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as an example of how to turn it all around in
the midst of absolute failure. I have heard the
term reinvention used many times, usually in
reference to someone whose Hollywood
career has tanked and they needed to renew
themselves to revive their career. But for most
of us, this isn’t Hollywood and we are not
afforded the same opportunities to reinvent
ourselves. So, here’s my career story. I started
working at 14. Coming from a single-parent
household with a mother who had a difficult
time supporting herself, I was forced to work
at an early age. When I turned 17, I lied and
said I was 18 to get a job as a teller at my
local bank. I advanced and took every avail-
able opportunity that I was offered, moved
into mortgage banking and by my early 30s
was making a comfortable six-figure income.
In early 2000 I decided to make the
jump to a commission-only position, which
was scary. But I knew that I had the drive to
continue to grow my business, and the mort-
gage industry was booming in Las Vegas.
Over the next few years my business grew
exponentially and my pay increased to a
healthy quarter-of-a-million-dollar range. I
owned several homes and a few businesses. I
had boats, cars and a closet full of designer
clothes. I was living the good life. I couldn’t
believe that a girl from Illinois with only a
high school diploma had come this far.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any
better—it didn’t. I know most of us remem-
ber what started to happen in 2006 when
the real estate market came to a screeching
halt and devastated so many—my family
included. Interest rates rose to all-time
highs, housing prices plummeted and the
foreclosure madness began. My dream
turned into a nightmare in the blink of an
eye and I never even saw it coming.
I had hoped it was only a temporary set-
back and figured that I could ride it out for
the short-term. This situation would surely
rebound and everything would turn around,
so I thought. I had been on this financial
market rollercoaster plenty of times in my
days and I had enough money saved and
could live with less for a while.
Unfortunately the rollercoaster derailed,
and its track back in the right direction is still
under construction. After a few years I was
forced to sell or give back everything I had. I
was broke, had used all of my savings and
didn’t even know how I was going to pay the
rent. I was now in my early 40s with no real
job experience, no college degree, and I was
battered and slightly broken by what I had
just been through. I wasn’t sure where to
begin to rebuild.
As I hunted for new job options I wasn’t
sure what I was even capable of doing. I had
to reevaluate everything in my life to move
forward. This experience changed me forever
and put me on a path to a new and exciting
opportunity. In 2009 I found my way to the
promotional products industry. What I am
about to share with you are some of the steps
I took toward the future I envisioned for
myself.
So, where do you start? Yogi Berra said,
“If you don’t know where you are going, any
road will get you there.” For a successful out-
come you must start with a unique and indi-
vidual plan to outline what you wish to
achieve. Too often, we focus on the end
game and don’t necessarily understand or
choose to take the steps that will get us
there. It’s like planning to take a trip across
the country and deciding if you should fly or
drive. If you flew across the country, it would
certainly take less time; however, you would
miss out on all the adventures that are possi-
ble once you hit the road.
1. Stop embracing the concept of
immediate gratification and look
toward the long-term pay-offs.
Ask
yourself, am I thriving or just surviving?
You must get in sync with what you want.
Start taking an account of what you envi-
sion for yourself. These are items you wish
to move away from or move closer to. For
example: I need to stop eating junk food
and find the time for exercise. Add it to the
list. It is simple and is the key to self-
knowledge, which will help you account for
the behaviors you want to transition toward.
Start your transition by considering this
quote from Robert Louis Stevenson:
“Wherever we are, it is but a stage on the
way to somewhere else, and whatever we do,
however well we do it, it is only a prepara-
tion to do something else that shall be dif-
ferent.” What makes the difference is you.
You are remarkable, unique and have the
talent and ability to accomplish whatever
you choose. Of course, I wouldn’t be a coach
if I didn’t ask you to think about what truly
matters to you. What will you regret not
having done in life? Now is the time to stop
making excuses and start taking action.
2. Most of my clients tell me their
biggest challenge to overcome is find-
ing the time to make crucial changes
happen.
Why is this statement so common?
I believe the answer may be avoidance, vul-
nerability and the fear of failure. No one
enjoys those uncomfortable feelings; change
can be a painful process. But, in the end, that
pain is what propels us forward. In order to
find the time you must learn to value the
process and make it a priority in your life,
even if it is only 15 minutes a day. Use those
minutes toward your reinvention process. Get
15 minutes less sleep a day to get there, if
necessary. Also, be sure to remain flexible and
consistent in your efforts so that you can
obtain more reliable results.
3. Set realistic goals.
Some goals may be
achievable within weeks and others may take
years to complete. Maybe a short-term goal is
watching less television every week and a long-
term goal is to finish your college degree. Take
the time to break down your plan to incorpo-
rate the small actions that you can complete
daily to achieve your goals. Do this by creating
new positive and constructive habits to ulti-
mately replace the old ones that you have been
using. Set the timer on the TV to shut it off so
that you can tend to other things. Visit a col-
lege counselor to find out the information you
need to decide on time frames for your degree.
Don’t forget to set yourself up for success by
trying to control the external factors that take
you away from your new daily goals.
We tend to devote so much time to our
day’s events that we may ignore what is good
for our futures.
4. Always expect setbacks, and be
honest with yourself about how long a
new action may take.
This is important
to remember, because you don’t want to
become frustrated early on and neglect your
long-term goals. Let’s use the college exam-
ple again for a moment. Sign up for only
what you can handle. One class at a time is
better than zero. It may not be possible to get
a bachelor’s degree in four years. It may take
six years instead. Try not to overestimate your
own ability to achieve change and the contin-
ued effort it will take to add new behaviors. If
26 •
PPB
• JANUARY 2015
INNOVATE