‘It has a lot to do with how women see their options,’ observed a leader of gender studies at an esteemed Boston university. She participated as an industry expert in last spring’s Research Jam. This remark was in response to our discussion about when & why women choose to transition. Her perspective was incredibly simple. Do women perceive that they have options? Some do. Many others don’t. In your world what role do options play? What would happen if you expanded your aperture for options just a bit? Continue reading…
Is anyone listening?
“I think I have more confidence in what I want for myself — instead of valuing what other people think of me,” shared an incredibly honest focus group participant. She went on to describe this renewed perspective as a critical milestone in her transition. The comment came amidst a discussion about the difficulty of declining job opportunities – and their accompanying salaries — despite the fact that the jobs no longer aligned with her personal requirements. Her transition allowed her to arrive at, “No, that’s not what I want for myself, this is what I want for myself.” You could hear the personal pep talk in her remark….she’d arrived but her status was tenuous at best. Continue reading…
Transition’s detours
“They’re probably ones that I would have said at some point in the last six months or ones I could say tomorrow or next week,” shared a focus group participant. She and her co-participants had just discussed adjectives that ‘characterize transition.’ The surprise? Regardless of the reason for the transition – job loss, divorce, career change, or life events related to parenting – the adjectives were all the same. Scary. Rewarding. Embarrassing. Liberating. Freeing. Confusing. Exhilarating. Uncomfortable. Unnverving. Overwhelming. Shameful. Empowering. Have you ever surfed transition’s emotion buffet? Continue reading…
The Big Picture….
Have you ever missed an opportunity to transition? Knew that something wasn’t right but felt it wasn’t the right time to address it? Or better yet, ignored the signs? Or maybe you were oblivious to the signs entirely. If I’m honest I completely missed an opportunity to transition about five years prior to my current one. It wasn’t so much that I ignored the signs. I was aware that I needed a change. What I didn’t get was the enormity of the change required. I can’t help but wonder if I’m not alone in this borderline clueless category. Continue reading…
Transition’s Required Armor
“You just start thinking about other things that you can do. You think about your dreams and your goals. You see it and it gives you hope. And energy. You feel energized,” said Vicci Recckio, member of the Benson Babes. The group, all participants in the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, was featured on an NPR piece entitled, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Coat. Their catalyst? A coat purchased from a thrift shop for $10 and shared among participants who were undergoing cancer treatments. A coat? Could a coat really provide hope, energy? Continue reading…
Assessing forward progress…
“What has been the most difficult part of your transition?” asked a friend in a shaky voice. Her tone underscored her status. She sounded on edge. My guess was that she was reeling from yet another setback. Ever been there? I was momentarily silent in response to her question. Which parts? In my mind several were vying for the preeminent spot…most difficult. Continue reading…
Transition’s creative barrier…
“Have you started cleaning closets?” asked a business school classmate of mine immediately after I started my transition. She shared that another classmate, who had been a high-ranking executive in the financial services industry, did exactly that for two months following her acrimonious departure from an employer. My friend viewed this activity positively, a cleanse. Was it? Is cleanliness or organization an accompaniment to transition? Continue reading…
Bringing Transition Into Focus
“Take yourself out of autopilot,” encouraged Janice Marturano, a former executive at General Mills and now head of the Institute for Mindful Leadership. Her plea was part of an overall recommendation towards purposeful pauses featured in, In Mindfulness, a Method to Sharpen Focus and Open Minds (NY Times 3/23/2012). She reasoned that with mindfulness, “overtime you’ll feel more focused and connected to yourself and others.” Reverse autopilot. Could that concept benefit you? Continue reading…
Summer Book Review #30: Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success
“Part of me has been taken away,” shared a bright energetic woman during a 1:1 interview I conducted for Novofemina’s Research Jam. We had pivoted to her personal story after she had agreed to share some transition observations from a women’s economic development organization where she worked. A career change. A new husband. A first child. Mixed in with these life events I heard isolation and failure, or something that resembled it. Her reaction?
Pivot Points…..
“I broke my rule only once,” shared coach Kelly Nicholson of the Orleans’ Firebirds. “I let a player have a cell phone on the field.” Every kid present, roughly thirty-five of them, had their eyes glued to this commanding gentleman. What could possibly drive such a rule departure? It seems a player, Greg A., was awaiting a call from the president of San Diego State University. Coach Kelly described Greg as a Rhodes Scholar finalist. The call would alert him to his standing and next steps. Lucky kid or something more? Continue reading…