“Sometimes people will say, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I can do that. I’m going to be 50 this year.’ And I like to say, ‘Well, you’re going to be 50 whether or not you do that thing. So why not just do the thing.'” — Diane Diaz
Most of the time, we try to plan for change rationally and meticulously. We think about what we want to do, where we want to go or end up, and how we want to go there.
It’s good to have a plan. It feels less disorienting. And even though nobody can really guarantee anything, having a plan in our back pocket feels like we’re a little bit in control.
But there’s something to be said about serendipity. For opening ourselves to discovering a path we didn’t even know was a possibility. For holding plans loosely and setting a different intention than simply to arrive at our original destination.
My guest today, Diane Diaz, did a version of this when she was laid off from her job in 2008, along with thousands of others who found themselves without a job due to the financial crisis.
She already knew — prior to being laid off — that she wasn’t happy with her career. But it was a stable job with a stable income, so she didn’t rock the boat. Well, the boat was rocked for her, as it were. And when she was laid off, she took it as a blessing in disguise.
But the interesting step she took after that was the equivalent of going to the train station and seeing what trains were available. Serendipity stepped in, and she found herself a new career, learning new skills and discovering a few things about herself she didn’t know about.
If you’re thinking of making any kind of change in your life, this conversation will inspire you and maybe even help you find some courage to go with the unknown to find what’s truly possible.
ABOUT MY GUEST:
Diane Diaz is a Speaking Coach and Personal Brand Strategist with Speaking Your Brand®, whose mission is to help women develop the communication skills, platform, and confidence to step into thought leadership, influence, and power.
She regularly speaks on thought leadership, personal branding, LinkedIn strategy, and women’s empowerment. She also currently teaches branding and marketing classes at Full Sail University and has many years of experience in branding, marketing, public speaking, and education.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- How Diane Diaz allowed serendipity to take the lead when figuring out her next move
- The steps she took to ‘help’ serendipity find her
- Discovering new interests and parts of herself she didn’t know about
- Why developing your ‘signature talk’ isn’t just for folks who want to be speakers
LINKS
Connect with Diane Diaz on LinkedIn
Speaking Your Brand
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Connect with Lou Blaser on LinkedIn
