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| c. MGM Studios |
Everyone is on their own "yellow brick road." We all wear ruby slippers that give us the power to go where we need to go. Almost magically, we encounter those people along the way who happen to come at the right time. Unbeknownst to them, they might be the Lion bringing us courage. They might be the Tin Man, who brings us the heart or the compassion we need, and they could be the scarecrow helping us to think through our journey. We also encounter Flying Monkeys. They are the people or events that test us, test our resolve, and challenge our fears. The Yellow Brick Road is filled with all sorts of twists and turns, people and challenges.
At the end of the Yellow Brick Road, the Great Oz is revealed. We get to see behind the curtain, the real workings of Oz. That kind of illumination is rare. Very few people get to see it, and yet, it adds tremendous value.
With Everyone's Ruby Slippers, we'll get a chance to learn about other people's journeys. How have they gotten to where they are? What have been those defining moments in their lives? Also, we'll get to peek behind their curtain. What does a program director do? What is a school counselor's day like? What does a jeweler do all day?
My hope is that this will be a mix of education and inspiration. We'll get a chance to learn a little bit about those jobs we may have never considered. We will also get to learn about a side of people we never get to see - the experiences and beliefs that brought them to us and brought them to where they are.
As for my own Yellow Brick Road...
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| c. Richard Scarry |
As a girl, I was fascinated by Richard Scarry's book, What Do People Do All Day?. Without fully realizing it until now, I've had a curiosity about what other people's days looked like throughout my life.
Several years ago, I was curious as to what a CEO did all day. I contacted a family friend who happened to be the CEO of the 4th largest insurance company in the country to see if I could shadow him for a day. He couldn't have been more gracious and allowed me to join him at work. I attended his staff meeting, he took me through their newly formed brand strategy, and I listened to an investor's call. What I took away from that experience was how I could feel, see, and almost touch the integrity that existed within that company and how much it was fostered by the people. It was so refreshing from what I was experiencing at my own company at the time that I found myself thinking, "I could honestly work for this company." Considering I was working for one of the most sought-after, highly recognized companies in the world and had what I thought was my dream job, this was a remarkable statement for me to think and would lead me to this exact spot.
I also have always been curious about what my friends and family days entailed. This curiosity has stemmed from two desires: the desire to get to know a side of them I rarely experience and the desire to "see behind the curtain." What is it REALLY like to be a lawyer? A teacher? A program director?
I have left the aforementioned, highly recognized company and am now embarking on my own journey. I don't know what my Oz will look like, but I'm most excited to just experience the road.
Let's get our ruby slippers on!
