It’s really only ever been about the shoes…

It’s really only ever been about the shoes… 

The first job I can ever remember wanting as a kid was to be the checkout person at the grocery store. The draw was getting to push all of the buttons on that fancy machine that would then make a lot of happy bell sounds after each entry and at the end a drawer full of money would come shooting out. 

Enter the implementation of the grocery store scanner and my career aspirations stalled.  

And then I met a businesswoman. She was confident, sounded very smart, talked about exotic places she had traveled and complicated topics I pretended to understand.  Right from the start I was mesmerized as young impressionable girls can often be. She was so very pretty dressed in her smart suit, a blouse in a color that meant business, but embellishments that said “I’m a woman”, hair and makeup polished but not overdone, and the most gorgeous pair of high heeled shoes…. 

That was it, career path plotted, I’ll become a “businesswoman”.

My actual money-making career started in clothing retail, the job that separates the future sales people from the future service people. While I loved the fashion, and wanted to help people find “just the right thing,” I never had the knack for pushing the cheap earrings-of-the-day or being a nuisance to the “I’m just looking” shopper. 

In those years a few other things became clear to me. First, the businesswoman shoes, while essential, were not a free uniform handed out when you got the job. The curation of the footwear I had dreamed of would take money. Second, and more importantly, I realized I didn’t want to just look the part, but I wanted to have the “chops,” as they say, to back it up. 

“You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and you have to start doing the work you want to be doing.” – Austin Kleon

I transitioned into the corporate world as an entry level insurance medical claims adjuster. I was thrilled to be Monday – Friday 8-5 and it is no surprise I was the best overdressed person in my training class. I was learning about the complex world of insurance and medical treatments, terminology and billing.  I’ll never forget Dean Vaughn and while oftentimes I can’t tell you where I parked my car, I can still tell you the CPT code for many medical procedures. 

This businesswoman thing seemed to be suiting me well… pun intended

Just one year after my employment began I was asked to lead my first team, on a 1-year probationary basis. I had taken to my role at the organization well, studied hard and became a “go to” person. I enjoyed helping others and having the answers to the questions. I passed my probation period and spent the next 26 years of my career in leadership. My team sizes expanded, responsibilities increased and I became a leader to other people leaders. 

“With four pairs of shoes I can conquer the world.” – Coco Chanel

Through the years I had the pleasure of working with many talented, experienced, inspirational businesspersons who saw potential in me and provided me the opportunities to continue to grow and develop. I was always up for the challenge of learning something new and wasn’t afraid of hard work and long hours. While I can admit I sometimes felt others were more confident in my abilities than I was, a new pair of shoes and a “fake it till you make it” approach always got me through.  

I also learned that, contrary to my understanding as a little girl,  becoming a “businesswoman” wasn’t a destination I would arrive at, but instead, a continuous journey.  And that the collection of skills, and shoes, is never complete. 

As my responsibilities increased so did the expectations. I felt like I needed to do some of my own homework, so to speak, to help myself in continuing to add value to the organization. While working full time I went back to school at night and finished a degree at Eastern Washington University in Finance and a few years later went back and completed my MBA. The business curriculum, vocabulary and lessons complimented the skills I was gaining on the job.  All of the personal lessons such as prioritization and time management, stress management, navigating group dynamics and public speaking were of equal value.  

“Good shoes take you to good places.” – Seohyun

In addition to academia I have also learned a great deal from travel. Personally and professionally, I have traveled to India, El Salvador, England, Philippines, Columbia, Scotland, Ireland, Hong Kong,  and Guatemala, in addition to regular trips to New York, Colorado, California, Nevada, Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Texas to name a few. The ability to travel is a perk for me! In any role, anytime I can get closer to the people and the work I will always take advantage of that opportunity.  Plus, travel makes for great stories and I love a good travel story! 

When I’m not traveling I enjoy spending time immersed in old movies, reading murder mystery books and listening to true crime podcasts. While I have always been an active person, in 2020 amidst the COVID lockdown I had a milestone birthday. I took advantage of the time to overhaul my health and wellness efforts realizing that I am still hungry and have so much more to do, see and accomplish and that good health isn’t a guarantee. As a result, I work to move every day, eat smart, prioritize sleep and try not to sweat the small things and I have maintained my new habits into 2022. I do enjoy a strong cup of black coffee, a great glass of wine, and my weakness is frozen yogurt which is honestly just the “healthy” delivery system for all the goodies I put on top! 

Although not typically the type of articles I feel comfortable sharing, I wrote this as a catalyst for the people and organizations I work with to truly partner with me in their journey.  Knowing a bit more about each other is the first step in creating that partnership. 

I look forward to the opportunity to learn about you, both personally and professionally, in order to lay the foundation to gaining unparalleled results in your organization.  

Do we seem like a good fit?  Take a minute to inquire via a discovery call and let’s see what we can create together.

In the spirit of partnership,

Ann