I am on my second mountain. 

If you haven’t yet heard of or read David Brook’s book, The Second Mountain, it is all about how sometimes that first mountain you climb in life is not your mountain.  here is a second mountain. Often the first quest is a self-focused pursuit, while the second mountain is centered around others. For 20+ years, I led a multi-faceted corporate career in NYC in the fast-paced beauty industry. I held leadership roles in Marketing, General Management, Sales and HR and built top selling brands. Now, I’m climbing my second mountain, utilizing my years of experience in corporate roles to help others navigate meaningful lives as a professional coach.

I have lived the challenges that come along with balancing the demands of growing a business and time to develop people, while keeping your own sanity (or at least trying to). Throughout the years I spent in large organizations, the type of work changed and with that, I evolved as a leader. I didn’t know it at the time, but this evolution mirrored the concepts in this great book which talks about a shift from inward focus to outward. As I reflect back, there were  distinct phases in my corporate career where the shift started to take place which I will share along the way, but here’s one to start…

The Second Mountain, talks about “annunciation moments”. The book alluded to many people having a specific story about how they discovered “a calling” that gave them greater fulfillment.  For me, it was rather many small moments or cues…tiny inner voices that I had been muting as I kept riding the train of my career.  These inner voices were seeds planted and growing into something that I would only understand later, when I was ready to unmute from the daily chaos.   One of these “signs” was that I always liked to save the little notes and cards that people on my team would write to me after we worked together and they moved on to a new role or their internship ended.  I have a whole box of these cards where people express the impact I made on them. 

Did I save a historical box of all the products I brought to life as a marketer?  No, though I was quite proud of most of them.  Of course, there were a few weird ones, but hey, we were trying new stuff, like a squeeze bottle facial cleanser with a soft silicone brush on the end.  Weird, like those sponge head dish washing tools where you fill the detergent into the handle.  Though, some people really loved “The Brusher”.  Ha! 

So, why did I save the cards?  Now I know why.  Simply, when you help others, they feel good.  It made me feel good to help others feel good.  Then I wanted to do it more and I realized that the experience I had was actually quite helpful to others.  So, I transitioned my career.  I joined HR in charge of Talent, helping people navigate their careers.  Then, I loved it so much, I left Corporate America to start my own coaching and consulting practice to do the parts I loved about my job, full time (without corporate politics).  There were many “signs” or moments and I share these through the course of my writings to inspire others to recognize theirs. 

So, here I am, helping to empower others through coaching.  I believe that when we start to move with intentional purpose through life, we gain greater awareness of our effect on others and an increased ability to influence the path of our lives.   Wherever we are in our journey we are still on a path of becoming what we have yet to be.  Taking a moment to self-reflect, can be a powerful mental tool in your toolkit of life.  If you are interested in your own journey of self-reflection, start here with today’s powerful question.  Find somewhere to write it down.  Just a few thoughts. Feel free to share your thoughts in the chat too

Powerful Question 001:  

What are 3 inner thoughts you may have muted, about doing something you are passionate about?

(It may be an activity, a passion project, a career path, new research/knowledge/education or something else).

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