April
25
Finding My Parking Spot: A Professional Development Analogy
It was a rare occasion that my husband and I could have a date on a school night. We were both rushing from work and planned to meet at the movie theatre.
I was familiar with the theatre and the attached parking deck. I knew exactly where I wanted to park – it was my spot. It was a row near the stairwell with the best access to the movie theatre. I would be one flight down and would get there in no time.
I drove around. No parking spaces. I thought for sure one would open up. I just needed to have a little more patience. I drove around in circles, looking for openings close to my prime location. I looked for people who appeared to be going to their cars and hopefully exiting the parking deck.
No luck.
I began to consider options. A ha! I could go down another level and walk up two flights of stairs instead of one. I found the ramp down and drove to search for my parking spot.
Still no luck.
As I was driving around, I saw a spot available.
My eyes lit up. Yippee! My strategy worked.
When I pulled in, I saw an EV charging station and realized that spot was not for me. Briefly, I considered buying an EV car, but that was going to take a long time and I wasn’t sure that I wanted one long term.
So I went back up a level to my original section. Surely, something opened up by now.
Nope. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
At this point the movie was about to start. I drove past several stairwells and lo and behold – there was a spot available!
This was my spot!
I pulled in and walked a little further than I originally planned. But I made it to the movie on time and had a wonderful evening with the hubby.
The Professional Development Analogy
As I was driving in circles in the parking deck, I was contemplating my current career situation. Like many of us, I have felt stuck in my career advancement, looking for the right opportunities to use my skills and passions for an organization that will value them. I’ve been told that I was overqualified, and in the same breath I’ve been shut down for opportunities for growth.
I was thinking of all the times people have told me to wait and be patient – the right opportunity will come along. Or, maybe you should look at something with fewer requirements (down a level). And even the thoughts that I have had about obtaining additional certifications or degrees (like buying an Electric Vehicle).
And all the while, I watched others with my same qualifications pull into what I thought was my parking spot. And I would often waste time wondering what was so special about those individuals – I mean cars – that they got the parking space that I was eyeing.
And it dawned on me that it was not only having the right skills, but also just a pure luck and timing factor. It was their spot; it was their time. And – like I’ve been happy for colleagues afforded opportunities – I was happy that those cars got those parking spaces.
See, that day, in that section – what I thought was my desired location – was not my parking space. And I was ok with that. The space that I parked in – with a little bit of a longer walk – was my parking space. I found my spot. It was where I belonged and served it’s function – it kept my car safe and I was able to see a movie with great company.
The Moral of the Story: Have aspirations and know where you want to go. Maybe a spot will open up, but maybe it won’t. That is ok. Drive around – there’s another space for you.
…and wait for another day….
The very next day, I got a prime spot at the mall.
Lead and Deliver 