Thrive on Shift & Change

"Bodacious" means to be bold, outstanding, andskilled managers. I didn't want him to know about my
remarkable. Take those attributes to work andpersonal life, partly because it wasn't his concern but
you're on your way to building a fulfilling, bodaciousalso because I wanted to maintain my reputation for
career. Does having a bodacious career soundbeing competent, efficient, and successful. So,
exciting to you? It is! After starting as an $8 an hourcourage in hand, I asked for a new role. Within a few
customer service rep, I rose through the ranks ofdays he made me a job offer; corporate training
AOL, accepting four promotions and surviving overmanager. My burgeoning Bodacious Career took
six layoffs to become the head of corporate traininganother turn.
for 12,000 employees. Along the way I learned IFrom this experience and countless others, I gained a
needed to be bodacious to achieve the career Ifew ideas about dealing with change. Consider these
wanted. Out of that experience I created my "cheatfor your own Bodacious Career.
sheet" of ten essential Bodacious Career Builders.As you thrive on shift and change, expect some initial
Here's number seven: Thrive on Shift and Change.discomfort. Old weaknesses and insecurities that you
At AOL, my entire career was about rapid shift andmanaged to efficiently camouflage in the old systems
change. For the first seven years, I was totallysuddenly make themselves obvious again. The stress
focused on the call center. I was promoted fromof change can lower your immunity system and
customer service rep to trainer to training managercause you to catch the flu, a cold or a case of hives.
and then to call center manager. Soon other areas ofYou may temporarily feel like a mess.
my life - namely one last-ditch effort to save myLearn to lead with your value. Trust that you can be
marriage after a year's separation - demanded that Iresourceful. As you research options, look beneath
make a major change. I needed to shift some of thethe surface. The alchemy of your passions, combined
energy I was dedicating to AOL into reviving mywith external needs may create an opportunity for
marriageyou that hadn't existed before.
I considered leaving the company altogether, but thatGet outside perspective whenever you can. You may
seemed too drastic. So I started looking around thenot know how good you really are until you leave
company to see where else I might be able to offeryour fishbowl. When we're sealed up in our own
value. After 10 years and more than 1200environment, working hard, and focusing on the tasks
employees, the company still had no managementimmediately in front of us, we can lose perspective.
training program and the new human resources VPSo get out there! You may discover that you are
was looking for a corporate training manager.further ahead than you thought.
I knew I could help in developing and influencing thisShifting and changing may cause you to go through
group of contributors. I thought I could have asome major culture shocks and climate changes. As
greater impact throughout the organization andwith every alteration in your life you create or any
remove myself from the pressure-cookeralteration that comes you way (let's face it, some
atmosphere of the call center. Instead of ten- toevents are out of your hands), you may feel alien to
twelve-hour days, maybe I could reduce it to eightyour new circumstances. Don't worry, you'll grow into
or nine.them. Soon you'll be more than surviving, you'll be
I didn't wait until I saw a job posting. I took thethriving!
initiative and contacted the VP Although I wasBODACIOUS CAREER BUILDER #7: Be honest about
motivated to make a change for personal reasons, Ihow you handle change in your career and life; make
emphasized to him my desire to help build thea commitment to thrive, not just survive.
company from the inside out by quickly developing