Opportunity

Taking Chances and Winning…a Year Later

/ Kirsten Flory / 1 Comment

A year ago this week I took a big chance: I switched careers.  I had been with my previous company for almost 8 years, and loved my job.  I had great colleagues, a nice salary, and opportunities to meet new people.  So why would I consider making the move?

“If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you are not sure you can do it, say yes- then learn how to do it later.”

~Richard Branson

When opportunity knocks, do you open the door?  I feel like my best opportunities come when I least expect it.  In fact, sometimes I don’t even know they are opportunities until I stop for a minute and put myself into the equation.

Fear is an adrenaline pumping emotion that can cause us to fight like a wild animal, or run away to a safe place as fast as possible.  How do you respond to fear?  The thought of going from a comfortable salary to 100% commission made my heart beat wild, but it also made me excited.  I changed industries from banking to commercial real estate, and had a lot to learn.  Here’s the reason I made the jump: I knew deep down I could do it, and that sense of confidence drives me through the ups and downs of this feast or famine industry.

I encourage you, dear reader, to think of what you are really good at.  Are you insanely organized?  Do you love to solve problems, meet new people, or never miss a deadline?  You have skills that are engrained in you that make you invincible to anything that comes up against you.  You just need to know how to engage them to win.  Use these skills and make them your talents.  The rest will be easy.

In addition to a career change this year, I also published a book.  Little did I know that during this same time, a savvy gal out in San Diego, California was also making her dreams come true.  Also making a career change was the founder of  GOLFopolitan.  I was contacted a few months ago by her to be a featured book in their golf tournament displays.  Writing this blog was my introduction to GOLFopolitan, and I can’t wait to see this company grow!

So what does the next year look like for me?  Well, if it’s anything like the past 12 months, then the sky is the limit!  Stay tuned!

 

 

Golf is Not Just a Man’s Game

/ Kirsten Flory / Leave a comment

A sneak peek to Golfing In Heels…

My Dad golfs.  So do my brother, husband, boss, and most of the men I know.  If you ask a guy why they golf, most will answer (other than the obvious: it’s a sport, and I am a guy, so of course I like it) that it’s relaxing, fun and an enjoyable activity to do with friends.  I think men are onto something here.  How many women do you know participate regularly in activities that are relaxing, fun and enjoyable to do with friends?  None come to the top of my mind.

What activity do you know of that takes the better part of a day, is encouraged by your employer, may lead to new opportunities, provides socialization, is conducted in (mostly) beautiful weather, and is exercise?  I don’t think a trip to the mall qualifies, unless you are a professional shopper.  Ladies, we need to take advantage of an activity that our male counterparts have known about for years.

Men have dominated the sports profession since the beginning of time.  If your weekends look anything like mine, then you are notified of the seasons changing not by the weather, but by what sport is playing on television.  From the crowd roaring football games, to the buzzing of race cars zooming around the track, they merge right into each other.  I do know a few ladies who enjoy a good sporting event, but don’t plan their work, travel and leisure schedules around them.

Why Women Should Get Into the Game

We hurry everywhere.  We hurry to get the kids off to school, we hurry to work, and we hurry home to make dinner.  When you do find that unexpected moment of calm, do you know what to do with yourself?  Do you ever plan for some down time?