The Reinvention Institute

A powerful network of remarkable people helping one another create new lives.

Reinvention Success Story of the Month: Jody Sherman

jodi What was going on in your life before you came to The Reinvention Institute?

I'd been unhappy in my career for years. I have over 25 years experience in the health care industry on both the clinical and administrative side. I started my career as an ICU nurse then worked my way up to senior level positions in large managed care companies building and overseeing large health care delivery systems. After working for one company for a number of years, I switched firms and became even more dissatisfied. I left the new job after 10 months and just drifted. I knew what I wanted to do, but had little direction on how to achieve my goals.

How did The Reinvention Team Action Group help you?

Provided structure and a place to share ideas, get support. The coaching gave me a place from where I could create my new career and lifestyle.

What was the most difficult and challenging part of your reinvention process?

Being patient for the results. I like to be in control, but being unemployed and reinventing your career is a lot of letting go.
Understanding it's not about a job. It's about getting rid of listening to the "what if's" that I told myself for years and starting a new conversation about what life’s going to be like when I get there.
I have a very difficult time networking. I am happy to help others network but can't seem to do it for myself. There were times I moved forward on sheer blind faith and grit.

I've run several marathons, and reinvention was a lot like marathon training. You don't believe you have what it takes to make it to the finish line. Then bit by bit, mile by mile it all just falls into place and BOOM you're exactly where you want to be and crossing that tape!

What's going on in your life now?

I’m in a senior management position at a community based organization in Harlem, in charge of a federally funded health care program that serves people who are homeless, may be HIV positive or have AIDS and are most likely mentally ill and substance abusers. We get folks with who've hit the trifecta and need a lot of support. I love my job. It can be a lot of hard work and long hours, but I'm making a difference.

Around the time I started my new job I met a great guy and got a rescue dog, a pug who I named Murray. If you told me 3 months before this all fell into place my life would be what I envisioned, I wouldn't have believed it. But with a lot of determination to succeed (and the group’s support) I kept going, even if I didn't see everything on the road in front of me.

What are the top three benefits you got from participating in the group?

Access to a coach to help me along the way.
A tangible tool kit that gave me ideas and actions to take, no matter how tough I thought things were.
The support of others, who had their own dreams and were also going through a reinvention. I was so inspired by the people I met.

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What is your biggest barrier to reinvention?

Money - 12.5%

Time - 0%

Fear - 37.5%

Lack of Skills/Training - 25%

Other - 25%

The voting for this poll has ended on: 26 Feb 2010 - 00:00

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