The Day I Became Unapologetically Me – WorkHuman

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 2007. I was a Recruiter at a boutique staffing firm in Miami unsure of where to turn. The market was changing, and it was hitting my family in the pockets. My husband was injured at work and I became the primary income for my family. If I couldn’t place candidates, we were not going to eat. Period. I had to figure out a way to be successful against all odds, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I felt alone.

I have always been ‘different.’ Not in a negative way – just different. And the new situation I was in was intimidating. To survive, I tried to be like the people I saw who were successful, and in the process, I was, abandoning who I was created to be. It was then that I came across a book, Rules for Renegades - How to Make More Money, Rock Your Career, and Revel in Your Individuality by Christine Comaford. My life changed starting with the preface: 

‘You’re a renegade — You have a level of passion and commitment that others don’t. You’re apt to break the rules that are blocking you from getting things done. You’re a renegade because you want to build something great, have a fulfilling career, and not be required to sacrifice yourself on the altar of success.’

Rules for Renegades became my baseline for my life. I am proud to say that with this book as a guide, I was able to “intentionally evolve.” I bucked the ‘hide who you are’ trend and worked on always being my best authentic self. And yes, I would be me, but I still suffered from imposter syndrome, that nagging feeling in the back of your mind that makes you question your achievements and makes you feel as if you’re not good enough.

Flash forward to 2017 when I learned about the WorkHuman conference. I was ecstatic because Michelle Obama was the keynote. I also remember being terrified because this was not the usual conference that I would attend. At this point I was known as an HR professional, recruiter, sourcer, trainer and thought leader. But WorkHuman was new to me and I was not sure if I would fit in. But if you have been to WorkHuman, you will know that I saw that perfectly placed sign at every conference when you walk in that says, “You Belong Here” and my fears started fading away as I made an effort to be in the moment. I went back to my life guide and got ready to ‘Rock Rejection and Finesse Failure’ (Rule Number 5 in the book.) I set out with a learning mindset and dug in. The best part, I found my tribe. A tribe that appreciated me for my unique gifts and taught me how to appreciate others for theirs.

Flash forward again to WorkHuman 2018. Christine Comaford was one of the speakers. Finally, I had the opportunity to tell her what her work meant to me. I waited in line to see her session and it was full. I literally cried. But, the folks at WorkHuman let me know that she would be signing her book and they would make sure I was in the front of the line. For an hour, I was shaking with anticipation. And then there she was. And I blubbered through my testimony and thanked her, and she replied, “I knew when I was writing that book that someone needed that message. It was you! I wrote it for you!” I still cry when I think about it. I was able to get an autographed copy of her book, Power Your Tribe: Create Resilient Teams in Turbulent Times.

Flash forward to WorkHuman 2019, when I was blessed with the opportunity to see Christine again. My biggest takeaways? Reframe negativity by responding with togetherness. Helping folks understand they are not alone in a difficult situation makes the experience less scary.  Also, nothing is good or bad. It is your thinking that makes it so. Unbeknownst to Christine, we have had an 11-year journey of lessons and learning. Additionally, I have a 3-year journey of lessons and learning from my WorkHuman tribe.

It was years ago that I learned to be me; my best self. But through WorkHuman, I have learned skills to help me build as a person at the same time as learning to be a better employee, recruiter and HR professional. This is the only conference dedicated to ‘helping educate, energize, and engage business and HR leaders to build a more human-focused work culture.’ It is time to remember why it is called “Human” Resources.

Please allow this to serve as your invitation to join us in 2020 in Denver for the next WorkHuman where you may have an opportunity to meet your hero, find your tribe or learn to be unapologetically you. Just know that when you are at WorkHuman, you truly belong.