My story began with my own journey to discover me!!
It sounds like such a simplistic statement, but true. I could say my career started over 23 years ago when I graduated University with a degree in Psychology from McGill University and started my first job as a Human Resources Coordinator. I could say it started after I graduated with a Masters of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, or my HR Certification and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation. In fact, that is how I would have said my story began until I stepped away from my corporate career and became an entrepreneur. That is when I started to take an inward journey and my real story began!
Over the years I found my strengths to be relating and connecting with leaders and helping them build their teams. I used tools and systems to identify the strengths within individuals, teams, and organizations. I strategized with leaders to develop plans for improvement. However, this was only a portion of my job responsibilities and often the more urgent business operations resulted in my time and energy being focused elsewhere. Slowly like a frog in a pot of water with the heat gradually being turned up, I began to slowly die. Stress, frustration and unhappiness became my new normal and I didn't even realize it until it started to affect my health. Then like the frog and feeling I had only 1 chance to survive, and I jumped out of the pot of boiling water. I left what I considered a successful corporate job because it was not worth losing my health.
I started the inner journey to discover my strengths and get clear on my purpose. I used the same tools I had used for years to help others uncover their strengths, build their confidence in their abilities and easily express it to others. I quickly became aware of the courage required to take my career in a different direction and the fear of the unknown. I had been working in a certain way for so long forcing myself to perform to the best of my abilities whether I liked the job responsibilities or not, I didn't even know any longer what work I enjoyed doing. I was rushing through life and unconsciously performing my job to the point of burnt out and exhaustion whether I liked it or not.
Once I allowed myself to consider the possibility that I could change and choose my work consciously, my talents became more clear but the fear of trying something new was still there. Fear and uncertainty arises whether the change is positive or negative and results in the same neurochemical reactions in the brain. Whether the change is becoming an entrepreneur, changing jobs or changing responsibilities within the same company, the fear of change will always surface. This biological reaction to fear is what prevents many people from consciously creating the life they want.
I started using systems to manage the fear and focused on leveraging my strengths. I moved into a happier version of myself which is more aligned to my natural talents. Now as a Human Resources Consultant and Change Aftermath Expert I can share these systems with others. I help business owners build strong teams through uncertainty and changing conditions. When people understand their natural strengths and how to leverage them, individual and team performance increases. Average performers turn into leaders of their own lives...
Who knew reinventing yourself could be so much fun?