Welcome back to the Connected Leadership Podcast! We kick off 2025 with a returning guest, commercial mediator Jane Gunn, who joins Andy Lopata to discuss her new book, “The Mole and the Mountain.” This parable explores the journey of overcoming obstacles and finding personal fulfillment, offering valuable insights for goal setting and personal Growth in the New Year.

Jane explains the two key principles of mediation that underpin the book: self-determination and being fully informed. She introduces the “Map of Experience” that guides the mole’s journey and represents the stages of mediation. The first stage, “Now,” involves understanding the

narrative and identifying the challenges we face. This is about stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing curiosity.

Andy and Jane then discuss the importance of mentorship in pushing ourselves out of

our comfort zones and overcoming fear. Jane emphasises the role of a mentor who

provides challenge without taking control.

Next, they explore the fear of being wrong, a common obstacle in both mediation and personal life. Jane talks about shifting from a “win-lose” mindset to a “win-win” approach, emphasising the importance of understanding people’s needs and interests rather than focusing on who is right or wrong.

The focus turns to the importance of Clarity in creating a vision for the future, the need to dig deep and understand what truly drives us. Andy and Jane also discuss the concept of “no one is coming to save us,” the importance of self-determination and taking responsibility for our own decisions. Jane argues that mediation is a “grown-up” way of resolving disputes, allowing

individuals to find creative solutions by taking control.

Staying on track despite obstacles and setbacks, they share their personal experiences of perseverance and the importance of vision and a clear “why” to motivate them during difficult times.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of celebrating successes and recognising that failure can often be a stepping stone to greater success.

What we discussed

·       How to deal with change that snatches us out of our comfort zone

·       How to overcome the fear that stops us following our dreams

·       How to create a clear vision of the future and belief that we can make it

·       How no one is coming to save us and we must dig deep when we are stuck

·       How to stay on track and never give up despite the obstacles and setbacks

·       How hardship and pain is part of the journey and path to triumph

·       How in the end it is up to us to decide and no one can take the journey for us

Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube

Connect with Jane Gunn: Website |LinkedIn |X/Twitter

The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring

The Mole and the Mountain

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Andy Lopata Author, Podcast Host and Speaker on Professional Relationships Strategy

Andy Lopata is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking, and social media strategy. He is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in business, our roles, and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, innovation, and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us.

Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, and the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE, among many others during that time. He has also worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University, and Oxford University’s Said Business School.

A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times, and The Guardian, as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," being published in Spring 2024. He is also the host of The Connected Leadership Podcast and has interviewed globally recognized names in business, academia, sports, and entertainment for the show.

Andy has been inducted into the PSAE Hall of Fame – the Professional Speaking Association Award of Excellence, which was held by only 21 other speakers at the time it was presented. He is a Fellow and a former President of the Fellows’ Community of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA), a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), and a Member of the Association of Business Mentors and the Meetings Industry Association.