Moving to Chicago from Minneapolis, I was aware I was moving from the 48th largest city in the country to the 3rd. But somehow, the change in size didn’t quite resonate until I arrived. Since moving, I’ve asked myself many times, “Was I just a big fish in a small pond?” Thinking back to growing up in a small town, then moving to a mid-size city, I couldn’t help but wonder, would Chicago swallow this “big fish” up in its big ocean. And truthfully, I felt that way many times this year.
I expressed this fear to my coach, and she responded by sending me this quote on Friday – making me glad I hired her:
“….. growth is like being in a small pond, where we know our limits and boundaries and are used to navigating them, then finding ourselves suddenly in a vast ocean, unable to see the former landmarks to help us navigate. That’s the time to tune in and trust your instincts.”
If you’ve ever felt like a very small fish, read this quote again. You have to find your landmarks over time, and in the meantime, trust your instincts. For me, it makes me certain that I will be able to prove to myself and everyone else that I can be a big fish in this great big pond. There are so many things coming for Career Girl Network and I look forward to continuing to learn the roads and landmarks here in Chicago and nationwide.
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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