COURAGE

“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities... because it is the quality which guarantees all others.”
~Winston Churchill

In October 2010, after succumbing to the aftermath of the financial downturn, I found myself unemployed and wondering about the next phase of my life. In all my years of being in the professional world, I never once knew the sting of unemployment, not knowing when my next paycheck would come, and if I was going to be able to keep the roof over my head. Yet at the same time, I had an overwhelming peace that I would be okay. I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason, so I KNEW that what I had experienced was first known by the Lord. I took that energy and blasted my resume all over the internet, sent it to 10-15 job placement agencies, talked to friends and family to brainstorm ideas...I did whatever I could to find employment. During that time, I listened to a dear friend of mine share stories of stepping out to learn new skills in an area where they had absolutely NO knowledge, just so they could expand their knowledge base and remain relevant and moving forward. They inspired me to reach for the stars and think about ways I could revolutionize myself. Also during that time, as I was visiting my church's computer lab to conduct online job searches, I spoke with one of the ministers who shared with me about Liberty University's Graduate Distance Learning Program. Graduate school, really? Me? Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could ever go to grad school. My grades were not grad-school-worthy. And yet, I was still hopeful. So, I researched Liberty's Masters of Business program, and stepped out on a limb.....and applied. No GRE, nothing but my application and my undergrad transcript...."Congratulations! You have been accepted into the M.B.A. affiliate program, the Master of Arts in Management and Leadership...which will prepare you for your ultimate goal - the Master of Business Administration degree program." Words, powerful words, that changed my life! If it had not been for strategic people speaking into my life, and my ability to listen and be open to the possibilities, I would not be in this place, embarking on an unbelievable journey.