Have you ever heard of the book "Who Moved My Cheese"? This classic is something I think everyone should read and re-read regularly. It's on my own to-do list this week.
I'm writing this post and thinking about what I was doing 24 hours ago. I was getting ready to birth a new baby: Pink Petro. But honestly these feelings aren't new. They are just a little different.
When my kid, Ally Ninjaneer was entering the world, I remember nights before I was frantically preparing last minute items. My life was changing. I was bringing something new into the world, completely unknown with no documented process or formal training. And then she came. Ally was born. The first several weeks were hell. I didn't sleep, ate rarely, and wreaked of disorganization. But this was one of the most welcomed and celebrated events of my life. It was a conscious choice to embrace growth head on, not knowing what was ahead of me.
Yesterday I had another one of those moments. I moved my cheese.
This shift came with the deep belief that we can build Pink Petro into a community of voices that can not only help each other succeed but bring forward our industry for the next generation and those to come. It's about bringing technology, people, conversation and a relentless focus that we can close the gender gap and bring about change to this industry, and to our world. Oh, it's fun but it's hard work, y'all!
Last year I moved my cheese.
After years of routine medical checkups in the clear, my cervical cancer came back just 8 weeks before I was set to leave BP. I could have taken the next job lined up for me or I could take a package. Walking away is the hardest thing to do sometime. But I took that package knowing it would ultimately be the best thing for me longer term, and I was right. (And I'm fine. I received the all clear six months later.)
Cheese = Change.
And change is hell. Let's be real. It's the hardest thing we have to face in life. We can either have it put on us or we can create our own. But it comes with a choice. You can fight it, resist it, or try and avoid it all together and put your head in the sand. Or you can "go with it" and be courageous. You can get up every day not knowing 100% of what is in front of you. And courage isn't easy either. But cheese and courage makes us strong.
I don't know what every day will bring, but I personally choose to move with my cheese with courage. I'd rather go big than to sit in the corner afraid. Life is too short.
Have you got some stories of when you chose courage? I'd love to hear them.
