My career curveball came by way of a gigantic shift away
from my true self and sent me reeling until I found my way back to what I know
to be my purpose in life, which is the same as your purpose - to be 100% fully
ME, or in your case, YOU, in the world.
How I shifted away from my true self was simple. I jumped
off my ship onto another ship headed towards someone else’s dream and thought I
could make it work for both of us. It didn’t.
Prior to my love-blind decision to navigate a different
channel, I had approached my first real job that had any significance in the
world with undying dedication to the leadership role I played. As Manager of People Growth - aka Mom -
I successfully honed, implemented and trained the skills of active listening,
interpersonal relationship building, talent-planning processes, strong
interpersonal discourse, performance management, teamwork skills, and
strategies for growth.
I was lead influencer and my approach to this role as a
coach rather than dictator came naturally to me as I created a culture that
allowed for the team members’ individual creativity, strengths, personalities
and passions to guide them to peak performance and continued success while
maintaining a cohesive team culture.
As there are no procedure manuals, training programs,
leadership development workshops, 360-degree feedback performance evaluations
or merit raises in the organization called family, I learned my coaching skills
through trial and error, observation, self-awareness and research of the best
influencing methods for humanity and success. Basically it was a crapshoot for the
first 25 years as I formulated my coaching program until I could see the
results through those I influenced as they became successful independent
contributing members of society…and I still have my fingers crossed.
But, I loved my job and despite my doubts while I was in it,
it turns out that I was really good at it.
I also coached sports teams because of my need to get my fix
in seeing others shine. It was what I did. I coached. And the more others reached their peak
performance, the more I knew I was reaching mine and I was happy.
Then there was a curveball. An opportunity to open a small
business presented itself via a conversation, a little research, some
collaboration and someone else’s dream. It seemed perfect. This new career had
found me. I loved the product. I had the skill. It was basically being handed
to me on a silver platter. Besides, I would only stay in it for a few years to
get it up and running, then the person whose dream it was, could take over and
I would pursue my own dreams.
Or so I thought.
The thing was I knew that I didn’t want this career, but I
thought the opportunity was too good to pass up so I jumped - with both feet - but
I missed the lifeboat and landed in the swirling sea.
I opened the business in 2007. We all know what happened to
the economy during the next few years and as much as I would love to blame the recession
on our doors closing, I can say with 100% certainty that the economy was only part
of our business’s demise. The true underlying virus that led to our death was
that I thought I could live someone else’s dream but I couldn’t.
Once I came to my senses and realized I was miserable and
underperforming, I dove into a quest to find success, fulfillment and abundance
in life. Through an incredible exploratory journey, I landed right where I had
started only in a different capacity. This time, I had the official title of
Certified Life Coach.
My path was right in front of me the whole time. Lighting up
my heart whenever someone I had influenced experienced success. Not the big
success as defined by society, but the small successes that build up to the big
success. The ones that put a smile on your face because you know you did
something that challenged you, but it felt so easy to push through, even though
it was so hard, because what drove you was the love of where you were going and
what you were experiencing.
It was the journey that you chose, the path that you
defined, the life that you carved from leading with your
heart.
It was that kind
of success. And as much as I knew I loved helping others achieve it, I finally realized
that I had it too.
Have you taken the time to intentionally navigate your journey to get to where you can truly shine? I would love to hear your stories! Let's inspire each other!
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