A Spooky Story and a Powerful Lesson in Leadership
Hey everyone! It’s Halloween week and I believe it is the perfect opportunity to talk about Leadership.
First, let me introduce myself. I’m Simona Pappalardo, a former Fortune Top 200 Executive turned Leadership and Career Coach. My company, www.coachingwithSimona.com, is all about helping you navigate the unspoken rules of Corporate America and big corporations. My goal? To get you where you want to be—whether that’s landing a spot in the C-Suite, finding a better work-life balance, or anything in between!
My coaching style mixes my personal experiences with practical tips that actually worked for me, while making sure I’m really listening to you. I want you to feel free to be your true self as you tackle your career!
I’m super excited about my partnership with SPCEA, where I’ll be sharing insights on building a career as a Cost Engineer. So, you’ll definitely be seeing more of me in the coming months!
Now, back to Halloween and its spooky vibes—let me share a chilling tale! Picture this: it’s 1888 in Stockholm, Sweden. Alfred Nobel, a man of many inventions, comes across an obituary. But here’s the twist—it’s his own!
What happened? His brother Ludvig had a heart attack, and due to the slow communication of the time, a reporter mistakenly thought Alfred was the one who passed. The obituary was brutal, calling him the “Merchant of Death” and a selfish dynamite king who profited from destruction. Ouch!
In truth, the Nobel family made their fortune from more than 100 factories across Europe that produced explosives and weapons. Alfred, a brilliant inventor, had actually created dynamite to make these deadly tools even more effective. But reading that nasty obituary had Alfred thinking. He didn’t want to be remembered for all the harm he caused. Instead, he decided to change his legacy. In his will, he set aside his fortune to create the Nobel Prizes—awards for those making a positive impact in the world, especially in peace.
And let me tell you this: I think he succeeded! I don’t know how many of you knew that the Nobel family made their wealth based on producing arms and munitions but I’m pretty sure you have heard about the Nobel Prizes! Talk about a turnaround!
So why am I sharing this spooky story with you? Because it holds a powerful lesson in leadership. As a leader, you should regularly ask yourself: What do I want my leadership legacy to be? How do I want to be remembered? And here’s the truth: you can’t just think about this when you’re about to leave a job or retire. You build your legacy every single day!
It’s tough work, and it can feel even harder to stay true to that legacy, but that’s why it’s crucial to be clear about who you want to be as a leader. Your daily actions should reflect that vision.
I hope this story gets you thinking about your own leadership legacy. If you’re curious about crafting a legacy statement that resonates with you, I’d love to help! Just reach out at simona@coachingwithsimona.com.
Wishing you a fantastic Halloween! Can’t wait to chat again soon!
Simona Pappalardo is the Founder and President of “Coaching With Simona” – a
consulting company that helps overworked and overwhelmed managers become
confident leaders who create success for themselves, their teams, and their
organizations at large. Simona was formerly a Sr. Director at Whirlpool Corporation
and she has held several senior-level roles in the semiconductor, electronics, and
manufacturing industries, in the areas of Quality, Product Development and Supply
Chain Operations
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