I was up early this morning, rolling around at 4:00am and in the shower by 5:00. Over coffee I mulled over a new opportunity that excites and un-nerves me. There is a lot about it I love ~ stewarding a high-profile, multi-year, multi-state project – but just as much is unknown which, for me and my planning nature, is unsettling.
It’s brand new, un-defined, and questions I have will be answered in time.
That’s the thing with new opportunities.
- They come to you.
- You may be ready or maybe not.
- You may see them approaching or not notice as they pass by.
I’ve found this to be true – every job, role, assignment, and committee I’ve led or contributed to, every start and stop, frustration and success, every win and loss, each and every one brought me right to this moment.
I’m confident in my abilities, but even more so in my ability to be discerning.
I said yes.

So I’ll ask you:
- What does your decision-making process look like?
- How does Faith guide you?
- What’s the last big thing you said yes to?
I did best in my work life when I took a job that was newly created and I got to define it my way. I also did best when I led a project. Those were my best work experiences. Maybe I’m a better leader than follower or maybe I get frustrated by stodgy management. Good for you and I know you will be a star. I’ve followed you for years and I can hear the joy you get from your work.
Thank you, I realized in the “mulling” that I also enjoy taking on new challenges that are undefined, where I can create the role and lead. I also get frustrated easily by slow/stodgy management and since they tend to come to me anyways, I might as well lead the pack. My favorite boss in the whole wide world, about 8 jobs ago, had this sign on his desk, “If you’re not the lead dog the view never changes.” HA!
Thank you for also recognizing the joy in this post ~ it hit me this morning that this opportunity is one I’ve manifested …….. ooh, there it is! -MJ
And I’m sure that, whatever it is, you will ROCK it!
Well thank you for the vote of confidence! I am leaning in and learning more .. and that makes it fun. Bests to you, MJ
I’d work for you in a heart beat! Contrat’s on the new opportunity. Your mom would be proud.
(congrats/ not contrats) 🙂
^I gotcha! MJ
aww, thank you, what a kind thing to say. Mom would be proud indeed; she always urged me to “get in there and get it done,” and I do. Thanks, DM! MJ
How exciting for you! I hope your new endeavor is everything and more. With every big and meaningful decision in my life, I’ve followed a combination of my head (the pros and cons list) and heart. These days especially, the deciding vote is cast by my heart. I’m not sure what my last big decision was, but I remember making the decision to go back to college (maritime – military style – academy) when I was 26, on my dime, eight years older than most of my classmates. I took a month to make the decision and I’ll never regret it.
Thank you~ and I agree and take a similar approach to yours, using the the pro/con list, the heart and head list, and sometimes I just rip the band-aid off and go! Some deliberations take longer than others but, for the most part I have surgical decisiveness. When I don’t, I examine why. Thanks for weighing in, Susan! MJ
I tend to be a go-with-my-gut kind of decision-maker. I’ve learned that my inner voice usually tells me what I need to know.
Wishing you much success in this new opportunity!
Thank you, Tee! I do think that, as we get older, we listen to that inner voice a lot more. I sure do!
Happy Easter to you and your family ~ MJ