“You playing small does not serve the world,” says Marian Hodges. She believes that when you let your own light shine, you give others permission to do the same. As the VP of Operations for her company, Data Reality, Marian is doing just that. She shines with some brilliant lessons and insights:

Harmony and Bravery. First of all, Marian doesn’t believe in work-balance (neither do I!). Instead, for Marian, it’s all about harmony and also about being brave. You have to make choices and ‘use your super power’. Sometimes those choices will require risk and they may be counter to what others would recommend, but you have to take leaps and risks to be successful.

Love What You Do. Marian says she’s never had a job in her life because she’s always loved what she’s done. The moment a job has gone flat or failed to demand her best, she has moved on to other opportunities. Confucius says: “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Marian has made this true and never more so than when she recommended the elimination of her own job. She was working at a communications company helping to reorganize and rethink the work. It became clear to her that her own role wasn’t optimal in the new organization so she recommended its elimination to her boss. Reluctantly, her boss agreed, and Marian was off to her next bright chapter.

Be Intentional About Your Goals. Marian finds there is power in making a decision and in being intentional about a goal. Once she made a decision to move on, she had another job offer within 3 weeks. She attributes this success to her clarity and the willingness to make tradeoffs. She rejects the concept of sacrifice and instead says that life is about tradeoffs. There are always pros and cons, you just have to be a grown-up and make mature decisions. Marian recently moved from Silicon Valley to South Bend, Indiana. While the location may seem surprising to some, it has been perfect for her. She is creating the future every day in a startup firm where she is developing the organization’s culture, doing things that have never been done before, and using data in transformative ways. Very cool!!

The Time is Now. Another Marian-ism (I’m drawn to all of Marian’s memorable turns-of-phrase!) is this: All the work you’ve done up to this point is for this very moment. The time is now, she says, and you have everything you need in this moment to be your very best and make your very best contribution to the world. When she was young and idealistic and full of energy (how is that different from today?), Marian worked closely with a social justice activist who organized a rainbow of people to make communities successful. This rich experience is an example of all that came before, contributing to today’s opportunity to make an impact.

Make New Space. Marian also embraces her community. She says that if you want to make a new space, and make your way in a new space, you need to connect with people who are objective and encouraging. No one will do it for you, she says. In addition, Marian says you have to compare yourself with high caliber people. There may be people who recommend paths that are less than what you know you can achieve. In those cases you should listen politely, say ‘thank you’, and go your own way.

Be a Work in Progress. Marian also takes time for herself. Sometimes we can feel guilty about taking time for ourselves, but we shouldn’t. Marian challenges herself every day to make time for herself. She knows that doing this will help her be her best self. “I’m a work in progress,” she says, “I need time to figure myself out.”

So back to bravery: “When did we become timid?” Marian asks. We need to step out and try things. It’s like looking at the stars. At first you just see a jumble of stars – data points, and things you’re learning – but life is about perceiving constellations. Look for patterns in life and the ways you’ll make an impact. Do things that you want to be remembered for, whether they are big or small. Let your constellation shine.

Would you like to tell your story? If so, let me know by emailing me at tbrower108@gmail.com. Why? One of the foundations of Bringing Work to Life is abundance: the idea that it is possible to find fulfillment, have it all, and avoid the trade-offs between work and life. After all, work and life aren’t separate things to be placed in containers, but part of an integrated whole of a satisfying life. Another foundation of Bringing Work to Life is the idea of multiple right answers. As we’re all seeking ways to bring work to life – and bring life to work – we can learn from each other’s unique solutions and stories. I’d love to learn about your story! 

Tracy Brower is the author of Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work: A Guide for Leaders and Organizations.