Challenges are uncomfortable. In fact, that’s the defining characteristic of a challenge. Accepting a new challenge means that you have to be willing to face the fear that may be holding you back.
January is an excellent time to think about how we can build upon the success of the previous year. This is exactly what I was thinking about as I was driving to work last January and saw a car with the phrase, “Challenge Yourself!” boldly displayed across the sides of the vehicle.
This phrase spoke to me in a whole new way. I liked the concept of thinking about how I could challenge myself to grow personally and professionally this year instead of making the traditional New Year’s resolutions. Granted it’s a matter of semantics, but it works for me.
Although 2013 was a very successful year, I definitely had some challenges as I stepped into my new role at HIMSS as the new Senior Director of Career Services, Professional Development last June. My previous experience had been in healthcare IT staffing and coaching, but professional development was my passion. So even though I knew I was prepared to step into this role, I was still fearful that I might fail. In fact, I had to remind myself that this was exactly the kind of challenge that I had set for myself in January when I changed the way I thought about New Years’ resolutions.
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You may have heard that fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real. It’s true, you might fail, but you will learn a lot in the process if you are open to acknowledging the lessons and growing from the experience instead of letting it hold you back. If you are able to look at things this way, you will soon realize that there is no such thing as failing. Success just took a different form than you expected.
I have been very privileged to meet many outstanding HIT leaders over the course of my career and since professional development is my passion, I’m always open to hearing their stories of how they climbed the ladder of success. Most of the stories are about seeing a need and filling it, being curious and taking risks.
One such professional is Emma Cartmell, President of the consulting firm Exsede, who rose from leading HIT marketing at a small start-up to COO of a Fortune 500 company in less than 10 years. Emma, who was an administrative assistant in the U.K., challenged herself to become a CEO by the time she was 35.
One theme that continues throughout Emma’s journey is that she was repeatedly asked to take on responsibilities that she had never experienced before based on her previous successes. Each time she faced her fear, learned what she needed to learn, asked for help along the way, and reached new pinnacles of success. Emma will be one of ten such professionals who will speak at the Career Services Center at the HIMSS14 annual conference in Orlando, Fla., in February. Come hear her story for yourself.
But before then, I challenge you to establish your own goals this year. How will you grow personally and professionally in 2014? I’d love to hear your story, so feel free to drop me a line or stop by the Career Services Center on the exhibit floor at HIMSS14 and say hello!
Date: January 6, 2014