Breaking Down the Big Win

I had a midpoint check-in with a client in my Get That Grant coaching program this past weekend. I love these coaching calls because we always dive into some very individualized issue, but first I get to check-in and see, how are things going for you?

She said things were going well, but how she said it really struck me. She said, I have accomplished more in the last three months in my career, than I had in the last three years.

Whew. 

This is a woman who is a surgical subspecialist, a translational researcher, has a child under one…And yes, has many of the institutional and structural challenges that we face as women of color.  

And yet – what she has been able to experience is just how much potentialshe was leaving on the table . . . because she was not in leadership of her career. 

I want to break this down because so often we’re so focused on the big wins. (Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE getting grants!) But under each of those grand wins is something quite small and quite simple: being able to set a goal at the beginning of the week and know that you’re going to do it.

When you have that, the game changes. You can be confident that regardless of the surrounding chaos, you can build on the work that matters most to you. You can do this because you understand how to manage your energy. You have processes in place to work at your peak potential in the environment that you are in. You are clear on how every step you make fits into a larger scaffolding for the vision that you have for your career.

It doesn’t mean that it’s not challenging. 
It doesn’t mean that you don’t hit pitfalls. 
It doesn’t mean that some days you aren’t tempted to finally just give it to Chad and let the cards fall where they may… (I *see* you Sis. I really, really do.)

It does mean that none of these things – tough challenges, unexpected pitfalls, the relentlessness of the casual privilege all around you –  keep you from your goals. 

 That is what is underneath a statement like the one my client made. 

I’m so damn happy that she’s *just starting* to taste her actual full potential without a single thing outside of her changing. 

This is my favorite song. 

I want you to know that this transformation is available to you. I know it is because she’s not the first client to say something like this to me. Every time, I get chills. Because it’s generous confirmation from the universe that I’m doing what I came here to do. 

I hope you all have a great week. I hope you are taking care of yourselves. I hope you are doing what you came here to do. 

Much love, 
Kemi