What does support look like for someone who feels like a fish out of water?
I left comfortability to explore opportunity.
The transition was hard for me, as I found myself in a place, professionally, where I needed more, wanted more, and aspired for more. At the time, I knew my current job wasn’t it–but…I didn’t know what was.
A new opportunity presented itself, not once, but twice. At the time, my ambivalence took over, and doubt almost crippled me, but I remained still to hear my intuition say pull the trigger.
I signed up for classes in an attempt to “prepare” myself and still to this day, having completed all of two modules, I didn’t finish, though I started the new year hitting the pavement relentlessly, without stopping to catch my breath.
Months into my new position, burn out started to creep in and my body rejected me by breaking down for some much needed rest.
It was at that moment, that voice came back and asked: What do you really want?
The answer to this elusive question presented itself in a silent auction. Yes, a silent auction!
My company had a silent auction fundraiser and I had asked Cynthia Pong, of Embrace Change, if she would be gracious enough to donate a coaching session. Cynthia agreed and I discovered at the same time that Cynthia was offering her Leadership Accelerator program, too. After bidding for the coaching session for weeks, I was outbid in the midnight hour, but maintained some resolve, as I had enough time to apply for her upcoming cohort.
Several weeks later I received the email that would change everything. Congratulations Genevieve….. was all I saw and I immediately gave gratitude to the Universe and started “prepping” for the Leadership Accelerator. Our first taste of what was to come, via Zoom for a meet–and-greet.–Imagine a room full of BIWOCs, all leaders in their own fields…all together in one room…and the mind-blowing fact that I, too, was in that room.
Session One arrived before I knew it and Cynthia queries the room at the end of the session, asking: How are you feeling? My mind searched for the words that would best articulate the culmination of feelings I was trying to still process from the hour that passed and I simply said: Cracked!
At that moment, I felt like a hard-boiled egg meeting the cold granite–cracked…I wasn’t ready despite me thinking I was and that “fake it till you make it” mask hung by a string.
Each subsequent session challenged me, stretched me, exposed me…Made me question myself, who I was as a leader, and what leader I wanted to show up in the world as.
Grateful for the space I shared with such amazing women–we laughed, cried, understood, and saw each other. We became a sisterhood and I loved the safe space that was created just for us.
I sit here now, a part of the Social Impact / Social Justice cohort, in the midst of yet another powerful, intentional group of women and in the process of germinating. I’m bearing the fruit of these gems and what support truly looks like for me and I share them in the hope that it helps you, too:
Take up space
Don’t expect you from others
Set those boundaries
Embody your leadership style; whatever that looks like
Don’t be afraid to ask for help; you can’t do it all alone
Speak your truth
You are the magic!
Being compassionate, kind, and empathetic are signs of tremendous strength
Allow others to show up for you
It’s ok to be a fish out of water; just don’t forget you have the rest of the ocean to explore!
Genevieve Appolon
Genevieve is a deputy director at the Ocean Bay Community Development Corporation who is passionate about #nonprofit, #girlsempowerment, and #womeninconstruction.
Connect with Genevieve on LinkedIn.
