I am in the midst of orientation and training for a new professional role. Over the years, I’ve used nearly ever cliche phrase associated with the start of something new:
- Beginning a new journey. Typically, when setting out on a journey – short drive, trip, flight, childhood utterance of “Are we there yet?” has been replaced with a consistent check of time on my cell, mobile device, or watch. Almost from the very start, all sites are set on arrival.
- Beginning a new chapter. My personal reading goes in spurts. There are times I’ll crave reading a beloved author or intriguing book; other times, professional reading takes over. A new book is equivalent with anticipation. Anticipation, much like the song and ketchup commercial of the 1970’s, isn’t all that great. One the first chapter is read, my eyes will go directly to the last chapter or book jacket to see how everything turns out.
- Beginning a fresh start. To be honest, the use of fresh as an adjective for a start never has made much sense.
Each of the catch phrases elicits a sense of hope. There is an inherent notion of change. Human nature encourages the perception of change as an event or action that is positive – one that advances or propels you forward. The belief of moving toward a better place perhaps is grounded in a Judeo-Christian perspective of the world. Perhaps, it is simply the formed from a belief one would not depart or exit a place, time, activity that brought with it joy, acclaim, substance.
Change requires the input of energy. Physical, emotional, mental – energy is required in some form to initiate either movement, transformation, or mental aerobics. If the changed state did not bring with it something positive, why expel the energy?
Professionally, there have been numerous opportunities to lead, motivate, or facilitate a changed state. Some have suggested that this is a reoccurring theme in my professional life. If the wizard’s curtain is pulled back to expose the man (as opposed to the persona), it is apparent that I approach most change with a sense of dread or fear. “Those who can do; those who can’t teach.”
It should be noted there is a difference between the quest for change and growth or development. To demonstrate the point:
- I was born at 6400 north, grew up at 9600 north, and for spent the entirety of my adult life to date at 7300 north. The width of this trajectory is about six or seven blocks.
- My sons were born in the same hospital that I was; third generation in the same hospital.
- My research and writing style was honed in a Jesuit prep school. Aside from computerization of notes versus note cards, the style has not deviated.
- Filing cabinet or electronic document files are in the same layout today as they were thirty years ago.
I crave a sense of stability and order. There are no apologies offered for this. Stability and order provide grounding.
Concurrently, learning new ideas, challenging my abilities, craving new is also a part of my make-up. The address is the same; adding new art, furniture, colors is exciting. Over the years, I have held positions in six organizations. Three of these relationships have spanned ten years each and two were two or three year engagements. Within the organizations reflecting nearly three decades, the role and portfolio were in a constant state of flux.
We each end our lives with a series of “aha” moments. One of mine was during a meeting at Ball State University. We were in a quest to learn best practice of creating and leading innovation. The director of the Innovation Center spoke about an entrepreneurial spirit and an intrapreneurial spirit. The schizophrenia experienced in personal and professional endeavors was finally explained. Change could coexist within a set of stable and defined parameters.
My mentors told me that this new role was written with me in mind. The opportunity this change affords me is one that I have worked toward; encompassing nearly everything I love to do. Anxiety and trepidation fill each step taken in this new journey.
I would love to read the last chapter of my professional life
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