The Big Shout Out

Everyone has someone that has made a huge impact on their life. It could be a teacher that encouraged you to pursue something you were passionate about. It could be your grandmother who spent time with you in the kitchen and showed you the joys of cooking. Perhaps it’s a grandfather that has taught you about your heritage and why you should be proud of your background. Maybe it’s a former employer that pushed you out of your comfort zone and helped you land your dream job. Whoever your mentor is, I believe it’s important to let them know what a positive impact they’ve made in your life. Never underestimate that value of a sincere compliment.

There are so many people in my life that have made such a big impact on who I am today and I’d like to give them the big shout out to thank them for all they’ve done for me. I was invited to participate in a campaign with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada to help them celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2013. Their campaign, The Big Shout Out, encourages people to acknowledge those who have made a difference in their life. Has someone made a positive impact in your life? You can visit thebigshoutout.ca and tell them about it. You can also follow other stories on Twitter with the hashtag #thebigshoutout. I couldn’t decide on just one person to feature so I have a few to share with you.

Let’s start with my mom (as you can see from my choice of photo above, we don’t get a lot of photos together!). I would like to thank my mom for staying home with my brothers and I as we grew up. It was great to be able to come home from school every day and know that she would be there to spend time with us. Now that I have a son of my own, I know that being a stay-at-home isn’t always the most glamorous “job” but it’s a wonderful experience that I wouldn’t change for anything. I believe my mom was (and still is) a great role model for me as a mother and a friend.

Next I ‘d like to thank my dad (and yes, I’ve told him that he needs new smaller sunglasses…plus he has to stop wearing socks with sandals!). My dad has never been the type to show a lot of emotions yet I’ve never doubted the way he feels about everyone in our family. My dad is always motivated to try new adventures in business and take risks on new ideas. I think this is where I get my determination from as well. So, thanks to my dad for teaching me to chasing my dreams.

I’d also like to thank my husband for reminding me daily that I’m a good mother. I want to thank him for realizing how important it is to me to stay home with our son while he’s young. Without your support, our family wouldn’t be the same! Oh, and yes…he laughed through our entire wedding ceremony.

Next I’d like to thank my best friend for the last 29 years. Sometimes I wonder if she knows me better than I know myself! Thank you for always being there for me, always sticking by my side, helping to cheer me up when I feel down, and sharing so many great laughs over the years. When it comes to friends, they don’t get any better than her!

The last person I’d like to give a big shout out to is Patrick French. I had taken a course in Project Management and knew it was something I wanted to pursue further. While working for an engineering company in Calgary, the opportunity came up to move to Northern Alberta to work on an oil and gas project and I knew I wanted to be part of that team. I talked to Patrick about it and although he was concerned about sending a young female up to Northern Alberta to work with all men on a construction site, he allowed me to take this opportunity and supported me along the way. In all honesty, there were days that I felt out of my comfort zone and I wondered if I had made the right decision. I loved the work and I was excited about the opportunity, but working so isolated from friends and family for such long and hard hours can take a lot out of a person. When an opportunity for a promotion came up and Patrick recommended me for it, I initially turned it down because I felt that I wasn’t ready. Patrick wouldn’t let me turn it down and convinced me to accept the position. I am so thankful that I took his advice. Because of his advice, I have grown in my career and obtained my Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. I’m sad to say that Patrick passed away a few years ago. I never did reach out to him to thank him for what he had done for me but I will always be grateful for the positive impact he had on my life.

Who has made a big impact on your life? Who would you like to make the big shout out to? You can follow the conversation on Twitter at #thebigshoutout.