It doesn’t happen often that we’re able to literally see the differences between our true self today and our true self say, three years ago. Yesterday, though, I saw clearly my own process of growing up. Early in the day I received word that I would not, as previously expected, be taking the lead on a project I was extremely passionate about. I was colossally disappointed.. But I held my head high, I said, “Something else will come along. I will have a chance to lead a client like this one, and it will come soon” and I just kept moving.
What was remarkable was my ability to recognized in that moment what I might have done three or four years ago. Then, I would have cried in the bathroom. I would have asked a friend to lunch and cried, bitched and moaned to her about my problems, and I might have even taken the rest of the day off to sulk. Because that’s what my 23 year old self did with disappointment.
Yesterday, though, I kept moving. It got me down for all of 90 seconds and I moved on. I thought about writing a blog post about disappointment at that moment, but I didn’t. I pressed myself into other projects and tried to forget how sad I was to lose that one. And low and behold, the afternoon rolled around and I find our original idea was, in fact, approved, and here I am back taking the lead on the project. Now wouldn’t I have felt stupid if I’d pouted, cried or gone home to sulk?
That, my friends, is growing up in business. And I’m blessed to have had the unique opportunity to see with open eyes the way in which my attitudes and tendencies have matured over the years. Think about this in your lives today. We don’t necessarily always take the time to congratulate ourselves for growth. But we should. And today, I am.
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
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