Learning how to Lead with Intention: The 2022 Annual Purdue Women’s Conference (3 of 4)
On June 9-10 I had the privilege to attend the Purdue Alumni Network’s Annual Women’s conference. Organized and hosted by Purdue for Life, the overarching goal is to motivate, uplift and connect.
This year’s conference, held at the Alexander Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, focused on wellness and growth in both our personal and professional lives: in no particular order, I am going to dive into my main takeaways.
TAKEAWAY 3: Take the risk, make the change
Among the stories told at the conference were a few common threads: Creating growth out of failure, success sprouted from disaster, helplessness turned to perseverance, and, most of all, the importance of taking risks.
While believing in yourself and taking risks are certainly not new concepts among speakers, hearing these stories had a new relevance to me. I started my business in 2020, in the midst of a pandemic and on the wake of my third lay-off in four years. I was feeing stuck, like I had tried every option and didn’t know what would come next. Would I go back to a traditional firm? Try to work from home? Would I continue with residential work or attempt to return to the corporate world after 2 years? I knew I was a good employee; loyal, hard-working, and capable, but I had thrown myself into team after team only to be left behind for no fault of my own. It was hard to feel like a risk was going to pay off; but even harder to feel like I could go to back “into the system”.
At first I thought “Let’s take a step back: Look at the options, find some part-time work, re-assess what the next step looks like and then create a plan.” My husband said “That’s all fine, but why don’t you just start an LLC and do that for yourself?”.
I thought he was crazy. Me? A business-person? I barely know anything! What would I work on? For who? Sounds scary.
Well, as the speakers reminded me a year later, comfort and growth don’t co-exist.
That morning, sitting in my kitchen, all those fears and questions turned to realizations. Business? I spent 2 years at a start-up, working with marketing, sales, and finance. Experience? I spent those years doing full kitchen and bath renovations, and before that I worked in corporate and healthcare. Clients? I have worked with/for dozens of people in multiple states and industries. At the least, I had connections. And, finally, I already knew I was one of the hardest workers I knew. The question “Who, me?” turned into, “why NOT me?” And Accio Design was born.
Fast-forward a year or so, and that risk has turned into an amazing opportunity. I set my own hours, I have the freedom to pursue/choose what I do, and who I work for. Is it scary? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Yes.
As I’ve learned, if you won’t fight for yourself, who will? If you are honest about what you want, and consistent in following your “true North”, it’s worth the fight. So take that risk, make the change, and see what you are truly capable of.
Got a question? Want to work together? Reach out!
