The Process – From Application to Mandate

Do one thing every day that scares you.

I read a quote once – a few years ago – often attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, and since then I’ve tried to follow it in a general sense. Maybe not every day. Maybe more pushes me outside my comfort zone. Nonetheless, “Do one thing every day that scares you”, I believe, is an excellent driver of personal growth.

So why did I apply to Leave for Change? 3-4 weeks living and working in a developing country, where I have no existing contacts – that would certainly push me outside my comfort zone. Also, a former boss, Melinda, once told me to apply if I ever got the chance, and this year I got the chance.

So off I went. The application and interview process alone were great reflective exercises. What are my values? What skills do I have to share that can translate across borders and cultures? What do I most want to work on in terms of personal improvement? And who couldn’t benefit from updating their resume and honing interview skills (in a general sense Alison, don’t worry!).

So I filled out the application, updated my resume, completed an interview and hopped a plane to Calgary for a conference. I came back to an email saying I had been selected as this year’s CMA Leave for Change participant – I had to re-read it several times. I couldn’t believe it; I was so excited.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I have my mandate – I’ll be supporting MAS Intimates on change management in Sri Lanka from January 4 – 26, 2020. Now that it feels real, to say SO excited is an understatement.

Next steps? Paperwork, vaccinations, interviewing past Leave for Change participants (if you haven’t heard from me yet, you will shortly), preparing to step away from my CMA role and life at home for 3.5 weeks, learning everything I can about Sri Lanka and MAS Intimates, 2 day orientation in early December. And of course continued blogging and Instagramming as I work towards departure. Stay tuned!