Dec. 17, 2025 - How I’m Starting to Build My Own Expedition Team - One Small Step at a Time
For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing something I often ask my clients to do:
I’ve been taking a deeper look at one of my own goals - and the support I need to move toward it.
And I’ll be honest… even as a coach, even with all my tools and experience, I found myself in a familiar place:
the comfort zone - helpful enough to get me here, but not enough to get me where I want to go next!
Maybe you’ve felt that too?
Standing on the edge of the next chapter, knowing something needs to shift… but unsure where to begin.
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Today, I want to share the gentle, imaginative process I used in my recent Coaching-Infused Conversation Live - the same process I am using myself right now!
As you read, I invite you to pause, breathe, and reflect along the way.
This isn’t just my story. It might also be yours! 🌿
Seeing My Goal as an Expedition
One of my current goals is to expand my workshops and conversations beyond the platforms where I already feel at home.
I want to reach more people, refine my style, and deepen the impact these sessions can have.
To explore this goal differently, I imagined it as an expedition.
Not a stressful one - but a meaningful journey.
For me, the image that came to mind was this:
An expedition to draw a map (a path from one insight to the next) so others can follow it when they need it.
✨ Your turn:
Before reading on, take a moment.
If your own goal were an expedition, what would it look like?
A climb? A voyage? A discovery? A trail through unknown terrain?
Let the first image that comes up be enough.
Who I Imagined Thanking at the Finish Line
Then I pictured myself completing the expedition - having built the workshop flow I dream of, sharing it widely, feeling proud of the clarity and impact.
And I asked myself:
Who would I thank for helping me get there?
Three figures appeared almost instantly:
- The Map Drawer: an expert who helps me shape the flow of my workshops so they’re more effective and impactful.
- The Guide: someone who helps me see what’s hidden, like a coach who challenges my thinking and supports my growth.
- The Companion: a friend or supporter who walks beside me, keeping me steady and reminding me I’m not alone.
✨ Your turn:
If you imagine your own expedition completed…
Who would you thank?
Don’t overthink it - vague is perfect at this stage!
My Present Expedition Team - and the Discomfort I Noticed
Then I shifted back to the present.
Who’s already with me now?
Here’s who I realised is already on my expedition team:
- A few close friends who support me, even if they don’t fully understand what I do
- Coaches who help me explore deeper layers and spot blind spots
- And a lot of “theory” (articles, podcasts, mini-courses about designing workshops)!
And while all of this has helped me so far… I noticed something important:
I’ve reached a plateau.
I’m comfortable.
And comfort isn’t what will carry me into the next chapter!
✨ Your turn:
Who (or what) is already part of your expedition team?
And how do you feel about your current situation?
This question alone can shift so much!!!
The One Team Member I Want to Add / Replace First
With the future and the present in mind, I asked:
Who do I want to add (or replace) first?
For me, the answer was immediate:
👉 An expert – to replace all this “theory”!
Someone who can help me improve the flow and impact of my workshops in a structured, intentional way.
✨ Your turn:
If you could add or replace just one person or type of support…
Who comes to mind first?
Three Actions I Could Take in the Future
Once that was clear, I brainstormed three actions I could potentially take - without worrying about readiness or timing:
- Hire a consultant to help design the workshop structure
- Get specialized training in workshop development
- Use AI to explore what makes workshops effective while keeping my voice intact
✨ Your turn:
What are three possible actions you could take sometime in the future?
Let your ideas wander - possibilities are all you need right now!
The Action I’m Starting With - and the Step I’m Taking Today
Out of my three options, I chose to start with the most approachable:
👉 Using AI.
It’s accessible, immediate, and something I can play with without pressure.
But choosing an action is different from starting it!
So I asked myself:
What can I do TODAY?
Here’s my honest answer:
- If I have 30 minutes: take a coffee break and start exploring with AI.
- If I don’t: schedule the half hour for later.
- If I’m overwhelmed: set a simple reminder on my phone.
That’s it.
A small step - but a real one!
✨ Your turn:
Pick one of your actions.
What is the smallest thing you can do today?
Even 2 minutes counts.
Imagining What Happens Next
When I imagine myself taking that small step, I feel something shift - gently, quietly.
It’s like a door opening just a little.
Possibility begins to move.
Then I imagine taking these small actions weekly…
Then a bit more often…
Until momentum forms, and my expedition team starts taking shape!
✨ Your turn:
What will change for you if you keep taking small steps?
And what will it cost you if nothing changes?
This is where self-leadership begins!
The Quiet Power of Reflection and Self-Leadership
This simple process - imagining, noticing, choosing, and acting - is how we move from feeling stuck to feeling capable.
It’s how we build our expedition teams.
It’s how we create our next chapter.
It’s how we lead ourselves forward.
And you don’t have to do it alone!
Want to keep building your expedition team?
Here are a few ways to stay connected:
📝 Gentle weekly reflection: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for calm, thoughtful insights each week.
💬 Experience a Coaching-Infused Conversation: Join an upcoming event and walk away with your own small step.
☕ Curious what support could look like for you?: Schedule a call with me to explore how I could help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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Christelle Soto-Suarez is a Self-Leadership Awakener and founder of Pistachio-Cassis Coaching, helping thoughtful mid-level professionals move from feeling quietly stuck to leading their life and career with clarity, confidence, and calm.
Learn more at Pistachio-Cassis Coaching.
