Destination: career.(COMMENTARY)(Column)

Last month, I was asked to address my CFDD group in Seattle. At their request, I spoke on my journey to the NACM Chairmanship. That topic gave me pause; it made me stop and think about the things that I considered as important and critical to my professional success. Preparing for my presentation presented an opportunity: I had to write down all of the things that I believe are important to professional success.

My professional journey has been like the climb up Mt. Everest has been described to be. The climb has been long, challenging, exhausting, exhilarating--and at times, I've been tempted to simply stop. But, all along the way, the journey has been filled with breathtaking scenery and views.

I hope that the list of things I identified will help to shorten and bring perspective to your own journey. Last month, I talked with you about how you can change the odds by recognizing and leveraging Opportunity, by learning from and giving back through Mentoring, and by growing through Volunteering.

Let me share some of the other things that I listed as important:

At the very top of my list is Education. We'll have the chance to hear Albert Mensah speak on the United States being the land of opportunity at the upcoming Nashville Credit Congress. I agreed with his thoughts: we truly do live in the land of opportunity. I remember thinking to myself, "How else could I be writing this commentary, sharing my thoughts with you to today, if it were not for opportunity?"

I was raised in a generation when women were destined to become full-time wives and mothers, happily cooking fried chicken, making bread from scratch, crocheting, sewing and doing embroidery. I will share a secret with you: my husband still doesn't appreciate those French knots embroidered on his pillow cases! I wasn't the one who was suppose to have the career; and credit wasn't even a career when I started out in it. What a glorious climb my time in the credit arena has been!

Reflecting back, I've learned that a career is what you make of it: if you enjoy the company you work for, if you embrace your career, if you are proud of what you do, you will shine and you will advance. You can never stop growing and learning because each and every day presents a new opportunity to you.