My husband said, "Don't tell them you barely graduated high shool! They'll think you don't know what you're talking about."
....well, I did. I shared this on my socials this morning and it felt really vulnerable to tell that part of my story. My heart is still in my throat a bit, while I also genuinely want to be more open. It's been easy to share the highs and lows that feel 'normal' but some of these more gut renching emotional things... not so much.
In case you missed it, here's what I shared:
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I wasn't supposed to graduate high school. About 5 weeks before I was to finish, Mr. Pasquini, the school principal, told me I had been selected to sing at graduation; however, I wasn't going to qualify and graduate unless I got my act together. This was scary news to my social (not academic) minded self.
Rewind 10 years and my parents were being advised to hold me back for another round of 3rd grade. Instead I went to summer school and forged on.
Year after year from 3rd grade until my last year of college, academics were a confusing, painful, and shaming experience for me.
Looking back, you would think that kind of kid would not even consider college, but I was so clueless, I honestly didn't know that _not_ going was an option.
So I went.
And struggled.
At a small college with caring teachers I completed my undergraduate degree.
It was during the last part of my college experience that I started discovering how I could get good results, even better-than-expected results in different parts of my life.
I was still struggling with academics, but confidence in other parts of who I was began to bloom.
Each year I would gain more confidence and independence in singing groups, traveling, and planning events for the student body.
Looking back, I see it was the first time I had a taste of leading others using my natural desire for making everything fun, communicative, and connecting. I started to get feedback from others that was positive and encouraging...even though I still felt lacking in my school smarts.
Up until then, the only measurement of worth I recognized was academics. Being crushed under that measurement I constantly felt stupid and hesitant.
As I came to know myself better, I enjoyed creating a vision ahead, planning and coordinating with others, brainstorming ideas, making plans and facilitating fun, meaningful connections among friends. I felt alive and excited in a way that was new and affirming.
That was the beginning of my understanding that we each have natural strengths that are more valuable than anything other skill we might try to lean on.
With the help of reading a few key books, some life experience and reflection, I began to understand what it meant to be “in the flow” when we are so focused on a process that it seems almost effortless. I was able to determine what my actual patterns to getting results looked like and how I could apply that pattern to other areas of my life. Eventually I even went back to school and completed my graduate degree with honors by implementing key parts of my pattern!
What was once a painful, defeating part of my life (academics) became a joy because I had learned how to use my natural strengths strategically to make the learning process fit within the steps for getting results that worked for me.
I stopped comparing the way I did things to others. It didn't matter what others did to get their grade. It mattered that I figure out how to apply what I was already naturally doing well to the task at hand..
The cherry on top was after graduating, I was invited back to the college to become an instructor. Me! The gal who barely graduated HS.
Since then I've now been able to use my same Success Pattern in so many areas of my life. There isn't much that will hold me back, if I take the time to think it through using the framework of my unique Success Pattern.
I know who I am, what I offer, and what I do NOT offer. I am full of energy and peace when I align my life, my business, my everything with my natural strength pattern.
I want this for you.
If you're reading this, I want to help you figure out ways that you can achieve the results you want in an easier and consistent way.
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It doesn't have to be an academic thing, it can be anything where you've felt like you're not getting the results you want.