My mom was a career woman or so I liked to think she was; it never seemed like a job. She wore beautiful dresses and suits and went to an office every day. My mom could type like her fingers were gas-powered, it was impressive. She climbed the ranks from Secretary to Executive Admin to Payroll/HR before she would retire. She managed every single aspect of her office; Receptionist to President and CEO. She even managed gifts for his wife and girlfriend; but we aren’t going to talk about that…ha! Her efficiencies were admirable and her dedication almost to a fault. When I would “play” as a child I didn’t play doctor I played “my mom”; she was the one I wanted to be like, I wanted to be her.
Ironically today my job is very similar to what she did minus managing gifts for the wife and girlfriend…ha! While I am not an “admin” I administrate a significant organization of sales and revenue professionals and through efficiencies learned “honestly”. It was through watching and emulating her that I learned that this was the way to become who you wanted to be. You find the person that you admire and you emulate the things you value and leave the rest. I have done it my entire career. My two greatest mentors were my GM in West Palm and my Regional DORM in Atlanta. First it is worth noting that both of these people are WOMEN…woot…girl power! Second it is worth noting that they are two of the strongest women I will ever know in the workplace. They are relentless, unforgiving and dedicated to a fault…much like my mom. They like she taught me the things that I needed to learn most; the most important of those lessons was that this was not a popularity contest and if you are doing it “right” you will likely not be the most popular; ironically that still holds true today. My most recent mentor and dear friend always reminds me that “it is lonely at the top” and you have to “own it”.
i woke up this morning inspired for the new day and most importantly excited for the day ahead. It’s because I chose a career path that creates a passion inside of me that is illuminating and healing. I love what I do and the choice to find this love also came from my mom. She did not love her career path until the end when she found the world of payroll and HR. I learned early-on that I was going to work and I was going to work hard (it is in my DNA) but the difference is that I was going to find something I loved doing so my bad days would still be better than her good days. I did just that and still embrace the importance of loving what I do as I have said many times my company gets the benefit of my love for my discipline as if I didn’t do it here I will do it somewhere, it is who I am.
I close reminding all of you; mothers and fathers, big brothers or sisters; that someone is watching you and you are creating that role model; good or bad that they will learn from and either emulate or eradicate. (Ha! Did I mention that there were a few things I learned NOT to do from my mentors…ha!) My mom was my person in more ways than I have time to list here. What I can confirm wholeheartedly is that my career, my passion to work, my drive to be the best that came from my mom…and maybe a smidgen from my dad…but this it not about him :).
Missing my mom — L.
This entry was posted in Tagged random. career woman, do what you love, inspired, like a boss, mentors, success, woman bloggers.
Originally published at http://alwaysstarting.com on August 28, 2019.