The Business of Living

By Diane Magers | Founder and CXO Experience Investigators | 5 min read

Humbly, I want to give support and kudos to Clare Muscutt who had the moxie to create a place for women to learn about CX but also about themselves. I have always been in awe of women who take no prisoners. Who fall down, but build themselves back up. Who chase the risks and tackle them. Who compliment this world by bringing harmony, grace and authenticity. Who care for others beyond expectation. Who embody a solid, never faltering vision of what can be better. Who use enduring hope -AND the guts - to create a better world.

As I talked with Clare for the WICX series, we realised that many of us don’t really tell our stories. By sharing our stories, we are investigating who we are, testing and gathering reactions to what we share. We explore our stories for the learnings that we can apply.

This sharing and introspection is a huge source of learning about ourselves.

In conversation with Clare I shared with her that I began my career as a clinical psychologist.

One of the reasons I wanted to be a part of that profession was my father was diagnosed with cancer at a very young age. I had just begun college. He condition deteriorated quickly and was in Hospice for a short time. I began to volunteer for hospice and those interactions with patients and families became an exploration explore how people view their lives as they’re facing death and how they live, learn and create their stories. What was ironic to me was that those who had been purposeful an introspective about creating their stories were more at peace. And those who had “wandered” did not have the same sense of peace or depth of understanding of who they were and the impact that it had on others.

This subject became a passion for me and I ultimately ended up helping to train hospice volunteers and my Master’s Thesis was on the subject of death and day.  In working with Hospice over many years I discovered that no one really wanted to say I wished I spent more time at the office. Everyone said I wish I would have spent more time with the people I loved and I wish I would have learned more about myself and others and made more contribution to my growth and to other’s growth. 

It was about the business of living and creating bold, full and rewarding lives. Not fame or fortune but family and friendships. It was about the capacity for love – for self and for others. 

So we are celebrating women in CX. It helps me reflect on the fact that most women in this profession are nurtures and caregivers as most women are but they also have a sense for piecing together and connecting the human element to everything they do but more importantly that they understand what they are doing to really improve lives. And I realizsd in a twisted way that that was essentially what they were creating as their legend. That story about what they were leaving behind. Their legacy. And I say think about the women that I admire I think about those who know themselves. Who understand the importance of being authentic with themselves. Who look themselves in the mirror every morning and ask  We don’t often define what we want that legacy to be.  

Some ways to Legacy Living: 

Connect – really connect .

With friends who challenge you – you know the ones. The minute you pick up the phone, you can get to deep and meaningful conversations. Our authenticity is raw and we seek feedback and exploration. That exploration helps us grow. 

Go find two-way streets. 

Have friends who take and take? One-way streets. There is no mutual agreement or balance in the give and take in these relationships. Find those who can fulfil you and you can fulfil them. 

Their stories aren’t your stories.

Others will tell you what they think you should do or give feedback and advice. Listen and learn. And use your critical thinking muscle. Absorb their input. Use it to grow, but don’t take it at stone cold truth.  

Be the orchestrator of your inner voice. 

Yep. We all have it. Those thoughts that are always with us. Sometimes that voice helps, and sometimes you have to quiet that negativity and replace it with questions and exploration. 

Don’t overthink.  

I love women who are creative over-thinkers. Those who let the wild ideas roam. But don’t let that creativity free when it comes to letting your “demons” run away with you. Find ways to not to talk yourself into or out of something. Generate ways to let your heart talk and then listen and act on that. Women’s intuition is real…and powerful. Trust your gut.

Live your Legend. 

You have a legend living in you. You already have it. Craft your story. Find those who help you help you find and nurture that story. I didn’t tell you the story of death to scare you but to encourage you to think outside today and what you want your story to be.

Diane Magers Bio

Passionate experience transformation professional and change agent.  Sherpa for new and developing customer and employee obsessed leaders.  Thought leader and innovator for ways of engaging associates and customers.  Spirited entrepreneur.  Skilled in business benefits development and systematically embedding experience into an organisation.  Believe that brands who win choose to focus on human and emotional elements.  Develops the hearts and minds of others.  Firm executor in the ‘pay it forward’ model. Writer, speaker and artist.