In 2017 we lost our home to a devastating fire, followed by the hospitalization of my Mom due to complications from chemo treatment. After losing our home, cars and all of our belongings, the realization of losing the most important woman in my life nearly crushed me. I had hit a personal low. And when I thought things couldn’t get worse, my professional life took a left turn.
I was faced with obstacles at work that I wasn’t sure I could get past. For the first time in my career, I wanted to quit, legitimately walk away; I was burned out. Everyone has their limits and I felt that I had hit mine. The idea of having limits upset me, let alone the feeling that I had hit this invisible line that I couldn’t get past. I had an unexpected visceral reaction, in fact, and I hated myself for that. For allowing a circumstance, person or change to have that effect on me. To make me feel emotional about what should be logical. To make me lose sight of what I had worked so hard to accomplish. And yet, juxtaposed to that was this passion I felt for the work I was doing, the love I have for my job and so many exceptional people I’m privileged to work with each day.
After several months of reflecting on the “why” I rang in the New Year and a new resolve to take control again. If you want something you have to set your own course because no one else will do it for you, nor should they. You have to make the choice to have an impact, to challenge yourself and to do things & interact with people in a meaningful way. I don’t just want to be a game changer, I want to be a game maker. That requires owning up to your strengths and weaknesses, being self aware and finding that fearless person that’s been on hiatus. So to anyone out there that needs to be reminded, you are SMART, CAPABLE & STRONG. Don’t make excuses, make the rules.