Reinvention Tips: June 2008

Monday, June 16, 2008

Book Excerpt

A few months after wearing my little girl persona, I’d dolled myself up in short shorts, black stilettos and a slinky, purple tank top. My platinum blonde mane tussled wildly over my shoulders and stretched down to the small of my back. My lips were over-lined, a trick I’d picked up from the Miss Illinois pageant to give the illusion of a plumper mouth. Finally, my eyes—which could be my most valuable tool today—struggled to stay open as they lay heavily encrusted from the clumps of midnight-black mascara. Was all of this overkill? Not when this desperate rookie was at least smart enough to realize she’d be unwired, unvested and unarmed while escorting a snitch named Rocco into a Mafia–owned pawnshop with bags of “stolen” goods to sell.

My assignment was to infiltrate a Mafia-connected fencing operation on Chicago’s south side…

To watch the Undercover Angel-Video Book trailer, click here.

Lisa Lockwood is a Speaker, Author & Reinvention Expert
She can be reached at Lisa@LisaLockwood.com www.LisaLockwood.com

(This piece is copyrighted; please credit the author if you intend to use it.)

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Undercover Angel Reinvention Book Excerpt

Monday, June 9, 2008

Book Excerpt

Soon after my first undercover operation, I noticed a new posting for one position on the SWAT team. By that time I’d been used regularly over the last two years as a role player for the team, and I thought the guys were getting used to me. Surely, they would be as excited as I if I were to apply. I told Commander Selleck that I wanted to apply for the open position and he said, “I thought you might” … To me, making the SWAT team equated to winning the lottery; especially if I achieved the honor as a woman, coupled with my low seniority.

I expected some slack from the men, but still felt hurt and betrayed. I’d been helping them train, socialized at lunch with them and even took off into the woods to relieve myself, trying to fit in. I was okay as their role player, but that was it. All they knew was an all-male team, and that’s exactly how they wanted to keep it. I knew the team leaders were looking for a level headed team player who had proven him- or herself effective through proactive police activity and dedication to the department. It was the team members that wanted to keep it a boy’s club. As much as I wanted to believe the guys would perceive me as an equal, the reality was that it wasn’t going to happen. If I was selected, it would be like starting all over again. Yet another time for me to prove myself in a man’s world…

“Feel like celebrating tonight?”

“Why?”

“I figured a new SWAT member would want to celebrate.”

My heart raced. “Oh my God, thank you Commander!”

“Don’t thank me, you earned it and the panel believed you deserved it.”

So, after all was said and done, I proved to be the person they were looking for and became the first woman on the SWAT team.

To watch the Undercover Angel-Video Book trailer, click here.

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Undercover Angel Reinvention Excerpt

Monday, June 2, 2008

“If you came here because you want to wear a badge and carry a gun and arrest people, you can march right out that back door and go back where you came from. We’re not looking for police men and women who want to be John Wayne and brag to their buddies about how many fights they got into and how many times they got to pull their gun.”

There was that gun thing again. This time I knew full well I was choosing a career that may require me to kill or be killed. It was a far cry from the princess life I thought I’d lead. Again it felt like I was bartering for something that would give me freedom—freedom from Tony, that is.

Although I felt pulled toward becoming a police officer to make a difference, there was no denying that I banked on it being the self-esteem builder I was looking for to leave my emotionally and physically abusive husband. I categorize this reinvention as one chosen by both cause and effect of my circumstances. There’s nothing wrong with stepping into another place in your life because a situation dictates the reinvention. As I’ve said before, the important thing is making the most from the time you spend in your new space.

To watch the Undercover Angel-Video Book trailer, click here.

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Labels: Lisa Lockwood, reinvention, self-esteem, Undercover Angel

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