Success is its own reward. Sometimes it takes time to truly understand this thought. For Cindi it took 15 years, but her success came and has helped her learn who she is and who she wants to be. Learn from both your mistakes and your moments of success and find your identity.
By Cindi Schultz
It has taken a long time but recognizing my talents and dealing with my weaknesses has taken at least 15 years (and if I’m completely honest I am a long way from finished). I am a strong leader, but I take time to think things through — not valued in corporate world. Yet this ‘digestion’ time has served me very well. Early in my ‘job’ career, almost all of what I now see as talent was seen as weakness in the corporate environment. I am passionate, I am compassionate, I like to have fun and joke around, I see my team as partners not staff (big problem in the corporate world). For anyone struggling with conflicting professional values; it’s important to identify and recognize the values that are contributing to moving forward and those that are keeping them from success and grow the values and skills that get the results they want.
Success and Value
As I moved from being a staff person to a consultant in 2001, I still struggled with valuing my own unique way of handling a team. I kept trying to make myself into the perfect corporate consultant. Although I have had great success, the impact on me personally has been this gap in accepting my personal set of skills compared to the groups of skills that are obviously accepted in the corporate environment. It took years but I never doubt my ability to manage, hire and recognize brilliance among my team (and now, thankfully myself). If there is one takeaway from me sharing my story, it would be to do your best to remove the assumption that confidence is seen negatively— It’s gorgeous.
I have built a successful consultancy of Technical writers & eLearning developers using my own skills to build a completely virtual team consulting with one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. A wonderful learning experience and one I would not trade for anything. But accepting and fully appreciating my own brand of talent (and the time it took to build this talent over these years) has also led to appreciating the passion I have for creating a community full of resources for women who don’t have access to a mastermind model of people to call on for support and help.
Every success and every mistake has created who I am today…
Every success and every mistake made has become an important part of who I am today. My proudest achievement has been to build this small company that has had such a positive impact on the companies it serves. My team is able to perform their own work 100-percent remotely while working with people all over the globe. One of the primary reasons I am so proud of this work is that it has also been the hallmark of my own life’s goals; to support my children through their lives.
Maybe this is the bigger story, but I divorced 15 years ago and at that time with a 15 year old, 9 year old and 5 year old the only thing ringing in my ears were the persistent belittling comments of my ex and his parting words of ‘you’ll never do anything without me’.
Success is its own reward is a true statement. Belief in oneself is the ultimate reward because with it you can do anything including failing forward toward amazing joy and success.
Take your step toward success!
Cindi answers the Identity 5:
What have you accepted in your life that took time, physically or mentally?
The ability to recognize that the skills that make me successful are a unique fit for myself and my company.
What do you appreciate about yourself and within your life?
The support of my grown children and my family and now the networking groups I am blessed to be a part of.
What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? What goals do you still have?
Building a company that supports 5 contractors and their families, supports my family and generates 235k a year.
My ‘to do’ goal is to build a community full of resources for women who don’t have access to a mastermind model of people to call on for support and help (focused on personal goals not necessarily business development).
What is your not-so-perfect way? What imperfections and quirks create your Identity?
My not perfect way is perfect for my style. I tend to take time to evaluate decisions and bring on people who I want to partner with more than manage. It keeps things moving forward and makes me challenged.
How would you complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
Brain. It’s creative, open to learning and lets me be at peace no matter the decision outcome.
All of Identity’s October articles will be representing the Charity, Sole Ryeders. Sole Ryeders will be raising money for a fund to supply Breast BFFL Bags to the under-served in White Plains, NY at White Plains Hospital. Tax Deductible donations can be made directly to the hospital or Sole Ryeders. Please feel free to make a donation below.
