From the moment I encountered them, it was clear that The Good Witches weren’t like the other fuckers I’d met on this journey. With a patient and kind attitude, they provided me with guidance during some of my toughest moments in life. A sense of trust, security, and understanding was gradually built up from our conversations and interactions as we explored ways in which I could become the best version of myself possible. They showed me how to become a better human by encouraging me to make more conscious decisions about how I treated others while also helping me grow and evolve as a leader. Some of the most pivotal moments of my journey were thanks to these wonderful witches, and I will forever be indebted to them. When faced with daunting decisions or uncertain outcomes, their sage advice was often what helped me make the right choice for myself and those around me.
It Wasn’t All Bad
We’ve talked a lot about the villains and the lessons taught through mental warfare, and I believe it is equally important to recognize the positive Corporate Girl badges I picked up along the way through my experiences with The Good Witches. Badges like curiosity, compassion, and creativity were earned here, and their lessons helped me pursue knowledge in different areas of my life, be open-minded to opportunities that came my way, and use critical thinking skills to make informed decisions. I met The Chainsmoker at the very beginning of my career when I was realizing that I wasn’t made for the college life and that I needed to lock in a solid hustle in order to survive. She was kind, dedicated, and wildly disorganized. The only thing stronger than her work ethic was her nicotine addiction. Cowboy killers. 2 packs a day for 100 years. Fucking wild. She saw leadership qualities in me the moment she met me and trained me in my first supervisor role. She took a chance and was the first person in authority that made me feel trusted and valued and spoke to me with a level of mutual respect that was foreign to me. She planted a seed of self-respect, which continues to flourish within me today.
I met The GM shortly after meeting The Chainsmoker, and while she saw his presence as a threat, I embraced his leadership style and learned so fucking much. It is because of The GM that I take notes the way I do and for those who have experienced my creative process – that shit is HUGE. He gave me the building blocks for future war rooms that have printed millions of dollars in revenue. Legit genius stuff. The GM also took the time to have some awkward conversations with me about dressing for the job I want, not the job I have. Back then my look consisted of lots of layers, so I get it. He was probably more worried about me sweating to death under the weight of a camisole, a tank top, a graphic tee, and a blazer. He also taught me that the mark of true leadership is the ability to look outside yourself and that acknowledging every person, every day, is incredibly important. That has proven to be an effective icebreaker every time I found myself in a situation in which my reputation had preceded me. It’s hard to call you a stuck-up bitch (to your face anyway) when you learn people’s names, say good morning, ask their opinions and actively listen to their responses. And if you can manage to give credit where credit is due after all that active listening?? That’s next-level leadership baby. The stuff they write books about. The GM was also very funny and loved a good prank, which I think are overlooked qualities in a leader. I still have nightmares of opening a drawer and finding one of those damn red ornaments.
The Madame and I crossed paths while we were both applying for the same position. It was my first big-girl job interview and the leader of The Pantsuits was the interviewer. It did not go well reader. She was on her phone the entire time, asked maybe 3 questions not related to the job, and then told me the interview was a waste of her time because she was never going to consider me for the position. So even though I clearly nailed it, The Madame won out and became my new boss. Which was one of the best things to ever happen in my life. She took me under her wing personally and professionally and together we pulled off some of the coolest events that the town has ever seen. She taught me the importance of truly preparing and planning an event while being flexible enough to make changes on the fly. In addition, I’ve never met anyone with a better palate for food and drinks. It’s like she has a sixth sense that tells her exactly what will be popular at any given time. Her taste level and eye for design was, and still is, incredibly impressive. The Madame also showed me how to handle difficult conversations with confidence and compassion. When faced with adversity, she would take a step back, analyze every angle of the situation, and then address it head-on without fear or hesitation. Working with The Madame instilled in me a level of professional poise that does nothing to help stop my face from showing my exact feelings on every situation, but has helped me navigate some of the most what-the-actual-fuck moments with a remarkable amount of grace.
The Dreamer and I bonded over our shared dedication to pulling something off when everyone else had thrown in the towel. We made concepts come to life with $14 for design, some old equipment, and a whole lotta nacho cheese. The Dreamer was always scheming up something new, and I loved the fact that we could brainstorm for days about a project or idea before zeroing in on the core of it. He taught me how to think outside of the box and take big risks, no matter how crazy they sounded at first. And his commitment to innovation taught me not to be afraid of failure when trying something that may seem impossible. Above all else, The Dreamer reminded me that true success comes from believing in yourself even when others don’t believe in you (or your ideas). And that shit worked!! And pissed off every single hater, including The Weird Liar and his Faithful Sidekick, which made me so damn happy.
The Ops Manager worked for me briefly and he is one of the most genuinely loyal people I have ever met. He was one of the only other people willing to put in the same level of commitment to saving that account as I was putting in and that is the stuff of legends. His unflinching belief in our plans and dedication to our mission was what kept us going even when the odds seemed insurmountable. He also taught me that a fuck-what-they-say attitude and hard work can conquer anything, no matter how difficult the task may seem. We didn’t save the account but the success we had can’t be matched, so I’m gonna put that in the W column. It’s been a wild ride and throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some truly incredible individuals, who have helped me grow not only professionally but personally as well. While their counterparts may have embraced mental warfare and villainy, The Good Witches chose to be teachers, mentors, and confidants and because of their kindness, I am a better human.
It Costs Nothing to be Kind and it May Cost Even Less Not to be a Douche Canoe
Kindness isn’t something that can be taught or measured, and it is not something they teach you at Corporate Summer Camp or in The Boys Club, but it’s one of the most important qualities any person could possess. Believing in yourself is nearly impossible when the world is designed to show you what you don’t have or who you don’t look like, but when someone else believes in you, it empowers you to reach heights that you may have never thought possible. It did for me. I would have tapped out years ago, had it not been for The Good Witches and my squad. Or, at the very least, I would have lost my shit and told The Boys Club to shove right up their asses, ending my career immediately. Thankfully I went a different route, choosing to hang around and learn from those who were willing to teach me. And yay for that because as you’ve read, I’ve been blessed to have had so many mentors, supporters, and encouragers in my life and I know I have paid that forward ten fold.
Regardless of what The Boys Club print on their annual tee-shirts, being a great leader isn’t all about the KPIs, benchmarks, and budgets. It’s about providing guidance and the tools needed to succeed and creating sustainable success that goes far beyond a single interaction. It’s actively deciding every day to not be a douche canoe. You wake up, look in the mirror and “say no douche canoe shenanigans today my friend” and then you stick to it all day. Wake up and repeat. Eventually, you will string together enough shenanigan free days, and not being a douche canoe will become second nature. I promise! And I am not sitting over here typing away in my shit-smells-like-roses tower, leading with kindness all day every day. Especially when I am driving. Those rules are a bit different, in the way that there are no rules and everyone else can suck my left tit. MERGING ISN’T ROCKET SCIENCE!! IT’S A FUCKING ZIPPER PEOPLE!! What I mean to say is, I’m working on it…
The Good Witches may not be aware, but their legacy is the positive impact they had on my life and it will never be forgotten. Whether it was a kind word when I felt like giving up or just having someone to talk to when The Boys Club was at the height of its oppression, their kindness has carried me through some of the darkest moments of my career. From trust and respect to lessons of great leadership and support, what those individuals have done for me cannot be measured in any form. The Good Witches have taught me that no matter what challenges I face, there is always something to learn and grow from; whether it’s an experience or even a phrase, they remind us all that the power of kindness costs nothing but can mean everything.
Great Leaders Can Inspire Members of a Community to Pursue Their Dreams
Remember the little girl howling at the moon? What if no one ever told her to stop howling, wash her hair, and put on a party dress? What if she was allowed to chase her dreams with the same fever and passion as everyone else? I’ve witnessed the incredible benefits of true guidance in my life, and I can tell you with certainty that the right kind of leadership can have a profound effect on any individual. It can give a little girl the confidence she needs to take risks, make mistakes and keep howling at the moon – never once stopping to worry about if she is being too much. The Good Witches saw in me something that even I didn’t see in myself and for that, I am eternally grateful. They were the only ones to understand that every person has something unique and valuable to contribute, and worked to create an environment where everyone can explore their talents without fear of criticism or judgement.
Leaders like The Good Witches, who are active listeners, humble, and don’t lead with pride or ego are the ones who inspire people to join their Just Cause. They create trusting relationships that enable innovation, build morale and confidence, and engage people to come together for the greater good. Their leadership allows others to find their voice and play an active role in making positive changes in their community. Those are the kind of humans I wanna kick it with and those are the humans I want to help Hard to Manage effect sustainable change in our communities. HTM is all about being an example of what great leadership looks like and setting the standard for others to follow. It’s not just about being kind, though that certainly helps; it’s also about inspiring others through your actions and words. And in my case, The Good Witches can also inspire you to get a tattoo of The Queen of Cups on your forearm. The Queen is a sign that you can be an effective leader while remaining vulnerable and trusting in the power of love, kindness, and compassion and that’s my jam.
When we support and encourage others, we create a positive and inclusive environment that fosters a foundation built on Psychological, Emotional, and Physical Safety. Encouragement, aka glowing someone the fuck up, is such a powerful (and under utilized) tool that can create a ripple effect of positivity, inspiring others to make a difference in their own lives and the world around them. Whether it’s a coworker, friend, or family member, we all have the power to be a source of support and motivation for those in need. We can all be a part of The Good Witches’ legacy, leading with kindness and creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to be their true selves. Together we can make a world that’s kinder and better than ever before and effect sustainable change in our communities. Keep howling at the fucking moon while leading with empathy and compassion. That is what true greatness looks like.
