Scott

Executive Leader at National Healthcare System

When I met Stacey, I was contemplating retirement. I’ve spent most of my career traveling each week, leaving the most important person in my life each Monday morning, and waiting until Thursday evening to see her again. I’ve been blessed in my life to have been afforded opportunities and I’ve worked hard to reach a state of financial security. And in my job, certain negative aspects were eating away at my desire to continue. These things should have simplified the decision, but somehow, it still seemed far from simple. Like many, my career is so much of who I am, but my family is the single most important thing in my life and I did not want to look back with regrets.

At the time, I had just completed an organization-sponsored leadership program, where I had been paired with Stacey on some work around wellness. At the conclusion of our work, Stacey asked, “Is there anything else I can help you with?” With this decision looming on my mind, I took her up on it. “I’m almost 60,” I shared, “and I don’t know where to go from here.”

It’s a Process

We started the process, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. At the very least, I hoped to get some objective input. It was so much more though. Unlike those I’ve worked with before, Stacey didn’t make our engagement about my career or the next opportunity. This was really about my whole self. I couldn’t simply dissect the positives and negatives of my job, or decide that I was old enough to quit. I had to look at my whole self and figure out what exactly made me happy and what fulfilled me.

Stacey’s approach and style were the keys. Her gifts are her dynamic presence and her ability to connect. I felt like I was talking to a friend. I felt a spiritual connection. Even though she was tactically and precisely guiding me to a solution, I felt that we were finding it together. Her skill to be direct but sincere, and stern but kind delivered me to exactly where I needed to be. She never patronized me, and she made it an enjoyable process rather than a tedious one.

The Outcome

Over a 2-3 month process, the answer emerged. I learned so much about myself and Stacey let me take the time I needed to get there. I always knew I liked working and I certainly know a lot about healthcare and healthcare operations, but we identified that my true passion is growing people. It became clear that developing people was my purpose, and I drew my energy from interacting with them each day. We also identified how I could become my best self at work, even in the face of those negative aspects that seemed to be driving me toward a decision to retire.

With this newfound knowledge of what made me happy and the tools to tackle that small percentage of things that got in the way, I was re-energized and re-focused. I still cherish and adore my family just as much as ever, but I realized that I can love them and still find fulfillment in my work. And I plan to continue working until this is no longer the case. I’m thankful that she came into my life at the time I needed someone like her most. Today, Stacey works with my associates on Performance and Resilience and it’s a true joy to know that she’s helping them as she helped me.