My journey has been one of ambition, determination, and pursuit of reaching my maximum potential. For years, my focus was solely on building, creating, and growing. While this drive served me well, I quickly learned how anticlimactic reaching goals was, and being so one-dimensional left a void in other areas of my life, particularly when it came to friendships.
It's easy to become consumed by meetings, deadlines, and bottom lines. As I poured all my energy into growing my company, I neglected the importance of nurturing personal connections outside of work. Despite my professional success, I found myself feeling isolated and disconnected, I longed for meaningful relationships. Leadership IS inherently lonely, and as humans, we crave connection, we have not been designed to go at it alone. I am a big believer of the statement “Don’t fall into friendships,” we need to choose our friends wisely, we are the sum of the 5 people we spend the most time with! So, I started intentionally investing in friendships. Friends were there to celebrate my victories, offer guidance during setbacks, and remind me of what truly matters. Moreover, I discovered that authentically cultivating friendships outside of work had unexpected benefits for my career. Networking events and industry conferences suddenly became opportunities to connect with old friends and forge new relationships. These genuine connections often led to valuable business opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations that I never would have encountered otherwise. As I prioritized investing in friendships, I noticed a positive shift in both my personal and professional life. I felt happier, more fulfilled, and more resilient in the face of challenges. I became a better leader, as I learned to empathize, communicate, and collaborate more effectively with others. Today, I make it a point to carve out time for my friends, whether it's grabbing coffee, attending a yoga class together, or simply catching up over the phone. I've come to realize that these moments of connection are not distractions from my work but rather essential components of a well-rounded and successful life. This last week was such a blessing to me! I flew in early to an industry leadership conference to spend time with two close friends of mine (Carey Wallace and Michelle O’Connor), we headed up to a beautiful place (Seven Devils) in the mountains of NC and after that stay headed to our hotel early the day before the conference started to have a spa day – my heart felt like I was at home. Conversation flowed, we idea shared, confided in each other, and lifted each other up and ate amazing food. It was beyond great! To my fellow ambitious leaders, I urge you not to overlook the importance of investing in friendships. We have the power to shape our companies and industries, but we must also remember to nurture our relationships outside of work. After all, true success is not measured solely by professional achievements but by the depth of our connections and the impact we have on those around us. B.
1 Comment
Lisa Hengel
3/26/2024 05:38:20 pm
I love this! Such a great reminder to pause and make intentional decisions ♥️
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