What helped me to make my biggest career leap ever
After a 13-year communications career at GSK spanning two continents and many different roles, I've finally decided it is time for my next chapter. During my last few weeks, many people commented: “You look so happy for someone leaving a job.” That’s because I could barely contain my excitement about what was next. I write this as I finish up week one as owner/founder/CEO of my own consulting business, SJS Communications.
Having the courage to take the leap didn’t happen overnight and I still have slightly panicky moments. But, over the past 12 months, I have been lucky to be coached, mentored and inspired by family, work colleagues, friends and the many professional connections I have made over the years. So many of those interactions, sage words of advice and unending encouragement have led me to where I am today.
This moment feels right to reflect on some things that helped me to ultimately make my decision.
If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.
One person I reconnected with along the way is Tracy Pawelski, an old colleague from the 1990’s. It was a chance meeting and turns out she had travelled (literally) a very similar journey to me and written a book about it. She sent me on my way with my very own signed copy. I devoured it. So many things in her book resonated with me, but the idea of following your dreams even if they scare the absolute hell out of you struck me. Starting my own business had been an idea for a while but the certainty of a steady paycheck was so comforting that it took quite a lot of soul searching and external validation to convince myself that I could do so much more with my talents. Once I realized that, then my idea started to become a dream. There is something incredibly liberating, empowering and life-affirming about pursuing something you really want. And, what was originally going to be a few months of “get up and running” has immediately turned into something I never quite imagined - working with actual clients and meeting with potential new ones.
Do what you love.
I loved so many aspects of the work I have done in communications over the years but in deciding what was next, I wanted to try to keep all those things I loved and eliminate as many of the things that depleted my energy and demotivated me. I wanted more varied work and more flexibility to decide where I focused my time. Less bureaucracy, and a more entrepreneurial, quick paced, get it done environment. Who I worked with or for mattered. In the spirit of the All Blacks rugby team: No dickheads. I said no along the way, withdrawing myself from job searches when my gut said it wasn’t the right fit. I even made the gut-wrenching decision to say no to a dream job offer when the timing wasn’t right for our family. I had heard an inspiring speech by Marla McDermott, a "manifestation master" (subject for another post) at a networking event in Philadelphia hosted by the group she founded, The Walnut Club. She said that when things don’t go the way you want, just say to yourself: “Well that thing happened, but I can’t wait to see what happens next as a result.” What happened next for me is that after a weekend of feeling bad for myself, I ended up negotiating a consulting agreement with that company and my dream of starting my own business was one step closer to reality.
You’re not perfect, and that’s okay.
When I first started taking more senior roles in my career, I thought being a great leader was about always having the perfect solution or the right answer. I actually came to realize that great leaders are those who recognize the strengths of their team and colleagues around them and learn to trust those people. It’s OK not to have all the answers and to admit that you don’t know. I learned to try my best to let go of my insecurities, that I am not perfect, and most people don’t expect me to be. I tried to hire and surround myself with smart people who could bring different perspectives to the challenges we faced. I started saying a simple "I'm sorry" when I screwed up, and then tried not to beat myself up too much.
Focus on what you’re great at and trust your gut, you know more than you think you do. Don’t look back, only forward. Go kick ass and follow your dreams.
I don’t know what the future will bring with this new adventure. Each day feels like a new challenge and I don’t always have the answer.
I am building everything on my own from the bottom up. But I keep reminding myself of a few pieces of advice from that wise group of people who have supported me along the way: Focus on what you’re great at and trust your gut, you know more than you think you do. Don’t look back, only forward. Go kick ass and follow your dreams.