One of my favorite things about vacation is the ease in which I get through many books – lots fiction, lots non-fiction, lots completely work related. This past week I had the great pleasure to read Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos - 10 Strategies for Stepping Up to Success and Satisfaction at Work by Lynette Lewis. It was suggested to me by my fabulously talented sister Nancy McGuire who runs a consulting business that helps organizations with leadership development. Turns out that a lot of the issues that face women in the corporate arena face women in ANY work situation – even little orgs like my business and potentially a lot of yours, such as home staging, redesign, drapery design and interior design.
The book is GREAT (and I highly recommend it as a gift to any woman in the corporate world who needs a bit of encouragement and support) and was filled with very valuable lessons. But ONE thing really really REALLY stood out for me, and was found in Lynette’s opening remarks on page 4.
” We are all waiting and yearning for something”
Regardless of the situation we are in – how great it seems to be or even how bad – we are all always waiting and yearning for something.
Lynette goes on to say it is the tension between our VISION (that thing we are yearning for) and the Challenges of WAITING that often bring discouragement and stress. And I don’t know about you – but yes! Waiting for the vision to become reality DOES bring discouragement and stress.
The book is intended to help you become more satisfied in your what you do with the majority of your time -work - and the 10 lessons shared can help you do just that. The first several chapters work on the theme of “Finding Meaning in the Job You Have NOW!” – not yearning and waiting for a better job or a better situation that will surely bring you that meaning – but finding the meaning in your current job. Later chapters work on moving from “Great Ideas to Dreams Come True. ”
I think the final chapter is one of my favorites – “Different than What I Thought – Better than What I Imagined.” Cause really – when does IT show up just like you thought?
Having just been through a serious case of burnout (and taking a good 10 days off to cure it!) this book was just what I needed – a compassionate look at appreciating and enjoying the work you do now, as you prepare for what comes next – since we are all “waiting and yearning” for that elusive “something.”
What is it that you are “waiting” for – what do you think it will “get” you – and is there maybe, maybe, just a chance that what you have now is giving you some of what you are waiting for? When you find some of that in where you are now… perhaps the wait won’t feel so long. Feel free to leave a comment!!
Have a great week!
-Mary Larsen
3 Responses
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Wow, Mary! Thanks for connecting me to this incredible, inspirational woman. Can’t wait to read the book.
Thanks again,
Jo Braxton
That sounds like a book I need to read. Thank you for sharing the information and I’m glad you feel rejuvenated after your vacation.
Hi Mary
Thanks for the information on Lynette’s book & website! Looking forward to reading the book. May have more valuable insights that I can use. Glad you’re back from vacation and feeling rejuvenated and re-energized.
I’ve been realizing, especially now, that we really need to take time to enjoy our journey, enjoy the actual process, as we work toward accomplishing our goals. Isn’t it the small steps that we take that get us to where we want to be in the long run? I’ve really been focusing on the “small successes” that I’ve had lately. Knowing, that eventually, I’ll get to my “big success” moments!