I read a lot. I believe it’s the way I keep my sanity. I listen or physically read books to hear different perspectives on leadership characteristics and to learn about the leader I want to become. I never want to stop learning and growing.
In 2016, I came to a crossroads in my career. I had been laid off as a Director of Marketing with a financial services organization. A little over 2000 people were laid off that day and I was imaging the pain my colleagues were feeling. Some being thrust into the workforce for the first time in decades and some, like me, never knowing another industry other than insurance and finance.
I had been a business owner, a manager, a mentor and I was left with a decision to learn another industry, take time off, or seek a position (the same positions my colleagues would be applying for). I chose to examine myself as a leader, and really seek to understand what I wanted.
I read several books and this one, The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann, still sticks with me today. It is a story of a young man who is seeking success and is given the opportunity to learn a powerful lesson in giving. The message resonated with me so much that I wrote down a few things I would not compromise in my career. People and relationships are at the top of that list.
- People and Relationships: Woody Hayes quote comes to mind here “You WIN with People”. This message is powerful and one idea that I have found has helped me progress in my career. Ultimately, my goal as a leader is to see others succeeding and surpassing my career goals. I am not always the smartest or most talented in the room, I just surround myself with individuals that I will continue to learn from. People are the number one asset in any organization and the way you treat them, teach them, and learn from them can be linked directly to the success of an organization.
- Integrity: “A habit of conviction means doing what is right instead of doing what is easy.” Brad Lomenick, H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle. Having and maintaining integrity is not easy, so often the choice to compromise can be placed in front of you, from speeding (just go 45 in a 35…no one will know or care) to logging time incorrectly on a time card. One mishap can lead to another and then another. Knowing what you value and verbalizing it will lead to uncompromising integrity, even when you are placed in the toughest of situations.
- Myself and Family: Early in my career as a business owner, I struggled with spending and investing time in my business or with my family. “But until a person can say deeply and honestly, “I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday,” that person cannot say, “I choose otherwise.” Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
There was a huge amount of recognition that came from success and being the best. I received many rewards and had many firsts. What I learned in the process was that the “job” while providing accolades and recognition in both the industry and organization I represented, it came at a cost of time spent with family.
I was and became my agency and my business. I lost myself. I lost the character of my conviction, I became obsessed with being the best and fell in love with money and things. I thought that if I worked harder with longer hours now that I could stop and spend time with those I loved later. What actually happened was illness, divorce, and major financial struggles. I eventually made a change, sold my business and moved to a new town with my two children. “Sometimes we have to see what we don’t want, to know what we do want.” Jon Gordon, The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy.
I needed to redefine success, success in family, which leads to number 4. Faith and Positivity.
- Faith and Positivity: I derive a lot of energy from my faith and through prayer and self-reflection. My positivity comes from knowing that whatever life throws at me, it can’t be worse than what I have already been though. If it is, I will never be alone in my struggle and later, I will have a story to share.
“Every problem has a gift for you in its hands as my man Richard Bach says. You can choose to see the curse or the gift. And this one choice will determine if your life is a success story or one big soap opera.”- Jon Gordon (The Energy Bus)
These four principles have served me well and I revisit them and my goals often to maintain perspective.
I am happily remarried to my best friend, my children are now grown. I spend time with my family every chance I get. My son is in the U.S. Air Force and my daughter is currently attending college. I have never regretted the decision I made over 10 years ago, to focus on them and their future.
I am currently enrolled in an MBA, Leadership program and decided to take a chance and learn a new industry; the science and chemical data solutions business, for which I have been a part of for almost 3 years now. Going from a B2C industry and gaining additional wisdom in marketing to the B2B industry has been both rewarding and stimulating.
I surround myself with positive people and love to learn “leadership” from the perspective of others in multiple industries. I keep my 5 year goal in mind and make strides to complete one task each year to help in achieving that goal, without compromising my values.
I will end this post with my vision statement below.
By 2023, I will be a master of receiving and giving feedback well. I will seek out opportunities for growth that will develop me into a great leader and writer. I will be a leader that works to develop others and will be generous in giving. I will have a career that helps me stay true to my values and allows me to remain positive on purpose.
I want my actions to honor God and always make decisions personally and professionally with Christ in mind.
Today, I am taking the first step to achieve this vision.
Thank you for visiting.
-RoBo
Living Positive on Purpose 