What if you’re giving yourself less credit than you deserve?

Over the last month, I’ve been intentional about challenging myself to step into at least two new spaces each week.

That's meant attending networking events and saying 'yes' to things outside my usual routine. It's been me showing up in spaces where I’m meeting new people and trying something a little different.

And it’s been really refreshing and energizing!

A few weeks ago, I found myself at TEDxSan Diego, and somewhere between the speakers, conversations, and people I ran into, I had one of those little “Ohh shit" moments. It provided me with such a valuable reminder... 

I’ve built a pretty amazing community!🔥

The evening reminded me that I know more people than I give myself credit for.

I’ve had more experiences than I sometimes remember to acknowledge myself for.

And I’ve spent years building skills, relationships, and expertise that I can bring into new spaces.

I just needed to see it again. 👀

Does any of this speak to you?

It's got me thinking about how often this happens in our careers.

We get so accustomed to what we do that we stop seeing it as valuable.

You might think, “Well, I’ve always done that.”

Or, “It’s not really a big deal.”

Or, “Sure, I could probably do that… but there are people who are way more qualified than me.”

Meanwhile, someone else is looking at your experience and thinking, “Wait, you did WHAT?”

That’s one of the things I love about coaching. Sometimes you don't need someone to teach you something new. You need someone to help you see what’s already there. 💗

And then, perhaps, get a little braver about doing something with that.

That’s been showing up for me in a few different ways lately: submitting proposals for organizational work that would have felt pretty darn scary a year ago, stepping into a captain role for my hockey team again, meeting new people in the HR world, and launching my first-ever Self-Advocacy & Leadership Hour.

And that last one was especially fun.👏

We talked, we shared experiences, we experienced some coaching, and created a space where people could learn from each other. One attendee shared:

“What a great space to share our life experiences, very supportive and well-guided. Thank you for sharing this space. I am hooked and excited for this program.”

So yes, we’re doing it again!

The Self-Advocacy & Leadership Hour will continue monthly - a welcoming space to talk about the real-life stuff that comes with navigating your career and leadership, get a little coaching, and learn from the experiences of other professionals figuring it out alongside you.

Because sometimes the magic🔮isn't in becoming someone different.

Sometimes it’s in finally recognizing what you already have.

Maybe that's also part of what turning 40 has me thinking about: What have I built that I haven't fully stopped to appreciate yet? What do I know now that I didn't know ten years ago? And what am I ready to step into next? 

Maybe September is a good month to take a look at some of this for yourself.

In the meantime, this week I encourage you to think about:

What are you bringing to the table that you’ve gotten so used to carrying that you’ve forgotten it’s valuable?

And where might you be ready to let someone else see it, too?

Reserve Your Spot for the next Self-Advocacy & Leadership Hour (9/24).