**Episode Overview: Scale Heights on Your Terms**
In this inspiring episode of **Inspiring Women with Betty Collins**, our host, Betty Collins, takes listeners on a reflective journey through her career, defying expectations and rising to impressive heights while staying true to herself.
Betty begins by setting the stage with an astonishing list of her accomplishments: becoming a shareholder of a regional CPA firm with four offices and 180 employees, serving as the managing partner of one of those offices, being elected to the board of directors as the first woman, and directing a women's initiative featuring an annual conference with 250-300 women. She highlights the reach of her podcast, now in its 79th episode, heard in 20 states and boasting over one million hits.
Despite her current status, Betty recalls starting her journey in 1988 with modest ambitions: getting a job, securing a paycheck, and taking care of her family. Her story is relatable to many everyday professionals who may doubt they can reach such heights. She emphasizes that everyone's journey and definition of success are different. For Betty, a series of life lessons and the influence of key people in her career helped her achieve what once seemed impossible.
### Key Lessons and Influences
One pivotal lesson Betty shares is the danger of saying "never." She recounts times when she would assert she would "never" use her accounting degree, become a CPA, or work for a larger company. Yet, these "nevers" often turned into significant opportunities. She advises listeners to challenge their own "nevers" as they might be hiding genuine opportunities due to fear, uncertainty, or a lack of understanding.
Betty speaks fondly of five critical figures in her career, whom she dubs “My 5 Guys.” These mentors and colleagues profoundly impacted her career and personal growth:
1. **Austin Swallow**: Betty's first boss after college in New York, who lived out his faith and prioritized family, instilling these values in Betty.
2. **Randy Nips**: An accountant and Betty's parents' neighbor who valued employees immensely, an ethos that shaped his business success and Betty's approach to valuing people.
3. **Gary Brown**: He recognized Betty's potential and encouraged her to see herself as an owner, pushing her to achieve more than she initially thought possible.
4. **Jim Kiser and Brian Carr**: They saw Betty's unique talents and envisioned her leading a women's initiative, making her feel she was working with them, not for them.
### Embracing Change and Support Systems
Betty stresses the importance of seeing oneself as valuable and worthy. She shares her regret about not recognizing her worth sooner, encouraging listeners not to make the same mistake. Recognizing and embracing your value can determine how high you can scale in your career.
Another highlight of Betty's journey is the unwavering support of her husband, Rob Collins. She recounts a moment of doubt on her first day at Bradyware when Rob's encouragement enabled her to overcome her fears and take confident steps forward. His support exemplifies the importance of having a robust support system while pursuing career ambitions.
### Seasons of Life and Career
Betty's narrative underscores the importance of recognizing different life and career phases. She speaks about her twenties and thirties filled with personal milestones and professional setbacks culminating in a mental breakdown that led to a significant reset and restoration. This reset was crucial for her forties, which she describes as her best decade, professionally and personally.
Her forties brought hard work and success, propelling her career to new heights, including various leadership roles, starting the women's initiative, and garnering community recognition. These efforts laid the foundation for a smoother and more balanced fifties where she could reap the rewards of her labor.
### Legacy and Generational Impact
Approaching her sixties, Betty reflects on her current season focused on legacy and creating a lasting impact. She emphasizes the importance of developing and leveraging the next generation, a theme evident in her leadership of the women's initiative. Here, she ensures that the newer generations can carry forward the work, allowing her to transition into an advisory role while maintaining the initiative's values and vision.
### Learning from Diverse Influences
Betty explores how diverse influences and learning from different people, even those you've never met, can enrich your journey. From pop culture icons like Lady Gaga and Aretha Franklin to historical figures like Queen Elizabeth, she illustrates how varied perspectives can provide unexpected inspiration and lessons.
**Lady Gaga** challenged Betty to appreciate diverse talents despite differences in viewpoints and lifestyles.
**Queen Elizabeth** exemplified grace, commitment, and integrity, showcasing how to handle roles and responsibilities with diligence.
**Jessie Rae**, a dedicated mother and social media personality, demonstrated resilience and the power of breaking generational cycles through sheer determination and creativity.
**Aretha Franklin** inspired Betty to continue pursuing her passions with vigor and authenticity, regardless of age.
### Embracing Failure and Humility
Betty also touches on the value of humility through personal anecdotes, including a significant loss when she ran for office. This experience, though humbling, provided invaluable lessons about the importance of resilience, the necessity of understanding processes, and how to convert setbacks into strengths.
### Conclusion
In this episode of **Inspiring Women with Betty Collins**, the essential message is clear: success and scaling heights are deeply personal and diverse experiences. Betty urges listeners to evaluate their journeys, embrace their unique paths, and learn from every opportunity and setback. By doing so, they can achieve their goals on their terms, with no regrets.