it, um, knowing me as you know me, where do you think confidence might be holding me back? And it was actually really interesting what it came out with because it talked to me about, actually, Chris, your opportunity is maybe you're playing a bit safely just leading a community when you should be leading a movement, a global movement. And that was like, whoa, you know, and that is really, for me, that's knowingly heading into the unknown. But it was a great, great challenge.

Speaker C: But, yeah, I'm just pondering that one. That was a great challenge, wasn't it? Oh, that's a whole nother level. Yeah. So for me, going knowingly is choosing to go as well as going knowingly. Right. So, um, I think we, whatever if we, if we're worried, fearful or uncertain about the future, there are so many ways to go with more confidence and more knowingly. There's so much wisdom and experience that we've picked up through life. So at whatever point we are in life, we've already accumulated a load of, um, intuition, wisdom, experience, intelligence skills, strengths, and so on. So it's good to, you know, stock take and know that there's a load of stuff we know. Even if the next bit is an unknown thing, you know, we are bringing a whole toolkit of, of capability with this. And then for me also, there's a thing about, um, hindsight and insight and foresight. So hindsight is what we already know. Insight is, is like you've just had an aha moment. Right. And then foresight, what's likely to happen using anticipatory thinking, scenario planning, you know, crisis and risk management planning. There's so much we can also do to look ahead. Even if we've never experienced or never known the thing we're about to do. So, um, and then there's the leap of faith, right? There's the um, being in full flow and adapting as we go. So there's so much packed into that going knowingly into the unk in different levels. But uh, yeah, it's ah. It's a great concepts. The, the contradiction or the contrast between knowing and not knowing. And if we know too much and if we keep doing what we know, then we don't expand and grow and change. So I think, um, knowing is a cruel mindset. Is. Is a great phrase. Right. If we, if we think we know everything, then it shuts us down and we're not open to receive or learn or grow or understand or listen. So there's something cool in not knowing and being comfortable with not knowing. And I think in this day and age we try and have 100% knowledge or certainty and that doesn't always work.

Speaker B: Yeah, that's nothing. It's really, really important. Um, I refer a lot of people and I referred someone into uh. Uh, probably one of the world's top publishing experts actually. Uh, and uh, uh, after the. Someone I'd interviewed and after the. I'd referred them my friend who referred it to, um, Wendy, we had a little chat and she said. And I said, how do you get on? She said, well, Chris, she said, unfortunately, I can't help anybody who knows everything. I m. Can't help somebody who knows everything. Uh, and I thought what a missed opportunity she had, you know, going into that, into that conversation feeling like she already knew it all.

Speaker C: M. Absolutely. Yeah. It does shut everything down, doesn't it? And, and why bother to listen to anyone if you know everything?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: So socially too. Yeah.

Speaker B: Well, thank you. It's been an absolutely fascinating first conversation. Um, you're the first person I've interviewed in Ukraine, um, which is from, uh, Live from Ukraine. So thank you for, for that. But um, you know, what an amazing story that you start to share with Ukraine and your work around adventure psychology. I can see how, uh, it could be really valuable to people in the business world when it comes to taking on new challenges, resilience, and building confidence and teamwork. So we're going to talk a little bit m More about that after the break. Some of the sort of practical lessons from your work. And uh, we'll also talk just a little bit more about um, hopeful and uh, and what people might learn from your. We need more heroes because we've not talked about heroes yet. So we need to. Need to look into that. So Back again with you all in just a couple of minutes. I do recommend if you're just sitting somewhere and you're listening to this, take out a pen or a piece of paper and identify two or three golden nuggets that relate to you that you could, uh, take away and apply. Um, I think it's always worthwhile just doing that. And it's sometimes just a single thing that you take away from a conversation like this has a potential to change your future. Back again with you in just a couple of minutes. Join us after the break.

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Speaker B: Hi, this is Chris Cooper, I'm with Paula Reid and we're talking about, uh, we're talking about Paula's amazing story and her adventure, uh, psychology work. We've talked about Ukraine. We're going to talk, you know, get onto the point of why we need more heroes as well. I think that's a really important fundamental conversation today and uh, this interview will stick in my mind. I've never had an interview yet where both my guests in Ukraine, I'm in the uk and Jordan, who's Our engineer is in Phoenix and it's 90 degrees plus in all three locations, which say something about the world at the moment, I suspect, what's going on. So, um. Okay, so, um, tell us a little bit about, you know, any. Anything that. Any sort of practical lessons from your adventures that really have, uh, helped some of your clients that might be. Might be a good place to start.

Speaker C: Well, that's a bit. That's a big one. Um, because there's hundreds.

Speaker B: Yeah. And leaders. It lead us into the. The heroes. Why that's important too.

Speaker C: It's. Well, well, I'm thinking about that one. There's. For me, there's a massive mindset thing as well as really pragmatic. Even tiny little tasks. There's the whole range. But I do think, you know, just the mindset is massive and it affects everything. So one of the questions I quite often ask people, which I'll ask, ask everyone listening now, is, um, if you. If you individually think and you have a think, Chris, I'll put you on the spot. Now, what percentage of your performance of your outcome would you put down to what's going on in here? Oh, gosh, yeah, it's an interesting one. So it could be great performance, it could be awful performance, but what percentage of that do you feel is affected by your attitude?

Speaker B: I think all of it.

Speaker C: Well, so m. It's an interesting. I hope your listeners are genuinely thinking about that one because that's one of the first questions I ask if I'm doing like a leadership workshop. I get individuals to go around the room and say just a percentage, just a number. Um, before we start rationalizing and justifying why we. We've said that number. So. So Chris, why. Why do you think all of it. How come attitude or mindset is. Is affecting so much of your performance?

Speaker B: Well, I think it's, um. I was thinking about the, you know, it being the outcome, being successful in some way. Uh, and maybe how I perceive success could be different to others because for me it's about keeping relationships intact and it's achieving the results and the outcome that you want. Um, I know if I, If I was, um, to turn up in a lousy mood with a. Not in a, you know, not in a good frame of mind, that I wouldn't get the result that I necessarily wanted. Um, so I would say that in terms of the quality of the output, I think it's really impacted by your mindset and your attitude. Um, but it. But sometimes I guess you can get results by. Anyway, but, you know, for Me, I think I know that I need to be in a good, good place each day.

Speaker A: Ah.

Speaker B: And make sure in those pivotal moments when, um, you know, something is significant, that I'm able to be at my best, or else I don't tend to get the outcomes that I m. I might want. So I don't know. I don't know. You. You agree in any way?

Speaker C: Um, as I say to everyone, there's no such thing as, As a right answer, um, on this one. But I. The average score I get over hundreds and thousands of people have asked is about 86.5.

Speaker B: That's fine. I was thinking about 90 in my head, actually.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: But some people say 100, which I love. I love. The 100 is, as I call them because it means their whole attitude, their belief is a hundred percent. And, and that is a demonstration of it in, in. In itself. Right? That people say 100%. They just go, 100%. Yeah.

Speaker A: Great.

Speaker C: Yay. Um, but basically, a lot of what we do, um, is affected by our choices. Right. Our attitude towards it or our mindset. So if you think about it, that then affects our whole life.

Speaker D: Yeah.

Speaker C: Um, the way we go about things, the things we choose to approach. You know, the fact I'm in Ukraine is a choice. It's an attitude that I choose to, uh, take on. So that's the first thing I normally talk about, which, um, which isn't practical, but it's touches everything. It touches the way we look at the world and the way we interact with the world. Right. Because it's based on our beliefs. Um, so. And with leaders especially, I know a lot of your audience are leaders. You know, their mindset affects others so strongly with their leadership behaviors and attitude. But also the culture of their company is everyone's, you know, it's the collection of everyone's mindset. So it's huge. It's huge. Um, so I talk about that, but then I talk about so many other things right down to, as I say, sort of small tasks and. And, uh, tools. Um, I talk a lot about risk and fear management, for instance. So, uh, before I. Before I left for the South Pole skiing to South Pole, I had a list of about 30 things that were worrying me. So going knowingly into the unknown, uh, one of the things you can do is like, okay, what are all the things that could go wrong? Or what are all the things that I'm anxious about? Um, and then you list them down, and that already is a good exercise because then you're already putting a name on these things and, and recognizing them. But then I always suggest that people divide them into risks and fears because they're different. Risks are, uh, objective, you know, things that can happen. Fears are subjective human thoughts or emotions. So you already then got two columns of things that are coming up. If you've got something that you're about to do, a venture or adventure, divide them into risks and fears. Apply risk management, of course, to all the risks. You know, we know about risk strategy and risk management. There are ways of dealing with risk. I think there's six main ways. For instance, um, with the fears though, there's. There's a bunch of other strategies. Um, you know, because it's more human and um, internal and unique to each of us. Some people afraid of spiders, some aren't. Right. So there's um, there's risk coping mechanisms too. So that's what, you know, that's something that I talk about and it just seems to make sense to, to have that approach to things that we're worried about or scared of or, or, you know, an uncertain adventure, adventure ahead.

Speaker B: So let's use that example then. Well, that, that's uh, um, the concept there, ah, of managing risk and risk versus fear. And uh, apply that to visiting Ukraine to do the. What kind of work you're doing. How did you work that through? A lot of people have visited with, hopeful, have gone, uh, to Ukraine. I think David told me a while back it was over 600 people have, uh, come and helped and supportive. They've obviously gone through that. Um, and actually I think people come back, you know, um, in some way enriched but, but challenged

Speaker A: mentally.

Speaker B: Um, but generally, well, they come back safe. So, so that's quite interesting. Whereas a lot of people will think, I just can't put, you know, I couldn't go to Ukraine because it's risky.

Speaker C: Yeah, absolutely. Exactly that, Chris. And, and when I first went, everyone's like, what are you doing? You're crazy. How risky, how ridiculous, how dangerous, how. Even some people felt it was very selfish of me to go out because, um. Because potentially I could become a problem and, and need rescuing or something. So you get a whole range of reactions. But now, of course, it's my eighth time and everyone goes, good on you, out you go, do your great stuff. But, um, yeah, loads of risks out here, but I would say more fear than risk out here. Right. So quite, quite often volunteers especially, we talk about what on earth are we doing out here, why are we here? It's, it is kind of crazy. And um, we talk about what if, you know, and, and maybe dying or getting hit by a missile. Let's say the likelihood of that. So, so that for me is more of a fear than a risk. Um, because the likelihood of that is tiny. Tiny. And one statistic I tell myself, which is a bit out of date now, but let's say 0.01%, I don't know of Ukrainians, of civilian Ukrainians have, have been injured. Um, I don't know the exact number now. I used to know it. They live here 24 hours a day, seven days a week for four and a half years during the war. I come for three weeks. So therefore, if you do the maths, the likelihood of me getting hit is very slim. And if I was at home crossing the road is the classic, isn't it? I could still get hit. So for me, there's some rationalization or mathematics or risk assessment going on there where the likelihood of me actually getting hit out here is tiny, tiny and probably just as much danger as, as if I'd stayed at home for the same three weeks. So there's things like that. Um, there's definitely fear out here, but it's amazing how we adapt. So people are probably fairly aware now that with Ukrainians, they go about their daily lives. When the air raid siren goes off, you just carry on. You don't even twitch or look at your phone or stop walking. The air raid sign might be going off out here three, four, five times a day. You just carry on. You know, there's no response. If you hear incoming noise, you know, you start to recognize the noise of an incoming missile, you still might carry on because you get familiar with the noise of them coming in or going out, you know, whether they're friendly or enemy missiles. And then. And you might check the app on your phone because there's amazing intel on the apps on our phone about the attacks and when they're likely to arrive in your city. So it's incredible how much we adapt. And. And now I'm on my eighth trip. I go to sleep knowing that there's incoming missiles where I am, because you can't just run to the shelter every five minutes. So there's risk management. Know where the shelter is, sleep away from the windows. Um, because a blast might obviously, um, you know, make the windows blow. If, if it's getting noisy, look at what the locals do. If the locals are running, then it's a good sign that you should run. Keep two walls between you and, you know, there's things you can do which are risk management. But the fear thing just um, we adapt, we adapt, we adapt and to the point where I come out now and you know, I don't even flinch when an air raid siren goes off anymore. It's fascinating, isn't it?

Speaker B: This isn't it. It is. And so do you think you know this, it's almost like this um, response to fear you've. Because with all of your adventures and the things that you've done, is it like a muscle that you, you become more resilient and you become more naturally courageous and less bothered by things as a consequence of the experiences that you put yourself through?

Speaker C: Absolutely. So I think resilience as well and, and courage, if you want to call it that, or ability to cope with fear, absolutely is a muscle. The more you do, the more you can do. I always think so. Um, I don't know, I suppose I'm quite a tough cookie anyway. I don't know why or how when I was born, I don't know. But um, it definitely is definitely a muscle. Uh, there's a skill set in coping, you know, knowing where to look, where to go, how to use your phone, you know, things like that. But, but it's definitely a muscle. And the same with resilience. Um, yeah, which goes back to the mindset really. How, uh, what's, when we see something that's scary, how do we respond? So it's that choice again about how do we respond, what goes through our um, mind like intuitively and, and so quickly with how to, to respond again. It's that choice, isn't it? To respond and not react.

Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Uh, so tell us a little bit about your TEDx talk. And we need more heroes.

Speaker C: So um, uh, my first TEDx talk I did a while back was about living life to the full and it was about like having a bucket list and, and making the most of life and, and kicking the what sit out of it and doing, you know, making, leading a rich and, and colorful life and that's great but it almost felt quite selfish. Whereas this one is about helping others and I'm so pleased I've done them both because in my mind one was quite sort of selfish about making the most of life and having a rich and powerful time which I still believe in. But this one was much more about outward looking. So um, helping others, helping the world, being, you know, making the world a better place for our ah, impact and that goes with nature as much as other people. So I've got the master's degree in positive Psychology. So there's an element of that. But there's also a, um, uh, a M model, if you like, called the Hero's Journey, which is uh, a classic. If you think of any film or book or fairy story, it always contains a Hero's Journey. So someone in their known ordinary world gets a call to adventure. A knock on the door or white rabbit or blue or red pill in the Matrix, there's a call to adventure. And you can choose to go on the adventure. There's that choice again. Going knowingly into the unknown. And then, and then you're on the adventure. You've got the battles and the challenges and the enemies and the, you know, the witches and the dragons and, and the. Whatever it is in that story to, to fight, to, to cope with, to deal with. But you've also got good people helping you and fairies and allies and so on. And ultimately there's the, the nadir, the darkest, deepest, worst point in the film or the book or the, the experience where you feel at your lowest ebb. But then ultimately there's always an up after a down and you climb back up. You've then start to build your resilience and your strengths and your. You've got your sword and your shield now, uh, and you return to your world, um, more heroic than if you hadn't gone through all those experiences. So if you think about Harry Potter or Skywalker or, you know, any, any of these heroic characters in a book or film, they go through some tough times, but, boy, do they come back stronger and better for it. But not only that, we come back more able to help others. Like you said before, Chris, the more you experience, the more you do, the more you push yourself, the more you can then help others or make the world a better place or be strong for other people or to role model the way. Um, so that for me is about being a bit more heroic. Not necessarily wearing a cape and a superhero outfit, not necessarily going to Ukraine, which, you know, is at one extreme end of the scale, but just doing something to make the world a better place. And for me that means getting out of the armchair, not being so comfortable and being more aware of what's going on in the world and just doing acts of kindness or courage, um, to. Yeah. Tilt the scales to make the world a better place.

Speaker B: Yeah. Wonderful. Do you think we. Are we lacking today in, you know, the media, being interested in role models? So I'm just thinking, you know, we focus our attention on politicians and uh, often feels like, you know, there's a Lot of people. There's a number of people out there who I wouldn't want my kids to be following and learning traits from who are leading countries etc. Um, it's a more um, scope and need to find heroes. And we don't have Nelson Mandela anymore or Gandhi or you know, the, we seem to have lost some of those figures or are they there? But they, we just don't, um, we just aren't aware of them. I think the reality is I try and highlight some of them, you know, that's on this to show really.

Speaker C: Um, you are that you, you are, you're broadcasting as it were the traits and behaviors and people that perhaps we should learn from or be inspired by. Aren't you?

Speaker B: It's just a call. I might as well say we need more heroes. It's a call. So we need more heroes. We need more people to step up and make it, make a difference. And uh, I'm think I'm getting at.

Speaker C: Yeah and it's a call to you. Whoever's listening is not, it's not waiting for that person to come along. I, I do honestly feel that we, ah, we might be lacking a few huge names, you know, huge role model people. Uh, if I thought about it and it wasn't so blooming hot, that's probably, probably better to come up with a list. Right? We're both good. Um, so, so I think we both need heroic characters who are uh, um, I don't know, visible and, and well known let's say. But also there's of course so much more now about social media and um, um, reality tv. Right? So it's much more about the ordinary person these days be it through social media or reality TV that the influencer, whatever you want to call them. But I honestly believe we can be inspired also by our next door neighbor or you know, the, the other kid in the school playground. Um, but, so everyone and anyone but in. I, I think being, being heroic is infectious. Okay. So I think we can by, by doing the right thing. I always just call it doing the right thing, whatever that is. I think that's infectious and I think if we personally choose to do the right thing and do an action small or great, that is the right thing, then that can be infectious and we can inspire and um, spark and strengthen others to also do the right thing. Otherwise we feel overwhelmed and useless or victims of the big stuff, the big horrible stuff that's going on all over the world. Um, so if we each do our thing and if, if we each take positive action do what we can, control the controllables, you know, work, work with our neighbors, our environment, our community, then that's infectious. Otherwise we give up or we become lazy and that, and that's not good.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. And I hope if you listen, listen to this show, you, you hear lots of examples of people who in the, in their own way are finding, you know, find different avenues and uh, to, to contribute to good quite often in their, maybe the last 20, 30 years of the career, um, when all of that experience that they've had maybe in corporate roles and things like that comes together and then there becomes a desire actually to be able to either leave some sort of legacy or utilize all your wisdom and knowledge in a, in a way that does good. M so I think we know this show. We're trying to encourage you as well to think about that. How do you, how who are you? Where were you in your flow as Paula puts it? Um, where can you be most useful and contribute and be able to one day sit back and look back and think actually I did a good job. I did all right, you know, I did all right. As you're certainly doing Paula. Um, how can people get involved with um, and help hopeful if

Speaker C: um. So we used to use as you said, 600 volunteers out here but unfortunately we've had to pull back a lot because uh, mostly because the drones, you know, they're far reaching and uh, the, the dangers encroached right across the country beyond the front line. So unfortunately we've had to withdraw a lot of the volunteer action and now it's much more about enabling the locals, enabling and facilitating the Ukrainians themselves to, to do our good work, to carry on our good work. So really, um, unless they want to uh, yomp for 80 kilometers in the Carpathian Mountains in August, in which case get in touch with me please. M Then, then really it's about donations. So we've got a website of course, it's hopeful.org.uk Ah. And uh, it's really now about donations because our money has run very low. Um, interest in Ukraine has ebbed. Um, I'm not saying everyone's forgotten it but, but you know donations and generosity has, has uh, died off a bit after four and a half years of course. But we're, we're continuing to work out here and, and as you said there's much more about rehabilitation now because we've got all these casualties of war mentally and physically so there's a much more tougher environment out here to, to cope with all the wounded. As well as continue to fight along the front line. Um, so there's a lot of work going on. So really please, anyone can donate from a pound to ten thousand pounds. We've got uh, dog shelters where they can't even afford to feed the dogs. You know there's a place, 400 dogs, uh, one lady and an old gentleman trying to feed them all with whatever they food they can get hold of. They can't afford the vets bills and the dogs are living in tiny wooden kennels which, which need rebuilding. Um, there's all the veterans that are going through a mental three day mental health program which has um, to be slow and small because it's, it's so important to get right. Um, so that's slowly spreading around Ukraine. Um, and yeah we're building that shelter to, to pair up veterans with dogs which is fantastic. And we're still doing the pizza operations out here. We've served over 3 million pizzas in 1800 cities and towns all over Ukraine. And it goes down well is everyone loves a pizza. Uh, some people are genuinely in need of hot cooked food. Some people are kind of okay food wise. But the fact we are sharing free food and hot drinks, it's about the love and the warmth and the respect and just a moment of normality and laughter and connection. Uh, and it brings communities together. So there's, there's so much work that we're doing out here and I get,

Speaker B: I guess people could also uh, um, if you people check out Wild Fox events, uh, there's some uh, David who's the founder Fox Pitt who's the founder of Hopeful, he puts on amazing events in Scotland and Jones event. You can enter those events and you could then raise money for Hopeful at the same time. Um, I did1in 2019 uh, and it was absolutely incredible. A quadrathlon. It was amazing. One of the most amazing days of my life. I still um, I still struggle running now as a consequence. But it was absolutely brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Most people are probably a bit more sister but it was amazing. And those people I've inspired to go and spoken to have gone and done it since they absolutely loved it. It was one of the best days of my life. So that's a, another way we have to end them afraid. Paula, I just want to, you know, huge respect. Um, I think you are a hero for the work that you, you are doing and that being out in Ukraine for the eighth time as well. If you want to find out more about Paula's work.

Speaker D: Paularead.

Speaker B: Uh,.com sounds like you've got an organization there and you want someone to come and talk to you or help your senior execs and your exec team to uh, get in the right mindset, uh, and to um, navigate things knowingly going into the unknown because there's a lot of that at the moment in this world. Paula San is a great person to get in touch with. And then check out hopefulorg.uk on next week's show we have um, Jim Lebenthal. Jim is a famous Wall street family. Um, uh, he's the chief, ah, marketing market strategist for a Wall street firm called Serity. But he's also for 13 years been uh, live on CNBC, ah, TV every week as a stock picker. He's a wonderful man and really inspiring and he's just launched a new book. So we're going to talk about that next week, um, from um, Wall Street. So once again Paula, thank you so much for joining us and in this incredible heat, um, sending you all lots of love over there in Ukraine and we're thinking about you. And don't forget about Ukraine. It's so easy to forget about uh, the people out there. Uh, we need to all give support, uh, donate help any way that we can, um, because um, we can't let uh, the kind of horrendous uh, um, behavior uh, that's been going on, uh, continue in this world. We need to eradicate that and move on. We need to support and love those people and remember, give them hope as well, which I know you've been doing. So thank you for everything Paula.

Speaker C: Thank you Chris.

Speaker B: Any questions or comments, you can drop me an email@chrischriscooper.co.uk. do, uh, join us again next week and you'll be able to sure reach Paula through her website if you uh, want to connect and talk to her about coming and speaking for you or whatever workshops or whatever you would like. So take care everybody. Hope you found today helpful and look forward to speaking to you again next week.

Speaker A: We thank you for listening to the Chris Cooper business Elevation show. Please join your host Chris Cooper again next Friday at uh, 8:00am U. S Pacific Time on the Voice America business channel. Be more, achieve more.

Speaker B: J.