A Decade
I remember turning ten years old so clearly. It was my first milestone
birthday, and I looked forward to it for a long time. A full decade old! Double digits! Somehow, crossing that threshold seemed like it would change everything…
Recently, while engaging in the endless game of calendar Tetris, I came
across a little reminder: AC Anniversary (2014), reminding me of the first day I went to work as a consultant. The memories of my excitement about my tenth birthday were revived as I realized I was approaching the end of a decade in my new profession!
There’s something so significant about a decade. Much like when I turned ten years old, I feel, in my work, the sense of entering a new phase. This
anniversary coincides with my being much busier with not just more work, but more diverse and interesting work, with projects booking out farther and farther. But I know it is no coincidence.
It’s not the “ten years” that makes it significant. It’s all I have accomplished
in that time. The mentors I’ve worked with. A master’s degree. Awards in
leadership. Certifications in coaching. Tools I’ve acquired and worn smooth with use. So many incredible clients and projects and collaborations. I want to share the highlights for which I am most grateful over the past ten years:
- My apprenticeship with Alexander Carrillo Consulting: I would certainly not be where I am today if I had not been adopted by the incredible Laura Alexander and Jenny Carrillo, who let me make myself useful as I learned by watching and assisting them in their work. While it is a common practice in the circus, it is unusual in the business world, and I am forever grateful they opened their doors to me. They took me in at a time when I had lost confidence in myself as a leader and helped me discover new avenues to stretch my talents.
- Strengths: My experience in Greater Tucson Leadership was
transformational in many ways, but taking the Clifton StrengthsFinder
Assessment at the beginning was nothing short of life-altering and
helped me find my calling. My job today is built around my talents, and
I can personally attest to the engagement and well-being that result from using your strengths every day. - My Degree: I was shocked by how motivated I was to do well in my
classes. I had never been a particularly engaged student, but studying something relevant and interesting flipped a switch in my brain. I graduated with honors, and the experience of realizing that I had
already done a practical master’s in the field during my circus days
was incredibly valuable! While I learned a lot, the most important
lesson was learning to trust my instincts regarding organizational
development. - And, of course, Ringmaster: Learning to embrace the idea that my circus background was relevant to people in the “real world” was no
easy feat. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent writing a whole
philosophy about it, which never saw the light of day! But, thanks to so
much encouragement from my creative advisor, I wrestled with it until I could authentically embrace it and, in the process, myself.
So, to all the incredible people who helped shape my experience as a coach
and consultant, I want to say thank you. Thank you for trusting me, for
challenging me, and for exposing me to new ideas and processes and
industries and people. Every day I am grateful to get to do the work I love
with people who inspire me. And I am ready and eager for the challenges
and growth that await in the next ten years.
