Monday Meditation: Nouns vs. Verbs

In a recent session with one of my executive coaching clients, we explored the difference between nouns and verbs—especially in the world of leadership.

Nouns are the titles: CEO, Head of Marketing, Advisor.

Verbs are the actions: leading, creating, advising.

This client made a courageous decision:

To step down from the C-Suite—not to step back from leadership, but to step closer to the heart of his work.

In the C-Suite, he was an Advisor—a role that often meant overseeing others from a distance.

Now, he’s returned to the practice of advising—meeting people where they are, with presence and purpose.

No title to uphold.

No agenda to protect.

Just the freedom to speak his truth—unburdened by a role that dictates what can and cannot be said.

No power dynamics. No ulterior motives. Just real connection.

He no longer wanted to hold the noun.

He wanted to live the verb.

Today, I listened to Dr. Zach Bush speak to something strikingly similar:

“We have set this world up for dis-ease by convincing you you’re a whole bunch of identities outside of yourself.

You’re a son, a father, a mother, an employer, an employee, a boss...

The more altruistic those titles get, the more likely they are to diverge you from self.

For me, that was the title ‘Doctor.’

The whole world wanted to make me feel like that was the most important thing I had accomplished.

And this is what gave me value in society.

But it’s not the thing. It’s not me.

I’m something bigger than that.

I am something more true than a compilation of somebody else’s curriculum and some doctor’s title.

And when you find that original vibration of this is me, you become very potent.”

So tonight, I offer you this inquiry:

✨ Am I hiding behind a noun?

✨ Or am I vibrantly being the verb?

If you’re ready to explore what it means to lead, live, and connect from that deeper place—DM me.

Let’s see what we can create together.

With Love,

Gillian