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Susan and her younger brother and sister were raised by their father, a chemist who emigrated from Germany. Since their mother died when she was five, he taught them everything from sewing to knitting to cooking. "His work ethic and determination have shaped who I am," says Susan.
Her father felt it was important for his children to see the world. "We did a lot of tent camping across North America and I became quite utilitarian," she recalls. "We would gather wood and cook over a fire. The deal was that it had to be a 'one-match fire.' We always cheered dad on as he tried to build it from a single match, even in the wettest places."
Early in her career, Susan admits that she had to learn to rearrange her priorities. "Everything was about my job. Then when I got a little wiser, I decided that my career could come second, after my daughter Sarah and husband Peter." But that only worked for a little while, too. "Now number one is my family, number two is me, and number three is work," says Susan. "When I take care of myself and my family, as well, I can give 150% at work. It took me a long time to get comfortable talking about that."
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Susan's Strategies for Balance
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You come before your work.
"I am extremely achievement-motivated, so I have to remember to back away sometimes and focus on keeping balanced. I understand now that if I'm not healthy, not getting enough sleep, and not occasionally having some fun along the way, I'm not going to be in top form. When I'm feeling lusterless, I project that, and people are looking to me for optimism and confidence."
Focus on the 'here and now.'
"My philosophy is always to be the best that I can be in the position that I'm in. I do not keep my eye on the carrot dangled in front of me, worrying about the next step. Stay disciplined and focused."
Voice concerns.
"I find that journaling and keeping some of my personal thoughts and reactions on paper is helpful when you need to have tough conversations with yourself. But also, have the courage to put your fears out there to other people. Reach out and say 'I'm not feeling great about this, can we talk through it?' It makes them more willing to be open with you."
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Practice humility.
"As a leader it helps when I am humble and ask people to think with me instead of just telling them 'Here's the solution, and this is what we're going to do about it.' It gives them permission to push back, and a feeling of control. It also usually gets better results."
Don't compromise your values.
"Once I was asked to move and I had made a commitment to Sarah that we'd be in one place for her four years of high school. I went home and we talked it over as a family and I turned it down because it was more important for me to keep my promise. That's a part of being true to yourself."
Step "off stage."
"I just shut the door sometimes. Just sit down, take a deep breath and say, 'this too shall pass.' We all just need a little break sometimes."
If you'd like to ask Susan a question, send it to Helene@womenworking.com, and we'll see if we can get you an answer.
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| SPOTLIGHT ON SUSAN | |
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What's the best advice you've been given?
"I've actually turned down an opportunity because there was more I wanted to accomplish in that position. But I had a really good mentor who told me, "You're never going to get it all done. When you're feeling like you're not quite ready for the next step, that's when you should go for it.' That's when you're at your best."
What do you do in your free time?
"Peter and I enjoy cooking together. I also enjoy crafts, gardening, and exercising. I did a triathlon last year and I had a blast. I'm looking for the next one."
What do you hope to instill in your daughter?
"I hope that she continues to mature into a confident young woman who knows no boundaries and will continue to make a difference to those she touches. She graduated from college with honors, established an apartment in Japan, learned to drive on the other side of the road, is in her second year of teaching English to high school kids, and is now probably 70% fluent in Japanese." | |
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