Learning Authenticity.
- Jul 30, 2015
- 3 min read
AuthenticallyAmy. Seems catchy with its alliteration. But it's so much more than that. My story below is what pushed me to start this blog.
I had reached the ripe age of 30. I had my first child. Life was changing.
I had been at the same company for more than 10 years. I loved my job. I loved the people I worked with and the mission-oriented work I was doing. It felt good to make a difference at an organization that had changed my life when I was 18.
Pretty soon the difference I was making in this job didn't feel as good as it should. The office politics were getting to me and I wasn't seeing the best in myself anymore. I was also pregnant with my second child, and I knew that I needed to make a change.
It was time that I invested in myself. I was the only one that was going to fix this.
Through a friend, I had heard about a company called Integrity Integrated. I gave them a call, signed up for a Grow to be a CEO class.
It's not easy to sign-up for a class with that title. But, hey, this was a new adventure, and I knew that my career goals involved leading a team. If you can't believe in yourself, you can't expect others to do it for you.
I shaped my future with this decision.
For a year, I was challenged to asses my values and to question the kind of person that I want to be. I was provoked to think deeper and to be honest with myself. I learned about my personality and my leadership style. I learned that I needed people to energize me and that I had to set aside time to be inspired. I learned that getting involved in the community made me a better person, a better mom, a better wife and a better professional.
I gained confidence and a belief in myself that was real.
I spent many years thinking I wasn't smart enough to move forward, and that I was just lucky.
I wasn't lucky. I was hard-working, smart, creative and motivated. Those things pay off. Imagine what I could do if I continued to invest in myself and continued to work toward authenticity.
And sometimes I still feel this way -- it creeps back into my head, "It's all just luck." Now I have the tools and the relationships to help me understand that it's so much more.
Shortly after I finished this class, the teacher encouraged us to choose one word to focus on for the year instead of a New Year's Resolution. I choose the word authentic.
Authentic women -- women like me -- create stronger organizations, stronger families, and a stronger economy.
Now, six years later I am still seeing the success of that decision. I have changed jobs a few times in those years. I have been criticized for this. I don't mind. I've made daring, bold decisions that have increased my happiness and my financial security. New skills have been acquired and new relationships have been built.
Also, in this process, I created some wonderful relationships and I understand the importance of mentoring. I feel blessed that I have others that give of their time and talents to join me on my journey for authenticity.
Go ahead. Invest in yourself. Are you being authentic? Do you have a focus to improve?
(I saved up to take this class--which was worth every dollar. There are free ways to invest in yourself, too. There are some great thought leaders out there with quality blogs. Below you will find some books I've enjoyed as well as links to some great articles and videos to get you thinking).
(I will keep updating this as I discover new things. (July 31, 2015)
Books Brene Brown is one of my favorites. Check out her website. Daring Greatly is my favorite.
I had to read Stephen Covey for a business class in college. As I was reading I kept thinking, "This stuff is so simple." Then I got a real job and realized the simple stuff isn't so simple.
Videos
Brene Brown, The power of vulnerability
Brene Brown, Listening to shame
Articles
The Confidence Gap, Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
Other Useful Tools
Every heard of MBTI? Find yours here. 16personalities.com
Start a Lean In Circle
Blogs
Some of the items above includes a link to Amazon through their affiliate program. If you purchase something, I could make a few extra pennies.
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