2016 was the 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 of my professional life.

2016 was the 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 of my professional life.

Here are 𝟭𝟬 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 that year taught me.

1. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 to who you are even when people are actively trying to tear you down.

2. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 your process and your beliefs even when they feel unpopular or risky.

3. Trust 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 but understand not everyone deserves that trust.

4. Relationships can be repaired when there is mutual 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 and 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

5. If you want to create real change you need full organizational 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁. Anything less leaves you 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱.

6. Sometimes the best move is 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.

7. Do not try to carry hard moments alone. Lean on 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.

8. Not everyone is who they pretend to be. 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

9. Outside perspective matters but letting outsiders dictate decisions is a 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆.

10. Make decisions in the 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 of the organization. You will not always be right but you will keep 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱.

Ten years later I can say this with confidence:

That year pushed me to my limits, but it made me stronger, clearer and better prepared for everything that followed.

I am grateful for the people who stood by me and for the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.

My life changed 10 years ago. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥.