Can you identify one defining moment in your career? One moment that set you on a path that changed your life.
I can.
In 2003, when I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, my grades weren’t good enough to get into the competitive post-grad internship my chosen profession required.
My Defining Moment
Unable to follow all the other highly accomplished new grads, I decided to find full time work as an entry level manager in a health care facility. The work was hard. It was labor intensive, emotionally exhausting, and where I learned the most basic of leadership skills:
ACCOUNTABILITY
That’s what had been missing in my life and academic career, and this job not only taught me that, but it allowed me to master it. I worked there for two years before deciding it was time to attempt the daunting internship process.
Over the next 6 months I applied to several internships, including the most competitive I could find. I figured, what the hell – let’s see what happens.
You know what happened? I got accepted to that most competitive internship. The internship director wanted one non-traditional applicant who had proven their ability to overcome, adapt, and thrive in challenging circumstances. She chose me, and my life would never be the same.
It changed how I saw myself. It changed what I believed I was capable of. It changed my entire life. That experience is a big part of why I do what I do today.
What Is Your Defining Moment?
Inspiring women to never count themselves out, to learn the skills to achieve what they never thought possible is my legacy. It’s how I impact the world for the better. So, how about you? Do you have a life and career defining moment?
If not, it’s time to create one.