While on the trail this morning, I was suddenly more aware of the blue paint on the trees, marking the path for hikers to follow. Whether with blue paint or stacks of stones, most of the trails in the Smoky Mountains have markers. Markers guide hikers, identify turning points, and help them recognize where they have been.
We also have markers in life―moments in time that we remember, moments that make time stand still, and moments that define us. Almost all of us can remember where we were on the morning of 9/11, or a time when our community was struck by a natural disaster. Markers provide a way to look back on something that created a big change in the way we think—in how we see the world or ourselves. Being hired for your first job, getting married or divorced, having kids… these are all moments in time that changed our lives.
Milestones also suggest change―roadside milestones were originally used to indicate the distance to a destination. While markers allow us to look back and remember, and note where we are now, milestones are opportunities to look forward and set goals.
It felt serendipitous that a bit later on this trail, I ran into a former employee, Caroline. Seeing her made me realize that people who come and go in your life can be big markers. Caroline was a fantastic member of our team, and we hated to see her go―she brought a calmness to our organization we desperately needed at the time. So it was meaningful to share with her a new milestone for the company that happened this past week.
I had just returned from Philadelphia, where we completed our 73rd (!!) Signature Select program—a 3-day leadership session for 40 amazing leaders, from six countries and many different companies.
The milestone? This was the first time a coed group—women and men—experienced the Select program. These men are now added to the 4,000+ women who have experienced our Select and Premier programs (historically reserved for women), and the 8,000 coed participants who have experienced other Signature leadership sessions.
This particular milestone was more than just a program―it was a marker―one that identified a turning point, and signaled what is possible when we open the door wider and invite more voices to the table. This week’s milestone is one I will likely look back on in five years and identify as a marker that not only changed Signature forever, but also changed me in ways I could not have envisioned at the time. Markers are inflection points—moments that indicate a change is happening, even if we cannot yet fully realize it.
I first wrote about markers and milestones in 2019 and the markers that had changed my life journey, which included launching this company, and becoming a grandmother. As of that date in 2019, we had completed 18 programs, with 551 graduates―all women.
As of this past week, we have completed 104 Select and Premier programs―with 4,000+ graduates, spanning six continents―in addition to the 8,000 coed participants in other programs. (Oh, and I now have five grandchildren.)
People often cite events as key markers in their lives. But people can also be markers, because they can represent a shift—not just in what is happening around us, but also in how we think about and move through the world.
I am grateful for the many people who have been markers in my life―and for those I have yet to meet while on this path. To all of you who have walked alongside me—team members, advisors, alumni, partners—you have each been a part of this amazing journey.
While looking for the next stack of stones or blue paint, I can’t wait to see where this trail leads. And, I hope we keep walking it together.
About the Author
Carol Seymour: Global Executive, Speaker, Author and Founder of Signature Leaders
Carol Seymour is a sought-after business leader and seasoned global executive of large and mid-cap size companies and private-equity backed turnarounds.
She founded Signature Leaders in 2013 which focuses on accelerating women into next level leadership and helping leaders create greater impact and influence. Signature Leaders was recognized last year as one of Inc. 5000 “Fastest Growing Private Companies”.
The Signature series of leadership offerings support the growth of women from Manager level up to and including C-suite executives. Today, more than 3000 global leaders across 6 continents have experienced a Signature program. Signature Leaders partners with more than 140 market-leading companies for their selective investments.
Carol is also a Founding Member of Paradigm for Parity and named one of the Top 40 Women Keynote Speakers for 2020 by RealLeaders Magazine.
Carol resides in Cashiers, NC. She has two married children, three granddaughters, and a grandson.
