MY TAPESTRY - END OF THE WEEK REFLECTIONS
It's a quiet Sunday afternoon. Michael has been sick all week, so is resting. His niece and her two children are visiting, so the kids are all across the street at grandmas, playing. Tomorrow Kiera leaves for camp - the first time! I am not traveling at all this week (the first time in at least 3 months that I'm home) and Kiera is going to be gone all week. Sigh...
From a business perspective, the last 10 days has yielded some disappointment. We were advising two separate clients who were working toward acquiring other companies, and both were outbid by others at the 11th hour. The potential of more work immediately ensuing from those clients, seemingly dashed (at least for the time being).
At the same time, a new client emerged, a referral from a colleague and the work that they want to pursue dovetails perfectly into another venture that we have been planning for months now. That is really the story of my business life - one opportunity out the window and another walks through the door.
Have you ever looked at your past, at the things that at the time were really devastating and then look at what happened as a result? The good things that came out of the bad? Or looked at people that you would have never met if circumstances hadn't occurred the way that they did?
Nearly 20 years ago I was up for a promotion to a training job and one of my colleagues at American Airlines/Sabre got the job instead. I really felt awful about it and watched her rise in the ranks, gaining the accolades, wishing that it were me. But about 6 months later I was selected for a special project. I had previously been a documentation analyst in the development group, but was picked to explore a new business opportunity.
I had to investigate it from the ground up - doing the research, looking at competitors. In short, creating the full business plan to determine whether we wanted to build a new capability for the corporate travel marketplace or buy it. I ended up leading a team that acquired a company and then being responsible for integrating it into the Sabre division, ultimately becoming a Senior Director in the Company, with the responsibilities as acting CEO of the new group. All at age 28 -- me the college dropout!
Out of my disappointment in the other woman's gain and my loss, came the foundation for a career that I love. Had I gotten the other job, there is no telling what I would be doing today.
We can't generally see through disappointment to the other side and the good that can result, particularly when we are in the thick of the emotion that ensues. Sometimes all we see are knots and loose threads, not aware that a gorgeous tapestry is emerging on the other side.
My favorite verse of all time is from Psalms, Chapter 139 verse 13, which says that when I was still in my mother's womb, that He fearfully and wonderfully made me and that His eyes saw my unformed substance and in His book were written all the days that were ordained for me -- when as yet none of them had even occurred!
Romans 8:28 says that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
I am so thankful that I don't have to rely on fate or chance to take me to the next place in life. By choice, I live by faith in a plan created from the foundations of the earth. A tapestry that is unfolding, one panel at a time. I can't wait to see what He has for me next!
What state is your tapestry in today?
Image courtesy of the GoldenTapestry.com - Children's Tapestry of Hope
It's a quiet Sunday afternoon. Michael has been sick all week, so is resting. His niece and her two children are visiting, so the kids are all across the street at grandmas, playing. Tomorrow Kiera leaves for camp - the first time! I am not traveling at all this week (the first time in at least 3 months that I'm home) and Kiera is going to be gone all week. Sigh...
From a business perspective, the last 10 days has yielded some disappointment. We were advising two separate clients who were working toward acquiring other companies, and both were outbid by others at the 11th hour. The potential of more work immediately ensuing from those clients, seemingly dashed (at least for the time being).
At the same time, a new client emerged, a referral from a colleague and the work that they want to pursue dovetails perfectly into another venture that we have been planning for months now. That is really the story of my business life - one opportunity out the window and another walks through the door.
Have you ever looked at your past, at the things that at the time were really devastating and then look at what happened as a result? The good things that came out of the bad? Or looked at people that you would have never met if circumstances hadn't occurred the way that they did?
Nearly 20 years ago I was up for a promotion to a training job and one of my colleagues at American Airlines/Sabre got the job instead. I really felt awful about it and watched her rise in the ranks, gaining the accolades, wishing that it were me. But about 6 months later I was selected for a special project. I had previously been a documentation analyst in the development group, but was picked to explore a new business opportunity.
I had to investigate it from the ground up - doing the research, looking at competitors. In short, creating the full business plan to determine whether we wanted to build a new capability for the corporate travel marketplace or buy it. I ended up leading a team that acquired a company and then being responsible for integrating it into the Sabre division, ultimately becoming a Senior Director in the Company, with the responsibilities as acting CEO of the new group. All at age 28 -- me the college dropout!
Out of my disappointment in the other woman's gain and my loss, came the foundation for a career that I love. Had I gotten the other job, there is no telling what I would be doing today.
We can't generally see through disappointment to the other side and the good that can result, particularly when we are in the thick of the emotion that ensues. Sometimes all we see are knots and loose threads, not aware that a gorgeous tapestry is emerging on the other side.
My favorite verse of all time is from Psalms, Chapter 139 verse 13, which says that when I was still in my mother's womb, that He fearfully and wonderfully made me and that His eyes saw my unformed substance and in His book were written all the days that were ordained for me -- when as yet none of them had even occurred!
Romans 8:28 says that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
I am so thankful that I don't have to rely on fate or chance to take me to the next place in life. By choice, I live by faith in a plan created from the foundations of the earth. A tapestry that is unfolding, one panel at a time. I can't wait to see what He has for me next!
What state is your tapestry in today?
Image courtesy of the GoldenTapestry.com - Children's Tapestry of Hope
1 comment:
Wow, I can relate with everything you wrote! What we don't know doesn't change what we do know! God is faithful and HIS plan for our lives is good.
LN
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