As someone who has experienced moments of powerlessness in my personal life, as well as in my career as an educator, I’m all too familiar with how easy it is to feel helpless. Educators, health care workers, office workers, and many others, are struggling right now. Many employees feel they are working in a time of chaos; they are over-worked, overwhelmed, and over-stressed.

Some have lost a lot of their joy.

And what concerns me most is the toll these feelings are taking on them and how it’s affecting their personal lives, their professional work, and their customers, students, patients or clients.

But I believe that sometimes it’s out of chaos that solutions cry out. All employees regardless of their field of work need to be reminded of their “why” to experience professional growth — and they need tools to help them navigate the ever-changing landscape of this profession.

During this keynote, I share the story of a very special student who had a profound impact on my life. Participants are moved to tears when they hear about this student who faced challenges not just in the classroom, but also at home. This student taught me a lot about my own reasons for teaching and I share this story to help other remember and embrace their “why” in the profession they chose to pursue whether it’s teaching, coaching, health care, civic duty, non-profit, etc.

I’m determined to help team members rediscover their passion for their field of work, but more than anything, I want them to reclaim their lives and stand proud on the path they have chosen. I want to empower them, because they are the ones who show up every day, making meaningful contributions to organizations and society, and impacting the lives of those around them.

What they do matters greatly, and the fact that they feel called to their profession … well, this is truly a service of the heart.