By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC
The new year is always a time of deep reflection for me. I try to find meaning in where I’ve been, where I am now and where I want to go. This year’s reflection began as I got a text from the dog trainer informing me my dog, Athena, might be ready to be picked up from the training facility near the middle of January. I named this little black Labrador puppy Athena because she seemed so intelligent, curious and fearless, much like what the Greek goddess Athena stands for. She also has a very independent spirit. I knew this little Lab would need more training than I could provide. And with that training, she would be even more enjoyable and interact better with my other big dog, Brodie.
And then it occurred to me: We all might need a little “retraining” in the New Work World to be able to interact better with our employers, employees and co-workers. I smiled to myself, thinking how the Greek goddess Athena has always been special to me because of what she represents: wisdom, fearlessness, handicrafts and so much more. In 2009, I visited Athens, Greece, on a school trip with my son and was impressed by the glorious statue of Athena in the National Archaeological Museum. Myths and legends illustrate how she provided aid to heroes for their journeys so that they might achieve their desired results.
As the new year begins, we set out on journeys to become “heroes” in our own lives—our best selves. The wisdom offered by stories of Athena can assist us in winning the war of productive change, allowing us to weave beautiful tapestries of future expansion and growth moving forward in the New Work World. And just like my sweet dog, Athena, was getting some training to be more enjoyable, let’s take a look at how a little retraining of our mindsets could yield better results in our work environments and beyond.
1. Be Skillful and Wise
Athena is known for her many creative skills and winning strategies, as well as her strong wisdom. Consider what can you do differently now than you did last year that might allow you to become a better version of yourself. Try to be skillful and wise with your time, your resources and the people in your life to bring yourself more fulfillment in 2025. Investigate trends in technology or your industry to determine what you can do to become a more desirable commodity in your work world. More than anything, however, keep in mind the need to balance your environment so you can obtain more joy and happiness in the office and your personal life.
2. Speak Up and Be Bold
The goddess also is known for speaking her mind, unafraid of having ideas that might be different from the status quo. Look for ways to respectfully offer your peers and supervisors new, innovative ideas that could help streamline processes to increase the bottom line and enhance the reputation of your department or company. Consider how new technologies could make data tracking or report filing more efficient so more time could be spent on developing new business. Be bold and investigate your transferrable skills and how they might fit into unexpected job opportunities. If you’re exploring a new industry, speak up and verbalize why you are a solid contender, even if you don’t have experience that exactly matches the new role. If you aren’t sure how, boldly seek out a mentor or career coach who could help you with the process.
3. Let Failure Be Your Teacher
Athena sometimes did things that did not work out, but she didn’t allow herself to get tangled up in mistakes. She learned from them and moved forward. Athena is often pictured with a shield, helmet, spear or owl to signify her ability to face challenges head on and strategize in war. The biggest war we all face is the struggle to try something new that might not yield success. Yet many famous writers, businesspeople and educators have strongly expressed the benefits of failure and how it helps us grow. What chances are you not taking because you fear failure?
4. Expand Your Mind
Athena has long been associated with wisdom, intelligence and innovation. Having sprung fully formed from Zeus’s head at birth, Athena has been said to teach humans both sciences and crafts and is credited with the invention of various tools. As we enter 2025, consider what you can do to expand your mind and enhance your growth, as well as the growth of those around you. With so many online courses available and a need for expansive thinkers in our changing world, there are many paths you might take to contribute more to your current job or to an upgraded role. Many companies value employees who work to expand their knowledge or volunteer to help others grow as well.
5. Let Your Energy Take Wing
When pictured with Athena, the eagle and the dove can represent victory in war and the meting-out of justice in noncombative ways. In Greek mythology, the eagle is a symbol of humanity and is characterized by its fearless flight between worlds, regenerating and guiding souls. The dove symbolizes love and peace and is seen as a messenger of kindness and consideration. While Athena was known as a goddess of war, she preferred peaceful and compassionate resolutions to bloodshed. Consider how you might wage your own war of change so you can fly above the challenges you face to become the best version of yourself. Keep in mind that compassion and regeneration of spirit are as important as facing challenges and moving forward. Similarly, the goddess is closely associated with the owl, which the Greeks revered as a symbol of wisdom (see No. 1). Remember that all good things flow from wise decisions.
As we move into 2025, I am looking forward to enjoying my black Lab, Athena, more with her behavior training. Consider studying lessons from the ancients and look to Athena for guidance on how to start your journey with a retraining of your mindset this year. Become skillful and wise, powerful and bold. Let failure be your teacher, expand your mind and utilize the powerful energy of the dove, eagle and owl. I am determined to make 2025 a year of expanded growth and awareness, and I hope you do the same. All the best to you in the new year!
Mary Ann Faremouth
Mary Ann holds a CPC (Certified Personnel Consultant) credential, was certified by the Board of Regents of the National Association of Personnel Consultants in Washington, D.C., and was awarded an Advanced Communicator Bronze, Advanced Leader Bronze Awards by Toastmasters. She cofounded Jobs: Houston magazine in 1997. Mary Ann maintains affiliations with professional organizations, including oil and gas, financial, construction, IT, and structural, mechanical, and civil engineering. (www.faremouth.com)
Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. Her books support individuals and corporations, tap into each candidate’s unrealized potential to find the right person for each job, maximizing both employee satisfaction and the employer’s bottom line. Mary Ann showcases her expertise of the recruiting world on a monthly podcast for The Price of Business and weekly articles for USA Business. Her new workbook, Revolutionary Reinvention, was recently released on Amazon. Mary Ann lives in Houston, Texas.
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