“𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮?”
A great question from one of our summer interns – thanks Bailey!
Moving beyond my personal example, it is THE QUESTION for each of us as we navigate our career paths.
Some questions you should be asking yourself are as follows:
· Do you feel welcome and valued?
· Can you be your authentic self?
· Do your values align with the team mission?
· Are you acting with purpose?
· Are you seeing investment in your journey from others?
· Are you growing as a person and as a professional?
· Are you happy?
Obviously working in the professional world, especially the biomedical space, is not all sunshine and roses.
Transitions are hard. Defeat is common, victory elusive.
The key is to remember your ‘why.’
So, my answer.
𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
My early years at Lilly were difficult in many ways. I was not convinced I really fit. I liked the strong patient focus. I liked many of the people. But the processes and my lack of understanding as to how to navigate a complex organization made me wonder about the long term. But over time, I began to see the answers to most of those questions falling into place. I was gaining confidence that I could make an impact. I could move the science; I could help make Lilly a better place. I could make a difference.
But it wasn’t overnight, and the signals were mixed. Not jumping to the wrong conclusion too early was crucial.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞?
No journey is perfect and at times the imperfections and challenges seem more numerous than the victories. Keeping perspective (Eye on the Prize) is critical.
Early on in my career and in a moment of feeling sorry for myself, I was lamenting my challenges and my unhappiness with those issues to a colleague. She, a patient herself, offered the most impactful (and devasting) reply possible.
“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴?”
Gut punch. A strong reminder of what really matters.
Ultimately, the answer was clear. I have choices. We all do.
Patients do not. Patients don’t choose to get cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, etc.
I chose this journey, both the good and at times the not so good. To make a difference.
I could act with purpose. Every day.
𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵? 𝘛𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦?
Then you will have your answer.
#destination #purpose #challenge #journey
Biologist, Nature Friendly, Nature Photographer
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