Bring Your Child to Work Day 2017

As we’ve been preparing for this day – our Annual Bring Your Child to Work Day – I have felt this great, warm feeling in my gut – I’m going to call it a feeling of success.  This is our 5^th year hosting the event, demonstrating a commitment to the importance of family at LRW as well as the importance of exposing our children to role models; I am so proud to see this day coming to fruition.

This pride and glow of success got me thinking about how getting a sense of accomplishment here at work seems relatively easy. There are milestones, project deliverables, promotions, badges, bonuses, and high fives that clearly indicate progress, advancement and success. At home, I sometimes find myself doubting my success as a parent…  Why is this? Why is it easier to feel successful at work instead of at home?

Well, as I said, I work with some amazing people (who also happen to be parents) here at LRW, so I asked them to share their perspective on success at work and at home:

Success at work is:

• Leading the creation of a unique, dynamic, special company that fuels tremendous opportunities for its people.
• I feel successful when my team is thriving.
• I was super excited about LRW being recognized as #1 in thought leadership and high quality deliverables. It just affirms that we are doing great work!
• Successful partnerships to accomplish work in an enjoyable and efficient way.

Success at home is:

• Seeing my children do a good job as students, as friends and as little human beings
• When I hear that my children have done or said something kind to others.
• Balance, keeping my word and commitments to my work AND family.
• Managing my own expectations of myself. Feeling good enough at everything.

From their feedback, it became apparent that there is an overlap in professional and parental success – both are about helping people grow to have great lives.  As a parent, your purpose becomes very clear, and it puts everything in perspective, yet measuring success in this realm is very subjective.

I started “Bring Your Child to Work Day” the year my son was born because I felt it was important for him to see my world – to have the opportunity to be inspired by my colleagues like I am every day, to have professional role models.  I felt this was important for him to have this exposure, even before his first birthday.  My son comes with me to this event every year, and even helps a little in the planning these days.  This morning, as my 5 year old son & I drove to work, he asked me, “Mom, when I grow up, can I work with you?” and it brought tears to my eyes. It was a concrete moment of success for me – both personally and professionally.

Regardless of what he does when he grows up, I am proud that I’ve helped lead in the creation a day here at LRW that inspires our children in such a positive fashion. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way and helped make this day possible.

Do you have a moment when you experienced an incredible feeling of success in growing and developing your child or a colleague? I would love to hear your story.