Do you ask yourself, "Can I be happy? Is that enough? Am I born a certain way? Can I change myself? If I choose to let go or not be focused on achievement, who will I be? How can I find a life partner or keep my relationship healthy even when I am always busy?"
"Wander Woman: How High Achieving Women Find Contentment and Direction" (Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2010) offers emotional antioxidants and avenues of deep introspection that trade the questions for answers.
Marcia Reynolds is a Master Certified Coach and PsyD, organizational psychologist, an international pioneer in executive coaching, a coach's Coach. She is a revolutionary thought leader who blends ancient wisdom, evidence based neuroscience, and persuasive coaching techniques in a targeted guide for high achieving women. She is a Huffington Post blogger and a serious devotee of social media. Her Facebook and Twitter engagement and her personal blogs are blessings in the social space.
I discovered Reynolds on Huffington Post and followed her social crumbs across new media. Every morsel of content the author shares online is rich and thought provoking. "Wander Woman" is no exception to her rule governing excellence.
In a refreshing departure from coaching content du jour, the author does not channel celebrity spirits. She offers no funky discourse about law of physics applied to law of attraction that Max Planck Society scientists find wildly entertaining. "Wander Woman" is a welcome antidote for women suffering from law of attraction fatigue.
I suffer from acute and chronic professional wanderlust. I am a restless spirit, a fractured soul. My adult journey has found me in newspaper reporting, magazine editing (print and online), real estate sales and training, online community management, risk management consulting, social media and blog coaching, and content creation across numerous venues. The author has the uncanny ability to make this reader think she tailored this book for me alone.
Interestingly, Reynolds appeals to women navigating through, below, and away from the glass ceiling -- seasoned executives, middle managers with a yen to grow professionally without climbing the corporate ladder, and entrepreneurs.
The author shares a poignant personal story of youthful adversity, a short stint in jail following an adventure with illegal drugs. She harnesses the will and power to transform a seminal experience into two masters' degrees and a doctoral degree, focusing on exploration of the human brain and behavior.
"This book is intended to help you answer the questions you ask when you wander ... Will I ever find peace of mind in the moment? Will I ever feel that the work I've done is good enough? How can I know if I am doing what I am meant to do as my purpose on this planet?" - Marcia Reynolds, MCC, PsyD.
I found conclusive answers to each question in a compelling week of emotion packed reading.
I debunked assumptions I shared with other women tied to self-limiting beliefs and uncompromising posture in key areas of my professional life.
I applied Reynolds' scoring card to identify dominant behavior patterns as archetypes. I selected several archetypes to serve as my personal Board of Directors, and I summon their energy in combination, at will, when I commence my day. As my tasks and challenges vary, so do the energies attached to them. They respond energetically and joyfully to each challenge and they appear happy to be acknowledged.
My Rebel archetype scored a solid 10, but I kept her off the Board ... she tends to incite emotional riots within me and with people around me. Revolutionary is more constructive, and working in conjunction with Visionary and Connector and Collaborator we may be able to score more success in some arenas. Coach and Teacher are busy these days, and their work will be enhanced with more input from Steward. Artist needs more oxygen. She is going to be Visionary's right arm.
Reynolds explores emotional intelligence, choices and consequences in decision making, behaviors, and the capacity to learn.
"Wander Woman" is more than a book. It is a transformation program for high achieving women.
I look forward to sharing proven Appreciative Dialogue techniques with a partner to problem solve issues. Appreciative Inquiry builds on what is working rather than trying to fix what is not working. Reynolds lays out the premise, step-by-step exercises, and constructs a strict "Appreciative Dialogue: Rules for the Road" the author has tested in companies and organizations across the country and around the world.
The book includes step-by-step personal exercises and detailed instructions for creating communities of support where Wander Women can help each other by testing out new behaviors and celebrate their wins together.
It is one of the best books I have ever read. I am inspired, grounded, and feeling clear and happy about my path. I am a Wander Woman wearing a quieted soul. The pain of fracture yields to contentment. This book is a treasure.
