The Perfect Shoes

Finding the right job is like finding the perfect pair of shoes. The pair that is a reflection of your personal style and provides comfort as you walk, run, or dance through your day.

The first time I took a risk and followed my heart, my perfect shoes were black jazz booties. Those shoes gave me the courage to quit swimming and try-out for the dance team during my senior year in high school. I surprised myself by making the team and those shoes helped me gain confidence and self-expression.

When I began my career at General Mills, I replaced the black jazz shoes with sporty, flat black and brown work shoes made by Nine West. They were so comfortable and brought me to amazing places – from learning the costs of running a major corporation in A/P; to revitalizing a toddler yogurt brand with the power of a bright new package and Dora the Explorer; and finally to managing the iconic kid cereal brands of my youth Count Chocula, Booberry, Frankenberry, and my favorite Kix.

Those shoes were retired when I started MBA School and I have never found a pair that felt the same again. Perhaps when you find your perfect pair of shoes, the ones that fit like a glove and make you smile, you will walk, run, or dance along the path that will lead you to your dreams.

Yesterday I officially accepted the volunteer leave package and my last day of work will be in mid-February. It is time to retire my uncomfortable, worn, ugly work shoes and search for a pair that reflects my style – casual, stylish, youthful, and comfortable. Today, I begin my search for the perfect shoes that will take me to new places I have yet to imagine.