Kay’s Story

“You need to tell your story.” I hear those words from people time and time again.

So… I offer part of my story so you can understand why I am passionate about helping Extreme Leaders find their way to more money, more meaning and far greater contribution in life.

At the age of 24 I was flying high. I had been awarded my company’s Presidential Award for outstanding performance and was promoted to manager of the company’s flagship contract which was in deep financial trouble.

Within a few months I transformed the company’s biggest loser into a highly profitable machine. Under my leadership, the net monthly income was the highest ever recorded by the company.

Nothing could stop me now. I was on the fast track to career success. Once again, I had accomplished what no one else could. I waited for my boss to call and congratulate me on the astounding success I had achieved.

The call came but there were no congratulations.

“I have a letter on my desk signed by all of your employees. They say you are a cold, heartless bitch. They hate you. I don’t know what you are doing, but you’ve got to stop it and STOP IT NOW!” I’d like to tell you that I was instantly transformed and became filled with charity and goodness as a leader. But, no. It would take more than one wake-up call to reach me.

“Cold, heartless bitch.” The words echoed in my head. Hanging up the phone I trembled with rage at the betrayal of my employees. “How dare they do that to me after my hard work saved their jobs! No one works harder than I do. No one makes the sacrifices I make. No one is going to stop me from being successful. I’ll show them.” I silently fumed and plotted my revenge.

From this point forward, it would be guerilla warfare at work.

Several months passed. A cold war raged. I continued to achieve stellar financial results in spite of my staff. No one was going to stop me.

Early one Saturday morning I was relaxing at home after working for two weeks solid. The phone rang. It was work. One of my employees, a college student named Steve, had not shown up for work. Could I come in to work? No one else was available to come in.

Anger ran through me as I remembered seeing Steve the night before. He drove by my house with his car filled with college guys. Honking and waving at me it was obvious they had already started their Friday night partying.

As I dressed for work, I rehearsed what I was going to say to Steve once he had the decency to show up. I was going to make sure he never did that to me again. How irresponsible!

Once I got to work, I spent all morning consumed with anger. I was going to rip Steve to shreds for his laziness. At 11:00 am, the phone rang. It was for me. Who could be calling for me on a Saturday at work – especially since I had been scheduled for a day off?

“Hello?”

On the other end of the phone, I heard a weary woman’s voice. “Hi Kay. This is Steve’s mom. I’m sorry I’m calling so late, but he would want you to know why he’s not at work today. Last night Steve was in a horrible car accident. He’s in the ICU. The doctors don’t think he will make it. He loves his job and he especially loves you. Can you please come see him when you get off from work?”

At that moment, the brutal truth hit me in the face. My employees weren’t the problem. No. The problem was ME. I had automatically assumed Steve was lazy, irresponsible and malicious.

My second wake-up call had tapped me on the head with a telephone pole.

Three days later, I stood in a cold November rain with my entire staff as we buried Steve.

The day Steve died I knew something had to change. And that something had to be the deepest essence of me. This change wasn’t as simple as putting on a positive attitude or engaging in cheery chit chat. No. It was time for me to live - and lead - from a place of love and trust, not fear and doubt.

I had no idea what to do or how to change. I just knew I had to find a better way to be successful.

Fast forward fifteen years.

After five successful years, it’s my last day as a corporate executive. I’m leaving to pursue my dream of becoming an executive coach and leadership consultant.

Fifty members of my staff shower me with parties, photos of their families, handwritten letters and a framed print entitled “The Light of Integrity.” At the end of an emotional day, I make my way to the door to leave.

Without warning one of my direct reports steps in front of me. Blocking my way, her eyes blazing and teeth clenched, she spits out, “I can’t let you go. When you walk out that door, the heart and soul of this company walks out. It will never be the same.”

You could have knocked me over with a feather. I had no idea my co-workers felt that way about me. I was just doing my job.

How did I go from "cold, heartless bitch" to "the heart and soul of the company"? The only thing that was different was who I had learned to be as a leader. I had found the sweet spot of success.

And I did it the long and hard way – by myself using trial and error.

I don’t want you to have to work as hard as I did to find the sweet spot of success.I guide other Extreme Leaders – people just like you – to quickly become their absolute best and create rich, rewarding and satisfying lives.

Are you truly satisfied with your life?

Click here and tell me what you most want.