2020 Reflections and Visions

The term 20-20 describes visual acuity, or the sharpness of vision at 20 feet from an object.  And, they say hindsight is 20-20.  So, as we jump in to a new decade that kicks off with 2020 it seems right to both look back at where you’ve been and forward at where you are headed. Here's what came up for me.

Looking Back | Hindsight | Rear view

The last ten years have been an extraordinary ride of growth personally and professionally.  I am simply not the same human I was 10 years ago and for that I am grateful.  This evolution is a result of the multitude of experiences, fit for a book I'll someday write. In the meantime, here are a few of the highlights.

Making the tough decision to leave the good people at Beaumont Health System to return to DTE Energy amid an economic downturn that was pushing DTE leadership to think differently and begin to dig in around bringing purpose to the forefront of work as a way to remain sustainable long-term. As a result, my work and that of the entire Energize Your Life team, became elemental to the business of doing business as health and wellbeing is essential to being able to bring your best self to work each day and having highly engaged employees.

My role at DTE connected me to my next opportunity as a leader in client services at RedBrick Health (now Virgin Pulse) on the vendor side of the health and wellbeing business. I left a solid, potentially lifetime, role at DTE to join RBH because I wanted to see firsthand what other organizations were doing to take care of their people. Coast to coast, mid-market to jumbo, I met good people leading the charge to support the wellbeing of team members and affirmed what I already knew…there is no one way to “do wellness” and those who are doing it best are clear in the reasons why they are doing it at the same time they are relentlessly seeking to understand what their employees truly need to be well.

Time on the road and away from my family drew me leave my RedBrick family for a role in a different side of the health business – as a health and wellbeing consultant at Marsh & McLennan Agency. In the 3+ years since I joined MMA, my understanding of the realities of the business world has grown deeper along with empathy for all involved – the companies and those they employ.  Through this, my belief that it is possible to take care of your people and “win in business” have progressed to the point where I not only believe it’s possible, I believe it is essential for organizations who want to remain in the game long term. Nurture and grow your people and the business will be better for it.

Gratefully, each of the organizations I worked for in the past decade believed that encouraging me to grow, volunteer and connect with others in my field was good for me and the organization. Because of this, I was encouraged to serve as a board member and eventual chair of the Michigan Wellness Council and board member of Leadership Oakland – two organizations whose missions align with my passions perfectly.  

Thanks to support to learn and grow at a local and national level, I've met so many remarkable professionals who’ve become mentors and friends. Those connections led me to exciting opportunities like developing a certificate course and teaching for the National Wellness Institute, author an article for the American Journal of Health Promotion, co-host a few episodes of the To Health With It podcast, present at the Detroit Economic Club Young Leaders Conference and speak at the inaugural Disrupt HR Detroit event.  

Looking back, I am in awe of the highlights of the past decade.  How fortunate I have been to have these opportunities which grew me in unexpected ways while walking alongside so many exceptional professionals and friends.  

Looking Forward | Vision | Potential

Through hindsight I know the future will be bright if I continue to do as I have done…keep learning, give back, make new friends and be there for old ones, do good work and care about all of it deeply. As I take this forward, I am excited for the projects I’ll be focused on to kick off the new decade.

• Handing off the Michigan Wellness Council board chair baton to industry veteran Mary Kline.  Mary will be supported by a Rockstar executive team including MaryJo LeFevre (Vice Chair), Joy Burton (Secretary) and David Kure (Treasurer) along with 11 other board members who will lead the charge on a new partnership with the National Wellness Institute.  I have no doubt this next phase of the MWC will be a beautiful evolution of 14 years of foundation-setting work.
• With the support of my company, launching the Growth Collective Podcast. The podcast will be for business leaders who believe there is a better way. Those that believe thriving employees are key to successful organizations, but cannot figure out how to get there or do not have time or perceived ability to get others on board. It will help listeners see how it can be done and break down the steps through conversations with C-suite execs and experts in the behavior change/influence space. Interviews will focus on the before and after and the steps taken to elevate culture and thriving in their organization. 
• Expanding the impact of my efforts to give back with the roll-out of the positivity-in-action Do Love give back brand. You can read more about the story behind Do Love here and watch for news on the first give back campaign later this month.
• Increasing my focus on building thriving cultures and sustainable organizations through coaching, training, assessment, facilitating of strategic planning and application of my Culture Talk Partner skills.  
• Giving back with gratitude for all that got me this far by teaching, training, connecting and sharing lessons, learning and hope for the future.

With sincere belief that the next 10+ years are going to be extraordinary in awesome ways, I invite you to join me in imagining a future full of growth, love, thriving and prosperity.  The possibilities are endless. The soil is fertile and the conditions are right. May the force be with us all as we move forward.