A little over 7 years ago I found myself at a crossroads. I was burned out, stressed out, and just overall unhappy with my professional life. That unhappiness was leaking into every other area of my life. I was irritable and my fuse was short with those I loved most. I don’t know if you’ve ever found yourself in that place, but it’s not fun. Not fun for us and not fun for those around us. I knew I needed to make a change but I didn’t know what and I didn’t know how. I have sought counseling at different points in my life and am a huge advocate for therapy but didn’t think that was quite what I was needing at this point. I was 8 months pregnant with our fourth child, so my hormones were certainly not helping, but I knew it was deeper than that. As I processed this all with a friend of mine I was very seriously considering resigning from my job. She encouraged me to step back, take a deep breath and reach out to a business coach she had been working with.
Reluctantly I gave him a call. He was very nice and we spent about an hour on the phone together. He got to know a little bit about me, what was going on in my life and what I felt I needed. I got to know him, his background, his expertise, his view on family, work and spirituality. I knew it would be important that we aligned if we were going to work together in a coaching relationship. He then shared with me how he might be able to help. As part of what he suggested he wanted me to take an assessment called the Birkman®. Oh, brother! I had taken many assessments and had even taught courses on these assessments and knew that wasn’t the answer. However, he shared how this assessment was different. He shared about the VERY in-depth report about me that he would receive and we would go through together. It was so much more than my strengths, personality traits and behaviors.
After listening to his explanation and how he would use the report to help me, I agreed and I have to tell you that it was the start to the best self-growth journey I have ever taken. As we dove deeply into the report I realized just how uniquely and wonderfully made I was. I was not like anyone else and God had wired me in such a way to be equipped to do the work He has for me to do. I saw not only my strengths, natural talents, gifts, and energy givers but also identified those things that do not energize me. I saw that I have personal needs that must be met for me to be my best. I saw what my behaviors are when I’m stressed so that I can more easily recognize those and self-correct. I saw what careers are best suited for me and which ones will not be a good fit… and so much more! With all of the information I received, I was then tasked with the bigger job of leading myself well. It’s one thing to know who we are and what we need, but a whole different journey to take the steps necessary to meet our needs and put ourselves in situations that best utilize our gifts. With his help, I was able to apply this information in my daily life and I started to see big results. The results came in the form of a dramatic increase in work productivity, satisfaction, revenue and doubling my income but the more important results were the peace, joy, and harmony that were felt by me and my whole family.
I worked with my coach for several years intensely and still today we connect for checkups and tweaks. Having someone to partner with in the journey of growth is so important. Sometimes that’s a trusted friend, a spouse or a spiritual director and sometimes it’s a coach who’s trained in how to help others move the needle forward. I was stuck and I needed someone to remind me of who I was and help me take the next steps. That’s why I launched my coaching and consulting business. I saw first hand the difference that it makes and I wanted to make that same difference for others.
How about you? Are you ready for personal growth? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you wanting to see what careers best fit your giftedness? Are you thinking of starting something new? Are you a leader who needs some new leadership tools in your tool belt? Is your company ready for growth? Don’t stay stuck. Reach out. Make a move. There will never be a perfect time. You have gifts to offer to the world that only you can offer. Don’t allow those gifts to lay buried. One simple assessment and de-brief may be all you need to be back on track and on to beautiful things.