How to Keep Showing Up When You’re Not Feeling It - #WWG05
Sustaining Global Work Through Systems, Strategy, and Self-Compassion
In this edition...
Navigating global transitions during season breaks
5 practices for keeping momentum
The hidden cost of global work
Reflections from my mentorship calls
A question for global professionals
The Edition That Almost Didn’t Happen
This edition almost didn’t happen.
Not because I didn’t have a plan—I did. The topics were ready, the ideas mapped out.
But last week, I boarded a 36+ hour journey from Qatar back to Brazil, crossing four countries and more than ten time zones. The fatigue hit differently this time—long flights, shifting schedules, disrupted sleep.
But this is part of the reality of global work.
You can’t always control the conditions. What you can control is how you show up.
Thanks to the systems I’ve built over my career, I can stay consistent—even when I’m running on low. This edition is a reflection of that: a practice in showing up.
(you might be late, but never lost!)
5 Practices for Sustaining Momentum in Global Work
1. Prioritise Systems Over Motivation
Motivation fluctuates; systems endure. Establishing routines and frameworks ensures consistency, even when enthusiasm wanes.
(I have a strict calendar system that I plan to share in the future with you!)
2. Recognise Rest as a Strategic Tool
Rest isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. Incorporating rest into your schedule enhances productivity and creativity.
(I synchronise my rest period with the waning moon: never go heavy on the workload during that week is a saver!)
3. Embrace Incremental Progress
Small, consistent actions accumulate over time. Focus on manageable tasks to maintain momentum.
(Sometimes it’s about understanding: what’s the bare minimum I can handle even when sleep-deprived?)
4. Align Visibility with Authenticity
True impact stems from authentic engagement, not just widespread visibility. Prioritise meaningful connections over metrics.
(Don't ever get anxious for metrics! In our industry all you need sometimes is 1 person to support you - and more often than not just a small bunch is enough to change the world!)
5. Honour the Quiet Phases
Not every period will be high-output. Embrace quieter times as opportunities for reflection and growth.
(Season break is called “break” for a reason! And we ALL need it.)
Field Notes on Resilience
Resilience is not a word for me.
It’s the weight I carry on my body after 36 hours of travel—Qatar, Egypt, Brazil—chasing flights, running through terminals, breathing in airports, translating across time zones, currencies, and expectations.
Resilience is the ache in my lower back after 18-hour days, no breaks, no family, no safety net.
It’s the sound of a language I don’t speak filling the room, and knowing I still have to lead.
Resilience is crossing borders as an immigrant, an ethnic minority, an Indigenous woman from the dry lands of Paraíba and the deserts of the Arab world.
It’s carrying the silence of those who were told they didn’t belong.
It’s not about showing up—it’s about staying.
Staying when your body is tired.
Staying when the system is not built for you.
Staying because leaving is not an option.
This is what I’m learning.
And it’s not theory.
It’s the price of paving the way. And the cost of working in this field.
Mentorship Across Borders
Over the past two to three weeks, I’ve been holding 30-minute mentorship calls with young professionals who reached out to me on LinkedIn—each from a different part of the world, each navigating their own journey into global events.
🌍 Arham Khalid – from India, based in Qatar, now doing her Masters in the US
🌍 Zhaoyang Sun – from China, part of the OBS legacy during the Beijing Olympics
🌍 Pep Reyes Arriagada – from Chile, part of the Santiago 2023 legacy
These conversations remind me why I do this work: to build bridges, to open doors, to help others find their way. (And to actually LEAD the way!)
Because someone once opened the door for me, and I believe in passing that forward.
If you’re early in your career and want to connect, reach out. I’ll keep hosting these calls as soon as my new time zone allows.
A Question for Global Professionals
How do you keep your house in order—your systems, your work, your people—when you’re always preparing for the next big trip?
Who This Is For
We Work the Globe is a platform for:
Creatives navigating cross-cultural markets
Founders building across regions
Professionals living between worlds
Institutions investing in cultural infrastructure
If you’re building something borderless, with values at the center—you’re not alone.
Call for Volunteers: FIFA Arab Cup 2025
If you’ve been following my work, I highly recommend applying for the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Volunteer Program.
The Arab Cup is more than a tournament—it’s a space where football brings nations together, where Arab identity is celebrated through sport, and where young professionals can be part of something bigger than themselves.
Volunteering is a chance to belong to a legacy, to learn, to connect—and to shape the future of global events from the ground up.
And that is for those starting or retiring: volunteering is for everyone!
Apply here → FIFA Arab Cup Volunteer Program
I’ll be there too—inshallah—let’s meet on the ground and build this together!
Final Thoughts
The sports season is slowing down.
For most, it’s a pause in the calendar.
For me, it’s a pause in the body.
After the long flights, the back-to-back calls, the hours spent building systems so others can shine—it’s a reminder that this work takes more than strategy. It takes stamina.
Resilience isn’t just showing up for the opening match. It’s having the systems in place so you can lead after the season ends—when the cameras are gone, when the stadiums are empty, and when it’s time to rebuild for what’s next.
💬 What will you do in your season break? Rest, reset—or jump into another project?
Whatever you do: make sure to keep coming back here every 2 weeks.