Each day, hundreds of volunteers had created an exceptional experience for all who came to participate. The heated pride of being on the same team, in being Canadian, never felt so good.

 The reward was achievement at every turn. This was something to celebrate.

What was the catalyst to this success? Leadership. Dedicated venue Supervisors and Team Leads created a system of support and belief that helped everyone on the team personally envision the possibility of excellence. They promised to be there – and they were. Trust was evident. Just as each athletes summoned podium worthy performances, our service teams pursued excellence. Preparedness and the right support helped us step up to live our individual dreams.

The heart swells, and eyes mist in the sharing of the experience and lessons learned from this life-changing event. It may be obvious to state that knowing what’s important to you, allows you to recognize significance when it occurs. Even in the intensity and rush of my team’s work, there were high impact moments. One such tender moment was when I watched Joannie Rochette step onto the ice, just days after the sudden and tragic loss of her mother. Scarcely a dozen onlookers stopped to take notice of her practice skate at the Pacific Coliseum, but I felt compelled. I was riveted by her embodiment of both strength and vulnerability. I related to it. It captured my own need to draw out my leadership ability and the capacity within myself in a situation that took me outside my usual orientation. Outside my usual tasks and performance in a high impact competition environment, I drew on the capacity others saw in me, beyond what I thought I was capable of and accessed both my strengths and vulnerability within. Inspired by Joannie, I delivered my own successful performance, as an individual and as a Team Lead. 

My next breathtaking moment with Joannie, intense and high impact, was shared with the world. We all watched the live competition rounds. Her professionalism shone in a winning performance, full of artistry and delight, even while challenged by profound personal loss. Our duties at the Winter Games caused us to stretch, to respond at our best in the midst of what I called the tumultuous ‘rock and roll’ of our service roles. 

At work with clients in transition, and now in this once-in-a-lifetime experience, reminds me that sometimes we can’t see our strengths. Others can. In Joannie’s performance we could all, literally see strength, skill and grace in action. We could see what it looks like when we push beyond what we think we are capable of and to the discovery of new truths about ourselves. Stretches over skill and comfort zones can inspire and awaken optimism. It sharpens the clarity with which we see ourselves.

The experience renewed my sense of joy and connection and with what is personally important. The metaphorical flame was ignited and it led my heart to find its inspiration, and to be accountable to my own sense of purpose. I do well in encouraging others to follow their hearts in transition. Now, I too move forward with confidence into a whole new level of success. Such an experience of achievement can bring to life and to one’s own sense of purpose.

What other lessons has my dream job experience to share?

It affirmed how I have conducted my professional life and what I guide my clients to do. I propose they be accountable for their own resourcefulness and follow their heart and inspiration. Push self-imposed boundaries and stretch to increase personal capacity, and rally a team to trust and rely on. As one of the Team Leads, I learned when to advocate on behalf of team members and also for myself when it counted most.

This set of four real life experience entries are a gift that I can now share with my clients and colleagues at Felix. They are the gems that shine a light on the process that led me to experience a personal best and to deliver a gold medal performance in my role of a Games Time, Team Lead. It is worthy of a celebration.

Highlights of living my dream…

1. Accountability and alignment to one’s heart and inspiration help meet the challenge of moving forward in a congruent manner.

2. Living one’s passion and dream begins with knowing one self and one’s values. 

3. Support manifests in many forms including the generous acts of giving by others and one’s own active pursuit of goals.

4. Leaders can encourage high performance results in an environment of excellence rather than one of perfection, every day.