Make the Choice, To take the Chance, To get the Change!

At the start of the year, I created a Vision Board. The main word that resonated with my vision, future and path to success was ‘Choice’.

Following redundancy 12 years ago, I was lost. I don’t think I knew how lost I was until around 3 years ago.

Suddenly a crack in the door of self-discovery & personal development appeared and I pushed it wide open. I absorbed every opportunity for challenge, achievement, growth and development. I wanted back what I lost. I wanted back what I knew I was capable of.

Except the first time I got it, it felt so easy, naturally progressing through leadership ranks, gaining Learning & Development sponsorship, CIPD qualifications and secondment opportunities at every turn.

So why now, when I wanted it more than ever, did it seem so hard to get a hold of?

Well one could argue that life got in the way! Some greatness and some toughness personally along with a very challenging decade figuring out where I wanted / needed to be and the realisation that I had it really damn good before and wish I’d held onto it harder! But where’s the learning and growth in that?!

Throughout recent years, every application was a rejection or a ‘not quite appointable’, every role I seemed perfect for, and sometimes told I was perfect for was offered to others or only given to me temporarily, leaving me feeling I continually had to prove myself. When in fact, 15-20 years ago, I was more senior than the current hiring manager. So maybe that’s what I was holding onto – status?  All of this, heavily contributed to a growing feeling of imposter syndrome, although at the time, I wasn’t aware that’s what I was feeling. I just thought ‘I’m not enough’.

‘I’ve done everything, tried everything and I’m still not succeeding’

So, when the final door to my ideal role closed, I stopped fighting. I realised I was chasing a feeling and success I’d had before. Exactly, I’d had it before! So, why did I need it again?

That story, it’s success and the failures, lessons, mistakes and opportunities that it created, were all leading me to this moment. A moment where I had to make the choice, not wait for someone else to decide the outcome for me, choose me or hire me.

I had all of the tools I needed and had built an amazing personal and professional brand throughout that journey… time to use it and put ‘me’ to the test!

I could have fought for another chance, looked at other organisations, gone for roles that seemed a good fit, but they weren’t for the right reasons. They weren’t going to get me where I now wanted to go.

So, I created my Power, by following my Passion and by saying ‘NO’ to what I probably should or could have.

              ‘I made the Choice,

                             To take the Chance,

                                           To get the Change.

My Challenge to You

Take some time to consider how you handle rejection or setbacks in your life. What lessons have you learned from these experiences, and how have they shaped where you are now?

Have you ever faced a situation where you felt lost or uncertain about your path? What steps did you take to find your way?

What choices have you made recently that have significantly impacted your personal or professional growth?

Self-awareness and self-discovery play key roles in the choices we make. When faced with challenging situations, the power of choice can be freeing. If you’re feeling stuck, consider: What is my vision? How can my actions contribute to that vision?

Think about what you can do each day to contribute to the ‘future you’.