Don’t be afraid to change course as long as you continue to move forward

I continue to reflect on my first conversation with Maxine Clark, founder and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop (refer to my February 26 post if you missed it).

What amazed me most about Maxine is that she was on a clear career path from early on.  There was no floundering, no confusion about what she was “supposed to do with her life”.   Maxine discovered her passion- her interest in retail- while in college.  Upon graduating, she began her retail career as an executive trainee for May Department Stores Company.  Her career path led her to various positions within the company, leading to CEO of Payless Shoe Stores, followed by her founding Build-A-Bear Workshop.  It was a natural progression. It made sense. I’m not saying that Maxine’s journey was easy, surely it took a lot of hard work and drive to get to where she is today, but she didn’t have an internal struggle— questioning if she was in the right line of work, feeling stuck, trying to figure out her next steps.  She was in an industry she loved.  And because she loved what she was doing—and having fun while working hard—her path naturally unfolded.

Wouldn’t it be great if it was like that for the rest of us?  Oh I’m sure that there are other women out there whose career path naturally unfolded, however I believe they are the exception— and this fascinates me.  So this is where I’m heading with The Women’s Insight Project. 

The Women’s Insight Project will now center on the question “how did she do it?”.  I will have conversations with 500 women who have found success (gulp- yes still 500 conversations- why am I doing this to myself?!).  Success is in the eye of the beholder so career success could be how a woman climbed the corporate ladder, how she transformed herself into a new line of work, how she became a successful entrepreneur, how she found and is living her passion, how she created her second act, how she figured out “what she is supposed to do with her life”.  These conversations will focus on her journey getting there.  We may find a few women who went down a clear cut path, however I bet we will uncover some bumpy roads, twists and turns, and stops and starts as women reveal their journey that led them to where they are today. 

I invite you to continue with me on this journey— especially those of you who are floundering (certainly there has to be at least one woman out there floundering besides me!).  I welcome your comments too…..that way I know there is someone out there reading my posts besides me.  Is there anyone out there?

Let the journey continue…..only 499 more conversations to go.

Gosh I’ve only had one conversation and I’m already tweaking the focus of this project.  But as I said from the beginning, I don’t know where this journey will lead.  I’m sure it will have many twists and turns.  However the point is that I continue.  For if I give up, I will never know what the purpose was.  Lesson learned: don’t be afraid to change course as long as you continue to move forward.