What have I learnt?

I had always said I felt blessed to be able to work for a large part of my career doing something I felt passionately about – it wasn’t really work it was something I was driven to do.   My natural way of being was to do that work whilst lifting others around me sharing my wisdom and time in doing so – it felt like common sense to empower others to also be their best selves.    I focussed my time primarily on supporting women either formally or informally coaching and encouraging them and many people would have heard me quote Madeline K Albright “There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."

Sadly, some of what I have learnt over the last couple of years is that not everyone feels that way and as a result of that I took a step back to reassess what I wanted to do and invest in myself – something I’d quite honestly never had time to do before, as most working women don’t.    This has been one of the most rewarding periods of my life, I am stronger, braver and happier now.  Quoting Master Yoda “Only through fire is a strong sword forged” – who knew I’d get the opportunity to quote Yoda and Albright in less than 500 words!  

What I have learnt during this period of reflection and rebuilding isn’t complicated but probably worth sharing. 

• Operate from a place of integrity.   To work against your own values takes a massive toil on you as an individual and those around you.

• Kindness is key, more so now than ever.   Regardless of what your experiences are it is critical to hold on to this.   Others act because of their own pain or shortcomings and that shouldn’t impact how you in turn act.

• Be generous to others.   Give them the opportunity to grow, push their boundaries – my experience is people embrace that and will, maybe in time, even thank you.

• Be open to learning.   The moment you think you have the monopoly on wisdom is the moment you should step down – you don’t, no-one does.

• Care about what you do.  Hard work is a good thing and allows for a good night’s sleep – this doesn’t mean burnout it means giving your best and doing an honest day’s work.

• Finally remember, no one owes you anything.   Show gratitude to those that have supported you and who you have in your life.

So, to answer my opening question – what I have learnt is that to live leading with integrity and to be loved and supported by wise, kind, generous people is really the greatest gift anyone can have.

Sherry Peck 

(https://www.sp-associates.org)