“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.” A former mentor would often quote this while teasingly flapping a Gumby in my face. Ha! Point well taken.

A tangible example are these great ergo friendly monitor arms at work.  What I love most is their ability to directionally change; positioned to the need of the moment. I change them often moving my monitors into closer or distanced ranges, based on my fluid, whimsical needs.

Recently, my friend, Julia Melendez, Administrative Coordinator, Office of the CEO and President, Marathon Oil Company, shared a favorite mantra, “Pivot to Positive, which I quickly translated into this icon, PIVOT²(+).   “Even when you are looking in the rearview mirror; you are still facing forward.”

I have put much thought into her mantra over the past few days. Positive is a choice, requiring action, attitude and discipline. Pivot involves flexibility, fluidity and focus. And your vantage point creates the setting for it all to happen.

The Rearview Mirror:

• I need to understand where I have been. I need to assimilate, on a continual basis, the lessons learned. Equally incorporate the kudos earned, the hard-knocks taken, and the celebrations shared.
• I need to have a view of who or what is approaching from behind. Understand who or what is in my blind spot. Anticipate who or what may aggressively attempt to overtake me, possibly run me over.  And on the flip side of this thought, who is following me, observing my journey for direction in their journey.
• The rearview mirror also provides a perspective, an overview of where I have been. This is important when taking inventory, setting forward goals, and designing the next segment of your journey.

The Side view Mirror:

• Equally important, is that your side view mirrors are properly adjusted. Consider what happens if you collide with someone moving alongside you.  Be mindful that there will always be those who are on the same path, reaching for similar goals, possibly competing for the same position.
• Competitors are not necessarily enemies. Competitors can be peers for which you have great respect and affinity.  If they get that position you desired; take the high road, smile and wish them well – and mean it!  They have worked as strongly as you; acknowledging another’s success adds strength to your internal compass.  Trust life.
• You can still see “snip-its” of passed who and what; it’s moving rather quickly into the rearview and yet you are still progressing with positive, forward motion.

The front view:

• We have straight on, protected view of our path, our journey with vantage viewpoint of immediate, near and far distances.
  • Birds, pebbles, debris and torrential rain – driving to work every morning – need I say more?
• We are capable of making instantaneous calculations – adjustments to our goals, direction and even outcomes by the intelligence gathered while en route.
• A clean, clear view is important. Keep your thoughts, feelings, opinions clear of unwarranted influences. You alone protect your mind and heart.  You alone allow influences that surround you; consider the words and actions of those you allow into these circles.
• Vigilance is important. As conditions, situations, and knowledge of surroundings / landscape change; be sure to adjust accordingly.  Just because you were “all that and a bag of chips” in your last 10 roles, doesn’t mean that the same clout will transfer to your new role.  Be prepared to once again earn your badge of honor(s).  Never fear – if you earned it once, twice or 100 times, it’s in you, it’s who you are, and cream always rises to the top! 

Flexibility:

Don’t forget it’s PIVOT – we are like those monitors I mention in the start of my article.  Left, right, up, down, backward, forwards, landscape, and portrait, at an angle or even perfectly squared top to bottom – we are flexible.

The key take away, is be prepared to Pivot to YOUR POSITIVE position. This is a time of great change; that is forging new paths, paths where the Oil, Gas and Energy industry has never gone.  Understanding that some paths are now obsolete, some paths are unchartered, and some paths are yet to be discovered, but they are paths we must follow to move forward.  We have the right tools to take this journey, we have the intelligence to hugely succeed.

I encourage you to take a stretch, limber up and flex that muscle (brain) – move around in your career, your position, and your team and show how flexible you are.  Position yourself to a positive vantage point!  PIVOT²(+).

For some reason I always picture success as a picturesque snapshot from paradise. The reality is that success often looks like something from a tragic drama. Trying circumstances just might be the beginning of our greatest opportunities for success.

In the mid 1990’s , I was faced with just such a opportunity. I met a woman in the apartment management business. She was a competitor, all 50+ jaded years of her life, and after a brief conversation, I realized this was the “ghost of future career” for me, IF I didn’t change my career path. After about 6 months of muddling about, I came up with a decision and haven’t looked back since.

1. Who am I? (How well do you know yourself?)

• What do you like to do?
  • I like running things, putting chaos into order, tackling insurmountable challenges, and getting and keeping folks on point.  I like working with people. Planning events, arranging travel, and doing it all over and over again.

• What do you do best?
  • For me, taking care of people’s lives, careers, meetings and all things administrative.  I’ve learned to distinguish between my profession and co-dependency…there is a difference. Keeping it healthy is my “motto”.

• What skills are you willing to further develop?
  • There is always room for improvement, and I just want to be the best I can be.  Accounting, bookkeeping, not so much.  Industry knowledge? Certifications? Current skillset? Bring it ON!

• What are your least favorite abilities
  • Let me explain:  Due to my key abilities such as attention to detail, nearly compulsive level determination that all things balance out and demonstrated responsible ethics and behaviors; many folks recommended accounting and bookkeeping jobs.  However, I know myself! When I get tired, I transpose numbers, and while I was good at keeping records, I get bored with lines and rows and columns…not a good fit for a lifetime career.

2. Where’s the market for your abilities?

• Different location – different markets
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a middle market and when there are downturns, often middle market areas are where the “layoff axe” lands.  I learned this after three layoffs in a three year span.  Houston was the closest big city, and I headed west!
  • Houston: As I began my job search, I was asked repeatedly, “In what area are you looking for administrative work?”  I would say something like, “Downtown, Humble area or even, I will travel anywhere I just need a job”, and frankly was puzzled by the puzzled look on each and every recruiter’s face.  I finally gathered the courage to ask, “What exactly do you mean?”  What they really wanted to know? What is your administrative specialty: Oil &Gas, Medical, or Legal.  I was astounded. I was NONE of those things…I was an administrative assistant.

• Regrouping
  • The kind recruiter talked a bit further, and began red marking my resume’, which I promptly revamped, and at her guidance targeted the most lucrative field, Oil & Gas.  She sent me on a “temporary contract” assignment to ExxonMobil, I worked hard and the rest is my career history.

3. Stuck in a rut? Ask for a leg up!

• Speak Up (but be sure to go through the proper channels when possible)
  • I hit the ground running, moved up quickly and after several promotions (and role changes), I landed a long assignment of three-five years. After the seventh year, I realized I was a running on burnout, feeling trapped, bored, frustrated and needed a change.  I was the valuable asset that was easier to keep in place than move over to a new role.  What was I to do.  This asset needed an overhaul!
  • I talked to my manager, I visited with HR, I talked with my manager again, and was pleasantly surprised by what he had to say, and his willingness to make changes to remedy some of the issues I faced. But I still needed a change!

• What I learned
  • When I realized I was stuck…I went back to step one in this article.  Yes, I had to rethink through my blueprint.
  • I spoke up, asked for help.
  • I took suggestions, incorporating what was applicable (use good sense). I made changes and compromises, all the while keeping my compass pointed to my true north.
  • I joined Oil & Gas Admins International in June 2014.  Best move ever!
    • Working with industry peers allowed me to renew appreciation for my employer
    • Networking helped me look at and manage the negative feelings of being “blocked in”
    • Using newly acquired soft skills I turned “burnout” into “re-ignite” and turned the negative to a positive
    • I walk into the “next chapter” with frustrations behind me and knowing I and my abilities are highly valued.

Our success is part of a journey; sometimes we hit gravel pits, washed out bridges, and fog that freezes us in place. When we keep in mind that the present situation is only a leg in the journey, and that the gauge of our success is the arrival at our final destination, we are compelled to focus on the positive, look for possibilities, and keep moving forward.  Whether it’s a hop, skip, tiptoe or crawl; just keep moving forward.  Don’t shy away from the tough times, use your networks, use your resources, use every opportunity.  Each success in your career gives you the courage and faith to move to the next success.

Debra Womack-Bourghs
Executive Ambassador
Oil & Gas Admins International

For the exceptional admin, being exceptional is an everyday occurrence.   I know, this sounds like an oxymoron, but really, isn’t the exceptional way we look at our life, our jobs, our team, even our employers; all elements of what set us apart from the average?

However, we still face hurdles that knock us off our feet. Honestly, I was flat on my face in “stuck mode” when a casual chat with one of our members, Leila Sanchez, Vopak Corporate Ambassador, handed off a bit of information that propelled me over my hurdle.

In 2007, I was assigned to a discrete administrative role, with a promise that I would move to my next assignment within 3-5 years.  Seven years, 4 managers, numerous team rotations and retirements later, I found myself entrenched as the senior staff in a very stressful environment. At first I was flattered, but quickly realized that although my exceptional performances were appreciated and properly reflected in annual ranking and salary treatments, it did little to propel me down the career path I had envisioned. I felt marginalized, and soon my attitude suffered; the unhappiness, resentment and discontent were glaringly evident.  Not one to sit on my laurels, I picked up my toolkit and began working on possible solutions. I admit, the efforts were not pretty!  I knocked down so many hurdles, fell flat on my face, busted my lip, and skinned my knee.   I am not a quitter, so I just got back up and tried a new approach.

This profession requires style; so if your “go-to” style isn’t working, try something new.  My “go-to” styles are more like a marathon or sprint; and it never occurred to me to try the relay. Think of networking as our version of the relay race.  For me, not trying to do the whole race on my own; by acknowledging someone else’s success allowed me to move further, faster.  As I rounded the all too familiar corner, I gracefully cleared the hurdle and crossed the finished line.

Have you ever found yourself smothering underneath a glass ceiling and can’t figure out how to successfully break out?  Here are a few suggestions:

• Use your network!

While I am not a fan of spreading your woes, I am increasingly a fan of building a positive, effective network of peers.

Tip: At our most recent O&GA Monthly Networking Event, Marketing Strategist Michelle Ngome shared on the value of professional networking. Her humorous and ‘common-sense’ approach changed my understanding of smart, safe social media and how it can add value to your professional portfolio. Her e-e-book is available on Amazon.

• Listen, listen, listen – Leila shared a story of moving from one C-level executive assistant to her next role with a new company. How brave she was to step out and find the next step.  Her story had a moral, and impact didn’t settle in until several days later.  Active listening is a skill, practice every chance you get.  What you are hearing might be more important than you know.
• Ask effective questions! Don’t be afraid of the “silly” question.  Are you learning something you never considered?  Is your understanding being broadened?  Then it’s a smart question!  Ask it anyway!
• Empower your experience! Share your story. You have the power to add value to someone else’s career.
• WE are a global network, and no one will understand your work environment better than the members of O&GA. You will be surprised how flat the landscape of our industry environments really are, and how much we have in common. So that tells me we have the ability to change the landscape, add value, color in the spaces and make this an amazing tapestry.
• Get out of denial

Pretending everything is fine only delays the inevitable, and increases your anxiety and unhappiness.  Take that step back, appraise the situation and begin the approach to the hurdle

• Sketch the blueprint

Visualize jumping the hurdle.  Now that you have figured out you are ready to move forward, sketch a plan.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  And it can take place over several weeks.  We all move at a different pace and approach.  Just own it, and you’ll be fine.  Levenger.com has an amazing product called “Ideation Station”, be sure check it out!

• Step out and get moving forward with your plan

Just take the first step, the other steps naturally follow. If you fall down, just get back up, do a quick “lessons learned”, adjust your sketch, then take that next step again.  Sometimes it just takes practice!

The heart of my frustration was that I felt marginalized by management, and in true overachiever style, felt this somehow minimized my effectiveness.  By following the above steps, I was able to gain focus and recalibrate.  Then the AHA moment occurred, I had outgrown my current role, that’s why I was so uncomfortable.   I needed new challenges, growth opportunities, and the answer was simple, expect and accept the new challenges life will provide.  The O&GA Executive Ambassador role opened for me, and that new role with my employer is on the horizon.

By the way, if you want to hear Leila’s story, catch up with her at the O&GA CVE in June!