I was challenged with this question throughout my career and life. Such as, when is the right time to ask for the promotion? When is the right time to make a change to a new company? When is the right time to have a baby? As you all have probably heard or experienced, there’s never a perfect time.
However, as you grow wiser (read: as you age), that question begins to change. It’s no longer, “When is the right time?” Instead, you begin to ask, “Do I have the time?” At the end of each year, I take the time to reflect on what we accomplished the past year and to looking ahead. As an entrepreneur, I have often looked at the next horizon with a one-year limit.
When Nancy Pelosi, at the age of 82, announced she would forgo running for Speaker of the House again, I was struck by her age. She is 17 years older than I am, and it made me think about how much more I could do in 17 years! With this realization, the answer to my question, “Do I have the time?” was turned on its head. My possibilities were amped up like they’d been put on steroids! I stopped limiting my horizon view to one year and began to look farther out. I am so excited about what is ahead for Signature, for you, and for us, together.
Signature reaches its 10-year birthday in September, and with 3,000 graduates across six continents, think how much impact we can create “collectively.” We each have a legacy to leave, and I want the Signature legacy to include the power of each of you. This is why we are now thinking about the Signature Network as The Signature Collective. Through the collective power of everyone in our network, we can make an even greater impact together than our own team of faculty, advisors, and associates can do alone.
The urgency to create our legacy has never been stronger. So, when is the right time? It’s now.
As I look back at the last 17 years, there were so many opportunities I didn’t seize – so many ways I could have made a difference with an extra five or ten minutes spent more intentionally on the others behind me. For those of you who haven’t yet hit 65, let my missed opportunities be your call to action. For those who are sitting where I am, let Nancy Pelosi’s 17-year head start be the inspiration to do more. There’s still time. That time is meaningful.
I want to invite you to take an active role in shaping the future of leadership.
If we all look around and behind each of us, we can find talented females who would benefit from our ability to “pull them up.” That involves coaching and sharing wisdom, pointing out opportunities, making connections, opening doors, and cheering them along their paths.
Please join us in The Signature Collective, as we pool our ideas, resources, intentions, and gifts to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Over the coming months, we will continue to evolve this vision and create actionable steps to enable each of you to make an impact. For now, with 1,440 minutes per day, can you take five minutes to connect with someone behind you, giving them the guidance and encouragement to take another step forward?
The Signature Collective will be a force. What would you like to see these amazing Signature alumni turn their energy and impact toward? I would love to hear what you think could create the biggest impact for women in leadership and future women leaders.
