This week on the Lion 40 Podcast, I speak to Marcella Genut, who at a young age was diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. She learned at a young age that life wasn’t going to be easy but being different really changed how she decided she was going to live her life. She knew she was meant to do more and didn’t let others’ opinions keep her from striving towards her goals becoming a spokesperson for Muscular dystrophy with a variety of organizations and non profits, graduated with a degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia where she now currently is an academic advisor, and running her own business.

“At a really young age, I learned how to deal with death and learn that my friends could pass away at any given moment unexpectedly. So that perspective of having to learn about loss and that one day I don’t know if my closes friends or even I, would it be my turn to go, really taught my a lot about living life to the fullest and just the value of friendship and life in general, being a leader, want how others to be treated as well.”

In addition to this quote, here are some points of conversation that resonated with me most deeply.

When you have a disability, life doesn’t always go your way… make plans anyway.

Marcella spoke to me about how she buys the tickets for the things she wants to go to and figures out the rest later. Things change, roll with the punche but don’t let it stop you, make plans and understand they may change and you have to roll with the punches. Life isn’t always going to go as planned.

We have to understand that sometimes things work out in line with our vision and sometimes they don’t. The point is, though: our lives are a journey, and taking the ups and downs with understanding and the ability to pivot strongly is part of what leadership is all about.

2. Connection is the THING that can get you through.

Marcella spoke to me about her time at summer camp for people with her disease and the people she met. She said it was the time of her life and built long lasting and deep friendships that was pivitol in helping her get through the rest of the school year and reuniting and connecting with these people and shaped her perspective.

It made me think about how I’m a social creature, yet an undercover loner as well. My alone time is where I find energy. It’s hard for me to remember that connection is the “thing” that pulls us through hard times. Yet I also, deeply, know this to be true. If I didn’t have kids to raise, friends to be with, family to laugh with, and an audience to write for, I’m not sure where I would be.

It can be easy to get caught up in the notion that your life is less meaningful if you don’t have a tribe or a community of people around you all the time. But what if it isn’t about having tons of friends or being in constant contact? What if it’s just about having one or two people who really see you and care about you?

That could mean anything from your best friend from childhood or college who lives across the country now but still calls when she needs advice or the coworker who always has your back at work even though she doesn't know exactly what's going on in your life outside of work hours, or even just someone in your neighborhood with whom you've forged a quick connection over.

3. Being different is really uncomfortable and it can be really hard.

Saying the school year was extremely uncomfortable and challenging in her young years doesn’t seem to come close to her feelings when she looks back. Feeling like she had ot pave a way for her school in being the only one with more physical limitations and fought for accomodations and what she needed.

This makes me think of how it is likely that as a leader, or maybe, it is by definition as a leader, we have to go through discomfort and hard things. What is the saying? No pressure no diamond? How can we be our best self if pressure doesn’t polish us up?

When we decide that we are ready to make a change, it can be scary and intimidating because it means stepping out into unknown territory where we don’t know what will happen next or how things will turn out after we take action towards our goals and dreams.

Taking action towards our goals and dreams can bring up fears inside of us about whether or not we will be successful or if we will measure up to other people around us or even ourselves as well as doubts about our abilities.

4. Accessibility matters. Make it happen.

Marcella said there were times things weren’t accessible so she didn’t go. Being unable to attend regular functions with other students like football games and miss out on oppourtunities, trying to participate in clubs, feeling lonely and because they didn’t have accomodations and dictated her schooling and social life. Her accomodations in college compared to highschool made life so much easier, independent and allowed her to be more involved.

Accessibility matters. Make it happen full stop!

5. Determination is born through the burden of the naysayer. Problem-solving is a critical leadership characteristic.

Marcella spent much of her life being told things she wouldn’t be able to do. That she wouldn’t succeed, live away from home or go to college, and she knew she was going to prove them wrong. Working out the details and what it would take to attend college, instead of accepting those who told her she wouldn’t be able to and had the time of her life and never looked back compared to highschool.

When she told me her story of going to prom, how her mother never accepted no and inspired her to do more. Marcella had to go in her accessible van when all the other kids were taking fancy limos, her mom pimped the van, asked her uncle to chauffer. Her mother was the first to teach her to take what your given and make it what you want and see the positive.

Problem solvers are saints. To not accept no. To make whatever you’re able to do whatever your best is. To bring out potential in everyone around us. The world needs problem solvers more than ever, paving the way to give others something you didn’t have, this is truly what being a leader is.

Your actions speak volumes to those around you. If you recognize the problems around you, are you willing to take action when something needs fixing? Do you have an active role in making things better or do you just sit back and hope someone else will deal with it? You're modeling a way of life.

6. Feeling like you are meant for something more is a drive leaders have.

Marcella didn’t take no and had the ambition to push forward to get more out of life. She didn’t want to settle for just a typical job just because it was an easier option. She knew she wanted to be a leader, talking to others and doing something big, living in a multi-religion household having faith, being the first in her family born in the US, gave motivation to do more than just have a job or get by. The excitement of helping others and making an impact.

I think we all have the potential to be great leaders. I believe we are born with these innate talents and abilities. But not everyone has the courage or motivation to harness them into something productive or useful.

I’m finding more and more leaders have this internal, intrinsic feeling that their destiny is bigger than what they are currently living. My theory that ‘standing out’ is a prerequisite for great leadership.

7. Acceptance of tough situations is a skill. Leaders know how to say “it is what it is” and to move on.

Marcella knows she can’t change that she has a disability but she can change her view of her livingn with it and live every moment to the best of her ability. Shehas been handed a lot in life and she has the attitude that I can’t sit here and cry all day, I need to make the best of it and move forward with my life.

I remember my aunt, literally 20 years ago, joked about going to a motivational talk for her company where they speaker gave the message “it is what it is. Build a bridge and get over it.” She laughed and said – “it even came with a hand motion!” as she put her hand out in front of her, fanned the shape of a bridge, and then flattened the line to pave a way forward.

My mom and I have repeated this to ourselves all of these years. What a joy to see this come full circle with Marcella. This mindset is a skill. It is something that is taught, modeled, and practiced. Great leaders have this figured out. And marcella is a shining example. I’m so proud to know her and to be with her in this journey of life.

8. Considerations of mortality – can radically change the way you live your life.

Life is finite, you have a choice every single day of how you are going to show up.

What impact you would like to have. And what you can do to maximize the time we have on earth together.

I believe that life is a journey and we all want to figure out what it means to be happy and successful. There are many paths that lead us there but I believe that one thing that can help us along our journey is having a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives. It’s all to easy to feel small in this big world, that maybe what we do doesn’t really matter but thinking instead of all the things you can and will do, well to me is a much better way to live. Stop waiting for things to happen, take life be the reins.

More About Marcella Genut

Marcella Genut grew up in Marietta, Georgia with a diagnosis of Congenital Muscular Dystrophy with her mother and younger sister. Her diagnosis affects her respiratory system and mobility which results in using a power wheelchair. With an outgoing personality as a child, she was a spokesperson for a variety of nonprofits such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, FOCUS (Families of Children Under Stress), Bert's Big Adventure, and Miracle League. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the University of Georgia in 2018. She also received a minor in Communication Studies and a Disability Studies certificate. She currently is an academic advisor for the University of Georgia in her alma mater. Prior to serving Grady College as the prospective student academic advisor, she worked for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and nonprofit Extra Special People (ESP) in a variety of communications roles. Marcella is certified in grant writing, engages in public speaking opportunities, and manages her own business. Outside of work, Marcella loves going to the park with her dog Reed, listening to music, and reading. Her passions include disability rights and advocacy and what she calls giving a voice to the voiceless.

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Author Information

Natasha Ganem, PhD, serves as principal consultant and organizational psychologist at Lion Leadership, an executive education firm dedicated to helping company owners design world-class leadership teams. To learn more about Lion Leadership coaching services, management training, and off-site retreat facilitation, contact us at info@lionleadership.com.

Lion Leadership – an executive education company.

We coach and train leadership teams and mid-level managers so that people don’t quit because of bad bosses. Whether you need 1-on-1 coaching for yourself, a custom leadership academy for your company, off-site retreats for your teams, or just a few hours of morale building, we are here to get your organization ready for what’s next. Natasha Ganem, Ph.D., is the founder and principal consultant.

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