April 8, 2015, by: fbgconsulting
MY LAST PROFESSIONAL DECADE IN SONGS
Maybe you’re like me…love music, dancing and find inspiration in them. I recently realized that unconsciously (at a minimum for the past decade) I have found my professional uplifting in songs. It wasn’t until recently that I noticed that in moments that have been critical to my career, I have chosen songs with lyrics to guide me through. So as I detail my playlist I ask you WHAT IS YOUR SONG TODAY? Look at the lyrics as they may be saying to you more than you think
I HOPE YOU DANCE (Lee Ann Womack)
Making a decision to leave an organization where my “professional upbringing” happened was extremely difficult. The organizational culture is forever in my DNA like a tattoo. Even today, I work in that organizational style and have a tremendous sense of pride to be an alumni. However, as it happens for everyone, a time comes when you realize you have accomplished your journey and must transition. At the time of realizing I needed to make that move, I became enamored with this song. It was a call to action which prompted me to go out there and get things done; to always be active and always a part of what is going on. This song talked about not fearing mountains in the distance, not settling for the path of least resistance. I prompted me to take chances and closed with “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…I hope you dance”
So I decided to dance and moved to another organization.
UNWRITTEN (Natasha Bedingfield)
I came to work for another wonderful corporation with tons of values and appetite for progress. I worked with a terrific group of people all very special and very competent. They had the capability to dream, have and pursue a vision and the stamina to get it done. They didn’t mind reinventing themselves along the way. This song spoke about our own voice, releasing inhibitions and getting our true self out there. “Feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in. No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.”
…and we wrote our story.
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (Bruno Mars)
As I was tasked with putting together a brand new global initiative for diversity and inclusion, where there was very little foundation, I was faced with tremendous challenges. This time repeated the lyrics of this song consistently and now I realize that it just reflected my criteria that people are beautiful just the way they are. “When I see your face, there’s not a thing that I would change, ’cause you’re amazing just the way you are…”
…and I thrived on the variety the world has to offer.
BE BRAVE (Sara Bareilles)
Making a decision to leave the corporate world after 36 years was major in my life. Of course that came with questions, doubts, uncertainty mixed with enthusiasm, positivism and expectation. It wasn’t easy, but as I was making the decision to fly “solo” the months before my departure I was guided by the lyrics of this song … “Say what you wanna say…And let the words fall out…Honestly, I wanna see you be brave……”
…so I was brave and made a bold move to start on my own…no guarantees
HAPPY (Pharrell Williams)
It’s been a year now that I started my own HR consulting company and I’m enjoying my new found independence. I can summarize it with this song which I actually found myself singing in a loud voice as I was rushing South on I-95 in mid afternoon traffic after a seminar…“Because I’m happy…Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof…Because I’m happy…Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth…Because I’m happy…Clap along if you know what happiness is to you…Because I’m happy
I don’t know what’s ahead or what’s the song that will define the rest of my professional career, but for now I feel like I’ve arrived home from a long journey…a room without a roof and I’m clapping with happiness.
