Sometimes we start our journey simply beginning where we are.
But sometimes the start isn't always our choice: None of us choose where, how, or to whom we’re born.
Here's what I mean: I started my career in a faith-based nonprofit because I wanted to be part of something bigger than me and something that would make a lasting impact on teens.
But that start was specifically limited based on where I lived in Oklahoma. Regardless of the location, I started to find my purpose: Positively influencing the space I'm in.
And I did it. Years later, some of those kids (now adults) still tell me how much it meant that I believed in and cared about them.
The kids I worked with were amazing, but after years of giving, I burned out. I needed more control over my life and my work. Leaving nonprofit gave me the emotional space I needed at the time. This was my choice.
That choice opened the door to the oil and gas industry where I discovered new things about myself...
I was incredibly adaptable.
I could dive into technical topics and translate them across audiences.
I loved building networks.
I worked in upstream oil and gas services and then in manufacturing for the energy industry. But working in oil and gas was painfully cyclical. So I shifted again: I wanted more stability.
👉 What does the start of your career tell you about yourself?
I stayed in manufacturing for a long time because, frankly, I'm a manufacturing nerd. I love that you actually make tangible things that bring value.
But then came the opportunity for another shift. I had the opportunity to help those manufacturers do more with technology. It also helped me learn new things about myself:
I could see connections and correlation in a unique way
I was a able to build executive relationships in a meaningful way
I applied my passion for growth and efficiency
👉 What is something you recently learned about yourself?
Looking back, the themes of what make me who I am are clear:
Growth.
Helping others succeed.
Building teams and consistently adding value.
But I'm not done - I'll continue learning more about myself. Learning more about what I like to do. Helping people, teams, and business do more. Things continue...I just now know more about who I am.
I also learned that what Mel Robbins says in The Let Them Theory is true: "Where you spend your time and energy determines your experience in life."
👉 What three things do you want to focus on in your life?
Intersections in life provide an opportunity to ask yourself great questions. Things like:
What do I want this experience to be?
How do I want it to shape me?
What’s one small step I can take today to move in that direction?
Because where you start doesn’t dictate where you’ll end. What matters is how you respond, where you focus, and the questions you keep asking along the way.
👉 Final question for you: What do you want your experience to be?