“Pause” by Rachael O’Meara

Mary Olson-Menzel: What surprises did you discover while writing the book?

Rachael O’Meara: The biggest surprise was that writing a book is a lot of work! I knew I was taking on a lot, but I didn’t really expect it to take FIVE YEARS (from start to publishing date – that’s what it took). I think the message here is anything worth doing takes time. Investment in yourself, investment of your time, and investment in your idea. I did all of the above, and I thought it paid off and am happy with my final product, PAUSE the book.

Mary Olson-Menzel: If you could give leadership advice to a young adult coming out of college what would it be? Someone in mid-career? An executive or CEO?

Rachael O’Meara: To all: Don’t forget to pause!

Young Adult: I know you don’t have it all figured out. Keep asking a lot of questions. Share more of yourself. To be known is a good thing and being vulnerable, or sharing more about your authentic self, helps you form better relationships and people see you more clearly.

Mid-Career: What is your vision for yourself? Who do you want to become? Are you working harder, or smarter?

Executive/CEO: How do you engage in your own transformation, ongoing? Humans are designed to transform, so I’m wondering how you do that, and how does that help your organization transform?

Mary Olson-Menzel: What kind of changes and impact would you like your book to make?

Rachael O’Meara: Pause is a movement and a big idea, along with a little one. My vision is that Pause is the beginning of a global movement where people know it’s ok to slow down, pause, and intentionally shift their behavior. They don’t have to do the next thing people expect of them, but rather they can choose to pause, and align with what matters in the moment and go from there. It’s easy to live life on auto-pilot, but it’s more rewarding to live a life that is awake, alive, and engaged by aligning to your authentic self.

Mary Olson-Menzel: Who are the people outside of work who have inspired you the most?

Rachael O’Meara: A few people come to mind:

• Drs. Bob and Judith Wright at the Wright Foundation – Where I’ve studied for the past seven years and learned how to step into who I couldn’t have imagined I become. For always challenging the status quo and teaching me to do that.
• So many authors and speakers I’ve learned from: Oprah Winfrey and her Lifeclass, Gabby Bernstein, Dan Siegel, Rick Hanson, Sharon Salzberg, Dan Goleman, Marianne Williamson, Dave Eggers, Holly Payne my writing coach, my managers on the Google platforms team (all of them), my lab mates at Wright, my brother Drew, husband Sarab and my parents Dick, Candy and Dad.

Mary Olson-Menzel: What is the most courageous thing you have done in your life? Would you do it again?

Rachael O’Meara: Saying yes to my own personal transformation and investing in myself, over and over again.

I keep doing it again and again, so I suppose so!

I did jump off the New Zealand bungee bridge too and skydived out of a plane the next day – that felt pretty courageous and badass at the time!

Mary Olson-Menzel: If you could have dinner with any one person, past or present, who would that be and why?

Rachael O’Meara: I would host a dinner party of transformational leaders – Nelson Mandela would be my 1st invite, followed by Buckminster Fuller, MLK, Bono, Dave Grohl, Amelia Earhart and Mr. Rogers.

Mary Olson-Menzel: In your book you mention this state of existence where you are simply doing that – existing. You call it being a “sleeper”. Can you tell us a bit about this state? Is this a place that you continue to come back to in different times in your life that serves as a warning sign that you need to pause?

Rachael O’Meara: Sleepers are existing on auto-pilot, asleep to the world around them and what’s possible to shift or change. Your fixed-mindset is at the wheel as a sleeper, and it is far easier to be in this state versus consciously engaging in what could be different. I go back to this state when I am in a funk or feeling victimy, but I typically realize I’m in that place and then make the conscious choice to step out and intentionally shift my behavior (and pause).

Mary Olson-Menzel: Do you miss anything about living in New York?

Rachael O’Meara: I do! I miss the seasons and the late night get-anything-you-want-to-eat-and-or-drink at any time! I miss Central Park and the vibrancy I always feel there. I also miss the egg sandwiches and slices of pizza which is my favorite food group!

Mary Olson-Menzel: Can you offer any advice to the generation of young people in college and/or graduating from college about setting themselves up for success using the guidance you include in your book?

Rachael O’Meara: You don’t have to have everything all figured out. Pausing is a way of life, and a mindset. It’s ok to slow down. Taking daily pauses (I talk about many on the book) can be a way to be more present and authentic with yourself and others which can lead to feeling more alive, awake, and engaged.

Mary Olson-Menzel: How important have digital device pauses (DDPs) been to you as a form of pausing?

Rachael O’Meara: Very! DDPs are challenging knowing we check our phones on average 250 times a day, and watch approx 7-10 hours of content a week online. DDPs are helpful to disconnect so we can engage different parts of our brain for creative and sensory perception that help us to renew and refuel as we pause. It’s actually very important as we are the ones who must choose to step away from our devices, since technology is not going anywhere.

Mary Olson-Menzel: Your book was published in 2017. Since then, and without spoiling any follow up publications, have you discovered anything additional you find to be critical to harnessing the life-changing power of giving yourself a break? If yes, can you give us an example or two?

Rachael O’Meara: I think what has become clear to me since 2017 is that committing to pausing as a way of life can help me thrive. When I continue to pause, more doors continue to open for me (in my head and in the world!). This means I am as conscious and intentional as much and as often as possible. I can’t just pause once, or when I feel like it. An example is pausing this year is to return to grad school for a Master’s in Transformational Leadership. This may not be a conventional pause, but this is an intentional shift in behavior to be an expert in my field of emotional intelligence and transformation. Another example is committing to meditate ten minutes a day. Pausing is not easy. It’s always challenging my belief that I can BE.