Back in 2009 I was "separated" from Pfizer. I was told that I hadn't been "placed" in the new reorganization. The severance activity began immediately and I had to return all the things Pfizer had lent me to do the job. Everything Pfizer did in letting me go was done professionally, courteously and with concern and resources to face my new uncertain future. 5,000 of us got the same news. Half the sales force was let go that day. I was shocked. Months of knowing it was a serious possibility, but shocked I was. My manager said I was an excellent candidate to enter the competitive interview process to compete for the few new, smaller, rural territories that were created but unassigned. In my state there were two, Glenwood Springs and Durango, relocation was mandatory. After 3 months the manager who let me go brought me back. He said you are number 1 for Durango and number 2 for Glenwood. If you accept you can have Durango and maybe Glenwood if the number 1 there doesn't accept. He said I'm telling you all this because if you accept you will face a pretty stiff challenge to go forward. I said, "Let's roll!" The challenge was that a new product launch would happen at the end of the month so I needed to train and certify on the new drug and disease state. As a new "Whole Portfolio Rep" I would also need to train and certify on six other new drugs (new to me at least). I would be carrying a total of 9 pharmaceuticals in my bag. My boss said, "That's 14 online Pedagogue Exams and compliance certification presentation evaluations in New York all by the launch meetings in Las Vegas in four weeks, can you do it? After a long pregnant pause I said, "YES I CAN!" I hung up the phone turned to my wife and said, "I CAN'T DO THIS!!!"
I did it. And I learned I can do hard things!

I decided not to waste this second opportunity to work for the biggest pharmaceutical company in the world.

I decided to take every advantage Pfizer offers to better myself. I've made it through a major merger, another reorganization and major layoffs since then (I am the sole survivor of my original district of twelve people) and soon will be returning to Las Vegas for the launch of a new product! It makes me think of how full circle I've come since then. It was only three years ago, but it seems like a lifetime ago since I was so sure I could not do this! Oh, it was a lifetime my little Mary is three!

Besides all the continuing training that is required with Pfizer I decided to do the impossible. I went back to school. I've been taking masters level business classes at the University of Phoenix and now I have only three classes left to get my MBA. I've taken sixty weeks of classes and have 18 to go!

Besides the required ongoing Pfizer training and MBA classes I decided to get a professional certification at the CMR Institute. I just finished a 6 credit hour course and received a Diabetes Certification. I'm only two classes away from the AMR certification (Advanced Medical Representative)! I love the disease state education from this endeavor. Recently, Pfizer started a Career Pathways program and it gives recognition for self directed training. It categorizes this training three ways; knowledge credit, skills credit and elective credits. I've registered for my first Edge Class, "Differentiating Your Product" to start gaining skill credits. You can only get points for a maximum total of 10 credit hours, this year I will earn in the neighborhood of 60 Career Pathways points and don't mind at all that only 10 will count.

Besides the Pfizer required training, MBA classes, CMR classes and Edge training I use the company TRL library (The Tape Rental) library (they are CD audio books actually) as elective training credits with Pfizer! It is here where a transformation of my abilities and confidence has been dramatic! Over the last two years here is a partial list of what I've been listening to while driving the western half of Colorado (my 1.5 year old 2011 Escape has 92,000 miles on it, making the worst part of my job my favorite). Reinventing Yourself, 17 Lies That Are Holding You  Back & The Truth That Will Set You Free, Good to Great, Power Speak, Love is the Next Killer App, Winning, Making Your Point, The Art of Woo, Blink, The Tipping Point, Outliers, Make Yourself Unforgettable, Now Go Put Your Strengths to Work, How Full Is Your Bucket? and a few more I can't think of right now. My appetite for useful knowledge and personally relevant insight continues to grow. But what I really have grown to love is sharing the knowledge garnered with my friends, so here I am, a blogger and the founder of sellingstrong.blogspot.com!

What has been the greatest lesson I've learned? I've learned a lot about myself. I've learned:

That knowledge is powerful, but self knowledge is empowering!