One Year with the Duck

On Thursday, I hit my one year anniversary in my new professional role leading the Legal Team that supports Internal Operations at Aflac. Wow, it's been a year since we began calling Columbus home - I'm thinking some folks may still not even know that we left Atlanta.

Well, we did. And it happened in a whirlwind. I had been a final candidate for this role back at the end of 2017. I was devastated when it didn't work out because I felt alignment in every way between my values and the role, the needs of the company and the department, and oddly enough with Columbus.

I've always had a longing for a not-so-big city with the comforts of big cities (nice restaurants, good entertainment traveling through) without the hustle and bustle of the big city (not having to worry about smog, traffic). So, Columbus checked that box and Aflac - a highly successful company with a strong culture were all just speaking to my soul.

But my story is a testimony of all things in time. Six months almost to the day, my phone rang. It was the recruiter I had worked with on the Aflac role. I'm thinking he's calling to tell me about another role he thought I'd be good for, when really it was to let me know the position was open again and they wanted to know was I still interested. Needless to say, despite how enlivening the opportunity was the first go around, it wasn't an automatic or easy yes.

I was literally on the cusp on going full steam ahead with launching my own company that would provide outsourced compliance services to higher education institutions. And I'm not talking me by myself flying around providing consulting services. I'm talking about building a company with an incredible team of thought leaders and practical executioners who could really help our institutions solve the conundrums of technical and legal compliance with the many governing laws. I was on the brink of raising major money to support this effort, had activated my network and already had some initial client appointments set up. And here, I had to choose to either take this role that had been an opportunity of a lifetime giving me the chance to transition from education into the corporate world or to build and create something of my own that would allow me to fuel transformative change in the education world. It was a hard choice. But I made the choice.

And I don't really ask myself did I make the right choice because that's not the right question. Each day I ask myself, am I being fuel for others and the company to grow, become more impactful? Am I in alignment with my Creator and my purpose? Am I living and transcending the confines of "supposed to" and being what I am?

And each day, so far, I've been able to answer those questions affirmatively. So I soldier on! And frankly, I'm having the best time.

We ended up building a house across the Chattahoochee river which separates Georgia from Alabama in Phenix City, AL. We are struggling a little bit with that decision only from the perspective of acknowledging that we live in Alabama - no offense to anybody living in Alabama. But we were able to build a new construction house from scratch, which has been one of the great joys of my life. Y'all know in another life I'd either be a Food Network star or an HGTV star. I channeled my inner Joanna Gaines, dragged Cadelyn around to many home improvement stores, and had many late night text conversations with my builder that made my Michael wonder who was the man texting me so late at night. And I'm very proud of the house and welcome anybody to come visit and stay. We really focused on creating a place of peace, comfort and inspiration. It's still a work in progress, but we are receiving guests and invite you to come.

So, as we celebrate our first year in Columbus, we look forward to introducing our friends to the joys and wonder that exist here in this little big city down in the Chattahoochee Valley area.

If nothing else, all you 30-A'rs can stop by on your way to the beach. Just look for the blue door!