I read a quote the other day that quite literally had me shook. In fact, it’s taken me a day or so to sit with it and process it  because honestly, while in the moment it was truly profound, it was also just really freaking simple…

It said, simply, “each CV is not simply an accumulation of experiences, it is a list of your own personal sacrifices”.

Wait, what? I mean 🤯Holy balls! What a simple but highly profound statement of facts. I mean, honestly, when I look back on my own career and as I begin to scan my three page resume and absorb the magnitude of the accumulated experience, knowledge, and history that I have personally gained, I can VERY easily point out each and every sacrifice I’ve ever made that coupled with all of those experiences; and wow 🤯 it’s been a lot! 

Surprisingly enough, I truly can clearly and very vividly remember and recall all the school functions I missed; the marriage that ended; the many moves I made to different and unfamiliar places for my job; the kisses good night I sacrificed from my babies; the not being able to be there as a mom 100% of the time to my children; the nights of indigestion and insomnia; not to mention the hits I’ve taken over the years to both my mental and my physical health. 

I mean, it is a lot when I look back at it all now and it most certainly has NOT been all rainbows and roses. No, if I am honest with myself and with you, it has most certainly been a CV of tears, of time lost, and yes, I’d have to say a large dose of trauma. 

I think as leaders,  we get so wrapped up in the actions of achieving that we truly forget to recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate all of the things that we have had to give up to showcase all that we have achieved.  I think that we sometimes get so fixated on our successes ( which by all means we damn well should be proud of)that we rarely ever reflect on what we may have had to sacrifice and endure in order to create such a beautiful display of accomplishments.

In hindsight, I guess why I think this statement hit me so personally and so profoundly is because it reminded me of just how important it is as a leader that we ALWAYS remember that we are, above all, managing and leading people. People who have made various personal and professional sacrifices to give themselves, their knowledge, and their time in helping our organizations grow and achieve our missions. 

So here’s my message to you all as leaders out there, please be kind. Yep, it’s just that simple, please be kinder in your communications, please be kinder in providing your teams with direction and clarity , and please be kinder in welcoming new members to your organizations. Please understand that you are meeting them where they’re at in their careers and understand that you are quite literally meeting them at the intersection of both their achievements and their sacrifices.  Please 🙏🏾 never loose sight of the fact that we are all a collective body of CVs and sacrifices. 

What have you sacrificed for your own success? How has it shaped who you are personally and professionally? What to further explore it together? Have you ever considered investing in a coaching partnership 💁🏾‍♀️🫟

Would you like to know more about the role of a coach? Are you curious about the process and the practice of a coaching partnership? Schedule your FREE 30-minute coaching session today with me, Coach Carol by clicking here. Clink and sacrifice nothing but 30 minutes of your time. 

LeadWhole Coaching and Healthcare Advocacy specializes in Workplace Trauma Recovery ❤️‍🩹 Coaching using our exclusive Reclaim (c) Coaching Model.