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Marcia Malzahn's Other Writings
Marcia Malzahn's personal mission to encourage, motivate, and inspire women to be successful and balanced in every area of their life. To that end, Marcia occasionally writes inspirational articles for local publications and her site. Scroll down the page for more articles.
Editor's note: Marcia Malzahn traveled to the Dominican Republic for vacation with her family. She lived there from 1979 to 1985. Marcia wrote the following article for her friends in Dominican Republic and to encourage her readers to reconnect with old friends.
Reconnecting with Old Friends
When I left Dominican Republic at 19 years old, I never thought for a moment it would be 21 years before I would come back. I came to D. R. at age 13 after the revolutionary war in my country of origin, Nicaragua. The Dominican people opened their arms to my family and took us in their homes. They made us part of their families, no questions asked.
This little Caribbean island is very unique and has a rich culture with its own food (like tostones, platanitos, yuca, mofongo and sancocho), native music (merenge and bachata), their own Spanish slangs (pa'lante and como'tu'ta). While I lived in D. R. during my teenage years, I learned to live like a Dominican and embraced the Dominican culture fully. This means I enjoyed eating their food, learned new Spanish words and slangs, and learned to dance merengue well. (By the way, in order to survive in your social life in D. R. you must learn to dance merengue and salsa).
There were some things I didn't miss about D. R. such as the extreme heat and humidity combined-day after day! It's bad hair day everyday so you might as well change your hairstyle to fit the whether and let your hair be natural. I also didn't miss the Dominican flies, mosquitoes, and the other bugs found in the tropical climates.
What I missed the most about this beautiful island was the ocean. I guess when you live so close to something beautiful you can take it for granted and not appreciate it. The ocean is soothing and even though it has waves, it brings calm to those around it. The sound of the ocean waves becomes part of the environment, part of you.
But even though I missed the food, the music, and the ocean, by far what hurt the most to leave behind were my dear friends. To me, every friend is a special gift from God. He chooses every person and He gives them to each one of us as friends, as gifts. I treasure every friend I have-no matter where they are from, how old they are, boys and girls alike. Friendship is like a jewel. We must take care of it and spend time developing and nurturing it so it can grow. Friendships are forever but they can die if we allow it.
After so many years, God gave me the gift of going to see my friends again. I had prayed to go back and to reconnect with my old friends—and I did.
There are few things I regret in my life. One of them is to not have been part of my friends' lives for the past 21 years. How did it go that fast? What did I do during that time that prevented me from going back before? I guess life just went on and happened along the way. We live one day at a time. God gives us grace for one day so we do that. We live each day to the best of our ability. Those days turn into weeks and suddenly years go by without us even noticing.
But in the midst of it all, we must stop, take a breath, and realize why we are here, what our purpose is, and how important people are in our lives. We must then take the time to make deliberate effort to stay connected with our loved ones and reconnect with our old friendships. We must make the time and make it happen because it is worth it.
It's never too late to reconnect with a beloved friend. You can catch up and pick up where you left. With technology on our side, we can now make our friendship connections around the world a reality.
To my long-time friends: I promise I will not be gone for so long again. I will stay connected and will be there for you in the years to come. Your friend forever,
Marcia
My Career Testimony
How God Has Promoted Me in Corporate America
When you come to America as a first generation immigrant, you wonder, "Am I going to make it in this country?" I arrived in January, 1986 and my first job was with a temporary agency for a few weeks. I like to work with people, computers, and money so I got a job as a bank teller in June, 1986. After one year I was promoted to secretary, three years later to administrative assistant and then to customer service representative.
In January, 1993 the owners sold it to a larger bank and started a new one. Both offered me a job and I counter-offered to the purchasing bank hoping they would not accept. Surprisingly, they did and I had no choice but to accept. I like variety and, in this customer service position, I didn't have any so it was frustrating.
Five months after I started this job, my previous boss connected me with his boss and I left the new bank and went to the newly created bank. I had to take a cut in pay and accepted the position of private banking representative. I learned to know myself better and to recognize the type of environment where I can flourish and develop my gifts-the place where I can be me and succeed. God taught me a lesson-money is not the most important thing in your job. You need satisfaction in your work and learn to love it in order to succeed.
By 1995 I had been promoted to online banking specialist and private banking officer. I wanted to go back to school but had no peace about it. My husband was not in agreement with the idea either. So I prayed, "Ok Lord, I will put school aside again but you will have to promote me without a four year degree."
In April, 1996, three months after my prayer, my manager said, "Marci, let's talk management." I was then promoted to branch manager. I will never forget those words. Immediately, the Lord reminded me of my prayer. This job was challenging yet exciting at the same time. I had a lot to learn and there was no one to train me because the office had no manager for three months. I learned to not be afraid to ask for help, to be humble, and that it's okay to not know everything. People will help you when you are willing to learn and ask for help.
In 1998, my children were 9 and 7 and I had been branch manager for almost two years. I was on the way up and my goal was to be bank president by 40. I was working too much and was not spending enough time with my family. Then the Lord touched my heart and changed my priorities. I finally put God first, then family, and then my career. I decided to work for God no matter what position I held. I requested to work part-time in a different capacity. The bank accepted and I stepped down from the branch manager position to only online banking specialist.
At this time, my husband and I were in the parent IT focus group volunteering at our kids' school (owned by our church). Then I heard from the focus group leader the church was hiring a Y2K project manager. The Lord encouraged me to apply for the job and I like technology so I decided to switch careers and apply. It was November of 1998 and I needed to stay at the bank until the first week in March of 1999 to receive my annual bonus.
When I talked to the hiring manager, she said they couldn't hire anyone until March of 1999 when the new budget year started at the church. The same day the bonus was paid, I received an offer for the new job. Obviously, it was God's will for me to go. I learned from this experience that God's timing is always right when we follow His leading and obey.
During my five and one half years at the church, the Lord continued to promote me. After six months as the Y2K project manager, they promoted me to IT director and then, one year later, to director of finance in charge of finance, Human Resources and Information Technology. I had to walk by faith every step of the way and sought God every day to help balance my life.
In 2004, my husband (who also had a job at the church) and I decided to leave our positions at the church. I did not want to leave but felt strongly the Lord wanted us to leave so I prayed, "Lord, I will obey you but you will have to provide me with a new job. I don't have time to look for one."
The Lord instructed me to call one of my previous bosses I had kept in touch with and who was starting a new bank. I called him on a Sunday afternoon and said, "I would like to go back to banking but this time I would like to learn to run a bank." That was it! He offered me the position of Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations. The salary he offered was exactly what I had written down after praying about the position. Obviously, the Lord, once again, ordered my steps and made this happen.
I was the first employee and God supernaturally helped our team start this bank from scratch in six months. And here I am, the bank is two years old and is very successful. Last year I was promoted to Senior Vice President.
Every day, the Lord does something in my life. He is the One who has promoted me despite my weaknesses. He called me to be in the corporate world-that is my mission field. God continues to connect me with influential people and confirming I am where He needs me.
Focus on the Future
In order for us to focus on the future, we have to forget the past, take risks, and move on. Forgetting the past means we learn from it and don't dwell on it (whether the past is good or bad). As we move forward, we will achieve dreams—even ones we didn't know we had. I encourage you to think about the things that are holding you back and keeping you from moving on. I also encourage you to ponder on the things you want to do in your life. It's never too late to start something new, pick up something you have not done for a long time, or make changes in your life so you can focus on your future.
At the personal level, I believe there are two other important things we must do to focus on our future in addition to forgetting the past: 1) We must know our path to success: Ask yourself these questions: How do you define success for your life? Are you on the right path to achieve your success? 2) We must know our gifts and talents: Again, ask yourself: Do you know what your gifts are? What are you currently doing to develop those gifts? When we answer these questions, we can then focus on what lies ahead and be successful.
Copyright © 2006 Marcia Malzahn. All rights reserved. This article may not be re-posted or reprinted in any electronic or printed form without the express written consent of Marcia Malzahn.
Balance Your Life One Season at a Time
Fall is usually a very busy season as we wind down from summer and start our next set of activities. In the midst of it all, we tend to forget to take care of ourselves and we get out of balance. Below are some tips to help you stay in balance:
- Establish your priorities: This way, as you have the opportunity to get involved in new things, and before you say yes to new commitments, you can ask yourself the question: Does this new activity/task/commitment fall under my priorities in life? If the answer is yes, then ask yourself another question:
- What can I take out of my life in order to add one more thing? If the answer is nothing, don’t commit as this new activity may through you out of balance.
- It’s okay to say no: Learn to say “no” and be okay with that. You have the right to decline and not feel guilty about it.
- Make time to exercise: Walking is one of the best exercises there is and it doesn’t cost any money — only time. I love to jog but right now I’m choosing to walk with my husband instead. This way, I’m spending time with him and I’m getting my exercise done at the same time. Make a goal to exercise at least three times per week doing something you like. If you don’t make the time and schedule it, it won’t happen. We have to take care of our bodies so they last and we can accomplish all we need to get done.
- Don’t forget your friendships: Make time to call or go to lunch with a friend at least once a week. It is refreshing to go out with a friend and just talk and catch up with each other’s lives. If you don’t nurture your relationships, they will eventually go away.
Copyright © 2006 Marcia Malzahn. All rights reserved. This article may not be re-posted or reprinted in any electronic or printed form without the express written consent of Marcia Malzahn.
What is Your Mission in Life?
Do you know what your personal mission in life is? If you have not discovered it yet, I encourage you to seek your heart and discover your unique mission. Then write it down and memorize it. You can start by writing down the things you love doing and are passionate about. You can also write down the gifts and talents you have. Once you know what your mission is, you can start aligning your life with your mission.
Copyright © 2006 Marcia Malzahn. All rights reserved. This article may not be re-posted or reprinted in any electronic or printed form without the express written consent of Marcia Malzahn.
Tips for Success in Your New (or first) Job
During the summer of 2006, Marcia’s daughter, Nicole, started her first job. She wrote this letter to her and called it 'Tips for success in your new (first) job'.
- Thank God for you job - daily. (He’s the one who gave you the job and all of your gifts and talents.)
- Pray for your leaders - start today. Pray for God’s blessing in their lives and for favor with them.
- Respect authority and leadership. They will respect you back.
- Do not gossip about anyone under any circumstances - you will earn the trust of people.
- Ask lots of questions - it is ok - they will see your interest.
- Always be willing to learn new things and change old ones.
- Smile and be friendly - be yourself - you make people happy!
- Always be professional, respectful of people, efficient, a hard worker, honest - people will be impressed.
- Customers are always 'right' (unless they harass you). You will learn how to deal with all types of people and situations.
- Have FUN learning, with your customers, and with your co-workers.
- Be proud of what you do - no matter what it is - YOU matter to me, to the company, and most importantly, to God.
- Ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding - daily.
- Don’t forget your priorities: 1) God 2) your family 3) your job.
Copyright © 2006 Marcia Malzahn. All rights reserved. This article may not be re-posted or reprinted in any electronic or printed form without the express written consent of Marcia Malzahn.
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