I love my job. I really do. I'm energized about the company for whom I work, the people with whom I interact, and the work I get to produce. But that hasn't always been the case throughout my career.
Prior to starting at Kenway Consulting nearly three years ago, I never would have talked about my job this way. What's different about my experience at Kenway is that this energy has taken on new meaning for me. Kenway knows its “Why,” and that is something that drew me in from Day 1 and continues to keep me going every day. And, Kenway’s WHY is deeply rooted in the culture of the company.
Kenway’s culture is … well … it’s hard to describe. It’s a powerful, positive feeling — and feelings emerge from the part of the brain that doesn’t have the capacity for language. Nevertheless, I’m going to do my best to put words to our culture because it rightfully deserves the limelight.
My journey to Kenway was serendipitous. While on vacation with a group of friends (some old, some new), I learned of Kenway through the normal chit chat that occurs when adults finally get to talk after the kids have gone to bed. It's not often you find people who do exactly what you have done in your career. I enjoyed talking about our experiences. Kenway sounded very interesting but, at the time, I wasn't looking for a new job.
A year later, I found myself craving something more from my career. I reached out to those no longer “new” friends to follow up on our vacation conversation and learn more about Kenway. After an initial discussion, I felt this tug. I wanted to start contributing and get going already! I didn't seek out any other opportunities because, something just felt right with this one. After years of feeling like a stranger among many — like just another employee ID number — I was ready to fully embrace this opportunity to join other like-minded professionals who carry integrity, quality, excellence and respect for others with them every day.
About three months into my Kenway career, I realized with surprise and delight that the typical “honeymoon” period of a new job had not come to an end. I had just attended my first Kenway off-site meeting and experienced a moment when I realized I was growing more than I ever had, both personally and professionally.
Later that evening, a group of Kenway employees and their “plus ones” went out to enjoy more social time. At one point, a few brave Kenway employees took the stage for a bit of karaoke. There were cheers of support and smiling faces as far I could see. I looked around and thought, “Yep, this feels right.” From three months in to three years later, that indescribable feeling is still there.
As Simon Sinek put it so well in his famous TED talk, “People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” For me, this concept is at the root of Kenway’s culture. There’s a statement that’s very familiar to our employees and it’s also posted on our website. It reads, “At Kenway Consulting, we believe that the means to success is actually more important than success itself.” Kenway’s WHY is all about the journey. And who can’t relate to all the treasures, lessons, wisdom and insight we pick up along the way on this journey called life?
My journey so far at Kenway has helped me discover my own personal “Why.” And, in doing so, I get to come to work and help clients discover theirs. See, I don’t have to come to work. I get to come to work. So, I’m going to continue to tell people that I love my job, because I do, and now I know why.
