In South Louisiana, we go straight from the hectic holiday time of Christmas and New Year’s right into the Mardi Gras season. It begins on January 6, also known as Twelfth Night and continues until the day before Ash Wednesday, also known as Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. It’s said the tradition of King Cake at Mardi Gras time came to South Louisiana with the first French settlers, making its first public appearance for the Twelfth Night Revelers Ball in 1871.
Regardless of when or how it began, it’s a delicious tradition that I, for one, am glad has endured through the decades. The delicious Danish-style King Cake is laced with cinnamon and decorated in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold. Traditionally, Mardi Gras crews (often spelled “krewes”) placed a golden bean in the King Cake and the young lady who found the bean in her piece of cake was named their queen. In later years, instead of a bean, bakers hid a small plastic baby in each King Cake.
Nowadays, people enjoy King Cakes throughout the entire Mardi Gras season. The person who gets the piece with the baby is expected to bring the King Cake to the next party. You wouldn’t think that finding a hidden plastic trinket in a cake would be a big deal or that people would consider it a hugely desired treasure, but at Mardi Gras time they do.
I love the idea of finding treasures hidden within. I believe everyone has a “treasure” buried deep inside (and no, I’m not referring to a golden bean or a plastic baby). I’m fortunate I was able to unearth my own hidden treasure a few years ago. I remember my “I get it” moment in September, 2004. It was like an “aha moment” you would have heard described on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
From that point on—without meaning to sound too dramatic—my life has never been the same. After that point, I completely changed the focus and purpose of my business and felt more enthusiasm and passion for my work. Even my personal relationships improved. (No, I didn’t suddenly become skinnier, sexier, or even get whiter teeth; my transformation was cooler than any of these!)
When did this life-changing moment come? During a training program when I did a self-assessment process that took me “within” to unearth the strengths, assets, and gifts I never realized I had. While at this program, I suddenly understood why I think, act, and feel the way I do. It was as though I’d been looking at myself in a fogged mirror and it suddenly cleared.
This time, I wasn’t concentrating on all the icky unattractive faults and bumps and lumps I normally focus on. Instead, I was seeing the “good stuff” I could bring to my work and my relationships. Truly eye-opening. At that point, I knew I had to share similar insights with others so they’d experience the rewards that I have. Best of all, I love teaching what I learned that day, which is this: By going within, you can identify your own strengths, interests, values, skills, tendencies, preferences, and more.
Shortly after, I shifted my business from human resources consulting to providing leadership development and team-building programs. In these programs, I emphasize self-awareness as a first step to personal and professional growth—as well as one of the essential ingredients in leadership GUMBO.
Have you taken time to discover your hidden treasures, your leadership “King Cake baby?” Have you identified where you can make your best contribution to your team and organization? Do you fully understand what you do best? Can you leverage your strengths to benefit all?
To learn more Cajun wisdom to spice up your leadership, check out the full recipe in “Lead, Follow, or Get Me the Hot Sauce.”
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Jennifer Ledet, CSP, is a leadership consultant and professional speaker (with a hint of Cajun flavor) who equips leaders from the boardroom to the mailroom to improve employee engagement, teamwork, and communication. In her customized programs, leadership retreats, keynote presentations, and breakout sessions, she cuts through the BS and talks through the tough stuff to solve your people problems.
