Women and Wagon Wheels
About 35 years ago while I was sitting in an Executive meeting with all the heads of their departments, I realized I did not think like they thought or interact with my staff the way they interacted with theirs. I wondered why.
There were six of us in that meeting. I was the only woman.
I actually thought, "Oh my goodness, there's one vagina and five penises in this meeting!" (I realize that's an interesting thought to have.)
And I also thought, "That's not the only thing that makes us different."
I liked how I interacted with my staff; how I said please and thank you, and that we could also laugh in our meetings. My door was open to everyone. I wanted and appreciated the give and take, the questions and answers going in both directions - from me to them and from them to me.
I remember telling my staff to think of our work like a wagon wheel: the hub (me), the spokes (my direct staff), and the rim/wheel (the workers carrying out the job).
Why? Because not one of us could do the work on our own.-- Because nothing operates entirely on its own.
Let's remember there are also the less-visible parts of an actual wagon wheel: the connections, fasteners, tension, balance, alignment, and relationship among the parts that allow the wheel to function. That's also true in life. We're all connected.
So, 35 years later the wagon wheel has re-entered my brain, because I am in the process of designing a new program. And once again I was thinking of a wagon wheel, and communication going both ways, supportive relationships, and a circle representing movement, transformation, and wholeness.
The hub in my new program is Move Beyond Survival: From Life's Challenges to Life's Possibilities. The spokes are the tranformational opportunities: guides, ebooks, webinars, workshops, programs, coaching experiences, and the women who participate. The rim/wheel is each woman and the transformation and wholeness she experiences.
My belief is that transformation happens in relationship with ourselves (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually), with others, with community, our environment or surroundings, and with the life we are creating.
Women have told me this type of program is what they want. I know I'm excited about it. Stay tuned. I will keep you posted.
Until then, keep moving in the direction of Life's Possibilities.
To Your Courageous Self!
Edie
Transformational Life Coach
PS Please forgive me for not saying "Forward ho!" (from the old TV series, Wagon Train)
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