Career Kuel Category Expert: Gayle Petrillo
We all know 2020 was the year that wasn’t.Travel plans cancelled. Celebrations cancelled. Businesses shuttered. School and other activities moved on-line.
Are you someone who generally lays out a plan for the new year? Most coaches encourage their clients to do so. Set goals. So like many of you, I did at the start of 2020, never anticipating that what was to be my best year – more individual clients; more corporate clients; more revenue. Well, again, like many of you, my business took a huge hit when Covid reared its ugly head. Non-profits no longer had resources – people nor dollars. Small businesses struggled to keep their doors open.
The Year Of The Pivot:
“briefly mentioned that I had been burned as a 2 ½ year old”
One of the key words sounded most frequently during 2020 was pivot. Well, I pivoted – in a most extraordinary and unanticipated way.
I wrote a children’s book. At least that’s how it started. A gal in the audience of one of my fundraisers in 3rd quarter 2019 heard me on stage when I very briefly mentioned that I had been burned as a 2 ½ year old. It was pertinent to my introduction of our beneficiary’s founder. I had never shared any part of my story publicly.
Following the fundraiser, this gal suggested we go to lunch soon. When we met, there was an instant connection – tears included. Kathy encouraged me to tell my compelling story so others, particularly teens, might benefit.
With not much going on in my business, I took to the computer and following my husband’s advice (he’s a journalist) I started writing. I didn’t stop to edit or self-analyze. I just typed. Al read it. It was a good start with a lot of missing pieces. My sister and I traveled in late January to visit our mom in Florida. I thought I could fill in the blanks while with them. We did.
In February, I went back to the computer and edited away. I shared my writing with an editor friend of mine, a former neighbor who is an elementary teacher and a child psychologist. All were very encouraging. Thus, The Accident was born. And the realization that a childhood tragedy led to an unanticipated adult gift. While it is meant for children eight and up, it’s a story that even adults may relate to it, either for themselves or for their kids.
Gayle Petrillo is President of First Impressions, Image Consulting. Gayle is an image consultant working with both businesses and individuals. Her services include: customer service training; team building skills; secret shopper services; gossip avoidance techniques; closet analysis; wardrobe transformations, personal shopping; employment coaching; and presentation skills.
