Judit Nagy

I met one of the happiest people in the world
There are talks, presentations, reports, meetings that you just get thrown into, like showing up somewhere without a clue what's going on. In these situations, it's really common for the speaker to feel completely lost, because they have no idea how to make the topic clear and enjoyable, especially if the audience isn't made up of experts.

That's usually when I ask: "What is it about this topic that you actually find exciting, appealing, or even lovable?" And a lot of the time, the answer I get is: "Nothing." 😜
Then my clients and I set off on a journey to dig up their stories. We keep digging until we find that one thing that gets them fired up, that brings them joy, and that somehow connects to what they're presenting.

Why does this matter so much? Because of connection.
Connection to:
- yourself,
- the topic,
- the audience.

So how does all this tie back to one of the happiest people in the world?

I met Des Byrne, an 85-year-old silversmith, at the Kilkenny Handwrought Silver workshop near Kilkenny Castle. The shop was already closing, but the moment he spotted us, he threw his arms wide open and waved us into his little shop, glittering with silver.

This slightly hunched, white-haired, thin craftsman had a kind of joy on his face I'd never seen before. His eyes were smiling the whole time he told us how, for 68 years, he's shown up at his workshop every single day, showing us a photo of his most memorable piece, a silver cup weighing over 8.5 kilos, one of the most important trophies in Irish Gaelic football, and showing us his tools.

If everyone felt this happy about what they do, the world would be a much more lovable place. And that starts even with something as simple as looking forward to your next speech or presentation with genuine excitement.

Find the story that lights you up. That's one of the keys to connecting with your topic and with your audience.

Because communication is, at its core, a connection born out of emotion, it happens when it's a joy to listen to you. That's how you become unforgettable, just like the silversmith Des Byrne became unforgettable in my life.
He captivated me so much that I didn't even take a selfie with him. But you know what the truly unforgettable people stay with you anyway. Their face stays with you forever.

Photo: Kilkenny Castle Yard / kilkennydesign.com

I have a similar experience regarding the summer mode of the job market, just as Breanna Schaefer-O'Reilly describes in her post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7473722743100784641/
☀️ Although traffic on the streets has decreased, there is more movement in the job market, even during the summer months. Right now, I am helping several clients prepare for their upcoming job interviews. 💼
During interviews, a question almost always comes up that assesses your past experience and asks you to share a story related to a specific situation.
Here is a little help on how to build this story effectively with the STAR model:
1️⃣ Situation: A brief outline of the context. What exactly happened, where, and when?
2️⃣ Task: What was the specific challenge or goal? What needed to be solved?
3️⃣ Action: This is the most important and longest part. What exactly did you do? What steps did you take? What was your thought process? The focus here is on "I" and not on the team.
4️⃣ Result: What was the outcome? If possible, use numbers, data, or share the positive feedback you received. Also, talk about what you learned from the case.
Let's share experiences: What unexpected question have you received in a job interview? How did you react to it? 👇

☀️ I know a lot of people shy away from their job search during the summer months because legend has it, Luxembourg goes quiet! 🙈 Looking at the last years in recruitment in Luxembourg, the summer… | Breanna Schaefer-O'Reilly ☀️ I know a lot of people shy away from their job search during the summer months because legend has it, Luxembourg goes quiet! 🙈 Looking at the last years in recruitment in Luxembourg, the summer months have been our busiest periods. So while some step out, or take a break from their searche...

💡 Efficiency starts with the quality of human connections. For everything else, there is AI.

This is one of the key takeaways for me from the professional workshops I attended last week. When we were working on a task with a multicultural team, I was confronted with everyday reality. We had to collect our needs in relationships, neighborhood, and workplace situations. What is a basic need for me in a workplace, such as connection and empathy, was not important to the other person. A question kept growing louder inside me: "Without these, how can respectful communication happen?"

In a diverse environment, we often put people into boxes out of reflex and treat our own assumptions as facts. This leads to misunderstandings, missed deadlines, and an endless number of extra meetings. We need to be careful, because in a diverse environment, phrases like "I will look into it" or "that sounds like a good idea" do not necessarily mean yes or agreement.

AI will not reduce the number of your meetings if you only listen to the words. Real efficiency requires real connection with a conscious presence:

🔍 Look behind the scenes: Pay attention to nonverbal signs, facial expressions, changes in speech pace or volume. Stick to the facts and avoid personal interpretations!
❓ Stop guessing: Do not try to read minds, ask clarifying questions instead!
🌐 Switch to active listening: Let go of the pressure to conform, strive for true understanding instead, and separate your own feelings from those of the other person!

Thank you for the entertaining and inspiring workshops to Zsuzsanna Karsai and the Positive Psychology Luxembourg team (Nonviolent Communication), and to Kasia Vox at The Network's event (Every Voice Matters)! 🙏

The Price of Your Truth: When Leadership Blindness Costs Millions 💸
“The whole project is delayed because the other department missed the deadline!” Sound familiar? When a colleague complains, it is very easy to fall into the narrative: “They are the problem again.”
If we take this at face value without verifying it, the real source of the mistake remains hidden. This is expensive: the root problem is not solved, only a quick crisis management happens, and everything continues just the same.
To see the real facts, you need to step up how you listen. In his audiobook “Speak with Impact”, Andrew Collins explains that the depth of your attention determines your impact. If you listen well, you can uncover the real causes and avoid further losses and stress.
He defines three levels of listening:
👂 Level 1: Internal Listening – You are only in your own head, thinking about how this affects you or how to protect your team. This is the breeding ground for bias.
👂 Level 2: Focused Listening – You focus only on the plain, filtered words. You uncritically believe their story because it sounds logical, or you rely on past experiences.
👂 Level 3: Global Listening – “Listening for what is not said”. You stay completely neutral. You look at the whole picture, hear the tension, the helplessness, and the silence. You let go of your own truth to see reality.
Your attitude becomes open and seeks understanding. Next time someone presents a situation as a final fact, do not hop on the emotional train. Look behind the story without bias and ask: “What was exactly the point where the original deadline slipped?”
This question is "Turning attention into power"—it breaks through the bias and protects you from leadership blindness. You are gathering information, not looking for a bűnbak. Rely on facts, not on interpretation.
Which level are you listening at today? What can you do to be capable of reaching the Global Listening level?

“I am alive. I tasted the word... I only focused on the lack, the lack of my voice, and not on my possibilities.”
Nine years ago, on a beautiful sunny day, I was signing copies of my book, Awakenings. Today, sitting in a cloudy country, I needed to remind myself to focus on what IS.
It wasn’t an easy journey. But losing my voice—and fighting to find it again—is exactly what led me to become the voice, speech, and communication coach I am today.
This personal struggle and rebirth allow me to truly understand and support my clients when they face the inner thoughts and emotions that hide their own potential. Every single battle is a stepping stone toward our next rebirth. 🌱
✨ When things get cloudy, how do you shift your focus from what’s missing to what’s possible? Share your thoughts below!


„Élek. Ízlelgettem a szót... Csak a hiányra koncentráltam, a hangom hiányára, és nem a lehetőségeimre.”
Kilenc éve egy napsütéses napon dedikáltam az Ébredéseim című könyvemet. Ma, egy felhős országban ülve újraolvastam ezeket a sorokat, hogy emlékeztessem magam: legyen szemem arra, ami VAN.
Nem volt könnyű út. De pontosan az, hogy elveszítettem a hangom, majd megküzdöttem a visszaszerzésével, indított el ezen a pályán. Ez a személyes trauma és újjászületés formált azzá a hang-, beszéd- és kommunikációs coachcsá, aki ma vagyok.
Ezt az élmény is benne van abban, ahogyan az ügyfeleimmel dolgozom, amikor a saját hitpróbáikkal és korlátozó gondolataikkal néznek szembe. Mert minden egyes megküzdés egy építőköve a következő újjászületésnek. 🌱
✨ Neked mi segít a nehéz napokon, hogy a hiány helyett a lehetőségekre figyelj? Írd meg kommentben!
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