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    Holiday Reflections

    Holiday Reflections

    by | Dec 17, 2018 | IT People, Welcome

    The Holidays are my favorite time of year.  We kick it off with a feast at Thanksgiving, round it out with Christmas or Hanukkah festivities, toast the night away on New Year’s Eve and then begin again on New Year’s Day.  Each step along the way is special in it is own right.   

     It is also that time of year for reflection. Each of us hold our own meaning for the holidays as well as our own memories.  For some, holidays bring more pain that joy when we think of times gone by, loved ones that are no longer with us (either by death or other factors), and possibly the struggle over the past year and the curve balls life has thrown our way.   

     Knowing that soon we will leave this year behind to focus on the year ahead is what I love best about these holidays. Memories of past years flood my mind at random times without purpose or cause.  Thoughts of times with family and friends and the memories of our time with our children when they were young bring smiles.   

     At the same time, we are living in the present. Every moment we are making new memories that will be there for us to recall in the years to come.  We do not spend enough time taking inventory of the gifts life has offered to us.   Sometimes, the swirl of the world around us distracts us from seeing the lights in our life. 

     As I reflect on the words and phrases that highlight my thoughts these days, I wonder what your reflections are and how different my reflections are from yours? 

    •  Family and friends, our children, brothers and sisters and, most of all, my grandchildren,
      nieces      , and nephews – all the little ones who someday will rule the world
      (or push my wheel chair –       whatever comes first) 
    • Parents and loved ones that are no longer with us…wishing they were here and
      recalling memories       of them with a smile
    • Gatherings, parties, food, and more food
    • Red and Green all over, along with trees, lights, and snowman décor everywhere
    • Picking the perfect presents… forever grateful for online shopping
    • Travel and weather with hopes that one does not interfere with the other
    • Change of seasons, short days and the Winter Solstice, gleeful the days will start to grow longer  

    As we move into the last few days before Christmas, remember to breathe. Then, join me in reflecting on the joys of the season and revel in its magic. It will make those holiday lights ever so bright.  

     Wishing you all a wonderful, happy, and peaceful Holiday Season!  

    Until next time, have an effective week!   To further this week’s conversation, schedule time with me and let’s talk! 

     Coming soon:  Architecting the Technical People Leader – a six-month experience based learning opportunity for a small group of IT managers kicking off Feb 15, 2019.  

    Let’s Talk sponsored by www.ITeffectivity.com – an IT management and advisory practice targeting CIO’s challenge of leading and delivering business solutions with a focus on effective people and process capabilities.
    Discover the possibilities by scheduling a complimentary strategy
    session with Mary Patry.

    Schedule a Meeting with Mary
    Welcome

    Welcome

    by | Dec 7, 2018 | Welcome

    Welcome to Let’s Talk and the re-launch of the ITEffectivity website. I am Mary Patry.  I partner with IT leaders to help them address conflicting demands that prevent them from focusing on their strategic and innovation agenda.  In my work with IT executives and their teams, we explore beyond the what and how they deliver services to the business.  We look deep into the WHY.  

    WHY can be an uncomfortable word. It can feel challenging or criticizing.  It can also be the word that will help you look beyond the surface.  I’ve found that when we discover the true WHY, the what and how are much easier.   

    My Story  

    I was asked “Why?” often as friends and family struggled to understand the reason that I would pivot my successful thirty-five-year career as an IT executive leader to focus on coaching.  Or, as my son once said to me a few years back “Is it worth it at your age?” My response… “Why not? It makes me happy.”  

    Discovering your why is a journey for sure.  My journey to understand my why started with reading a paragraph from chapter three of Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why”.   

    “WHY: Very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. When I say WHY, I don’t mean to make money—that’s a result. By WHY I mean what is your purpose, cause or belief? WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care? “ 

    This single paragraph did not tap me on the shoulder, it slapped me across the face.  Though my job came with a good salary and benefits, it had stopped feeling good.  It was no longer fun.  More than that, I knew it was a time for a change.  But what?  

    This revelation created a conflict.  I wasn’t emotionally or financially positioned to retire.  I knew I had more to give to the world.  At the same time, too much of my identity was wrapped around my work, my title, my salary, and my perception of “value” to just give it up.  My new revelation pushed the edges of my favorite mantra: “Do something every day that scares you” a little too far.  I am not a person willing to wallow in fright, so I went in search of answers.  

    Fortunately, a colleague and friend suggested that an Executive Coach might help me in my quest.  I cringed at the idea but could not deny that I could use help to sort it out.  I resorted to one of my favorite questions, “What is the worst that could happen?”  With that confidence in hand, I called the executive coach.  That call, and 6 months of a coaching relationship formed my purpose and a path.  

    Most importantly, I discovered my purpose had always been there.  A purpose that is based on core values of respect and caring for the well-being of my peers and employees and the power of teams.  I discovered that throughout my career technology had been a tool, a mechanism – my true joy was found in the mentoring and coaching of IT people.  

    Once I figured out my WHY, ITEffectivity, LLC was created with the sole purpose of working with IT executives and leaders to develop their skills as leaders and professionals. Over the last five years, I’ve been rewarded by partnering with over 50 IT leaders as they forged their own path. “Why” can be an uncomfortable word. It can feel challenging or criticizing.  It can also be the word that will help you look beyond the surface.  I’ve found that when we discover the true WHY, the what and how are much easier.   

    Here we are, together now. You can count on seeing leadership perspectives and lessons learned each week.  In turn, I hope you will share your thoughts and feedback with me. Yes, I take topic requests too.   

    In addition, I will be announcing a group coaching and learning experience targeted to the mid and entry IT manager.  It will be a collaborative six-month program in which a small group of IT managers with common work experience, requirements, and challenges come together to develop their management skills, learn from an experience IT executive practitioner and collaborate with their peers.  The promise of this program is in transforming the lone wolf technologist into the leader of the pack.  

    Until next week, have an effective week!   To further this week’s conversation, schedule time with me and let’s talk! 

    Let’s Talk sponsored by www.ITeffectivity.com – an IT management and advisory practice targeting CIO’s challenge of leading and delivering business solutions with a focus on effective people and process capabilities.
    Discover the possibilities by scheduling a complimentary strategy
    session with Mary Patry. 

    Schedule a Meeting with Mary