I Did It My Way | Accelerate Success with Lorraine Moore

While in line at an airport Starbucks recently, I encountered the most delightful little unicorn. It was not Halloween, and she was not dressed for any party or a particular event. She was dressed that way because that is what suited her mood that day. Her comfort in her pink gear put a smile on the faces of many of us that morning.

As I was reflecting on this, I remembered that it is the same with adults. When we spend time with people who are authentic and confident in themselves, it puts us at ease.

At times we may have to put on a game face. When it is in front of our employees, it can often be discerned. This is often the case during organizational change – M&A or a changing organizational structure. In my experience, when you have knowledge you cannot yet share, it is often better to tell people, “I am telling you all that is known/decided or has been determined at this time. As I know more and/or as I am in a position to share more, I commit to doing so.”

When we are in a phase of transition, whether a significant personal or professional change, our confidence can be eroded. This can make it harder to demonstrate our best selves. It can also cause us to settle for opportunities that are not fully aligned to our capabilities and commensurate with our experience.

I recall when a highly talented CEO was in transition following the sale of the company. He was, by his very nature, a positive and upbeat person. However, as he was interviewing and meeting people and seeking out his next role, he had days in which he worried about how long it would take to land a new opportunity and if he would have to relocate his family to secure a senior role.

One of the things he did well was that he shared his apprehensions with a few of us. We were able to provide not just reassurance but evidence as to why he was wise to wait for the best opportunity and also where he could make the greatest contribution.

In the case of a career transition, it is useful to step back and assess your capabilities, your achievements and your transferable skills. Seek feedback from others. What do they see as your greatest and unique talents? What would they consider as some of your most meaningful contributions in your professional life and perhaps through your volunteer contributions?

Don’t sell yourself short. Sometimes you may be a perfect fit for a given opportunity but that never guarantees that it is perfect for you. It may offer more of the same. It may box you into a particular industry or geography or functional silo. It is worth taking the time to make a choice that aligns to your values, your interests and is in your best interest – in life as in work.

In the words of Frank Sinatra:

“…I’ve lived a life that’s full
I travelled each and ev’ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do, I saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
And through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all, and I stood tall and did it my way
…
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
The right to say the things he feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!”
– Songwriters: Claude Francois, Gilles Thibaut, Jacques Revaux, Paul Anka

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