Believe in Yourself

Early in my career, I worked at the state environmental regulatory agency.  It was the first time I worked alongside engineers and scientists, and the first time I worked in a primarily male workplace. 

For the first several months, I was completely out of my comfort zone.  My coworkers thought and communicated very different than I did.

Curious by nature, I was determined to learn as much as I could about topics I knew nothing about.  About federal laws and regulations that I had never heard of.  

I was determined to understand the subject area of our work. 

I was also determined to better understand my coworkers, to learn from them, and to communicate with them and others who were different than me.   

Determined to observe, trust, learn, grow, collaborate, and succeed.

Determined to believe in myself.

As the months passed, I became more comfortable.  

As the years passed, I became an environmental regulatory expert representing the State of NH, and then industrial manufacturing facilities, and then an integrated electric utility (generation, transmission and distribution).   

I had a 25+ year career in a primarily male workplace, in which my coworkers thought and communicated very different than I did.  A career in which I was able to learn, grow, and thrive.  A career that led me to coaching.

An unplanned and rewarding career path - all because I believed in myself.   And was willing to step out of my comfort zone.  

Share your own career path stories with me!

• When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?

• What are you determined to do?