I love shoes, in fact I have I have lost count of how many pairs I have of many different styles however over the last year I have discovered that trainers (sneakers) are indeed my best friend when it comes to footwear. Some days the shoe choice has been driven by a recent procedure on my ankle however even now that I can at times revert to full shoes / boots I hop automatically into my flat, comfortable, supportive footwear. 

For oh so many years I lived in shoes as shown above in the top photo, gorgeous high heels and honestly, I still may have done if indeed I could walk any distance in them or found them comfy but alas this shoe style has now been regulated to the back of the wardrobe. The sad part is I cannot bear to get rid of them so there they will remain a reminder of my corporate days and dancing nights. 

Interestingly recently my daughter bought home from the children’s nursery she works in, a pair of unwanted toddlers’ shoes and it got me thinking how shoe’s not only demonstrate how we change over the years as we grow but the space between the child and adult shoe represents the life and can be business journey we have been on.

As I looked at the shoes, I wondered what journey the little one who had worn them would have, where would he travel? What would be his career? Would he have children of his own one day? All these questions made me reflect on my childhood shoes and the path I have walked since.

Quite strangely the same time as the little shoes appeared I was sent a photo by my cousin of me as a toddler and I look directly at the shoes, cute white buckled ones (probably Clarks!) and thought ‘wow what a journey and what changes have appeared in my life as I have grown worn the high heels and latterly reverted back to white, flat shoes (albeit it lace up trainers).

In business I believe we start off in those toddler shoes, as time passes and we travel towards our goals our business feet grow, sometimes we reach for the heights, other times we relax into the comfy stages; through all these times it is important to remember that with growth often comes change and that is ok.

Think about it,  next time you have a change approaching look down at your feet and see how your footwear may reflect that whilst change can be difficult it is indeed at times necessary for us to move forward.