Courage, Clarity, and Confidence

11Putting the Pieces Together

In the previous chapters, I've asked you to get reacquainted with yourself. To intentionally reflect, consider, evaluate, and explore. To go beyond the surface and inquisitively seek out understanding, meaning, and interconnections of your own experiences in your career and life experiences. My goal was to help you see yourself clearly. To recognize who you are, just as you are. And to know how much power you have in your own life and career. To know you are enough. Another degree or certification, while worthwhile, will not change that you are qualified NOW to pursue and achieve your career goals.

If you're like me, navigating each part of the ASCEND practice, before it became a framework, was the first time I really connected with myself from a big‐picture perspective, recognized the relationship between the dots in my life and career, and understood the interdependence between my personal and professional life. Up until that point I had always viewed them as separate. I was taught to believe that my professional life gave pathway to my personal life, not the other way around. Now I absolutely believe that the personal is the pathway to the professional. Identifying, understanding, and coming into alignment with your strengths, values, experience, story, and vision is a power move that gives you the boldness to do anything in your career.

Doing the work contained within each step of the ASCEND practice can be intense, as I am sure you've noticed, ...