Experience is often valued because of the lessons prior jobs have theoretically provided us with. While hearing about those lessons isn’t a replacement for actually experiencing it, we thought it would be very helpful to create a space where sharp and generous members of the community can come together to share stories and lessons learned at prior jobs for the benefit of others.

Cookie Hardin

I worked as a licensed insurance agent before diving full-time into Love By Cookie. I avoided sales roles due to the discomfort of persuasion. However, insurance sales focused on benefiting families, teaching me to understand people’s needs and offer assistance. Read more>>

Paul James Houghton

Prior to my career in film and launching the Dreamotion brand, I dedicated many years building a successful and rewarding career in design and design operations, resigning as a VP at the peak of it all to focus on film, the studio and branding activities. Read more>>

Elizabeth Lamb

In my previous professional roles, I had the opportunity to collaborate with very skilled and seasoned creatives and leaders. Naturally they had years of experience and talent, but I always most admired how they had learned to really trust their instincts. Read more>>

Stephanie Cristiano

The most important lesson I learned at a past job that has helped me as a business owner has been knowing my self-worth. I worked in Beverly Hills years ago at a studio and was thrown into the deep end as a new employee. Read more>>

Madeline Khare

I was first attracted to writing because it involves a lot of idea generation. However, the longer I’ve worked as a TV writer, the more I am learning that writing is so much more than just ideation. Read more>>

Stephanie Morales

I learned, how important it is to put yourself first. Your own physical and mental health, because if you do not then you are no good to yourself, your job or to your family. Read more>>

Aubyn Philabaum

Oh gosh I feel like I am constantly learning new lessons – but a standout ‘aha’ moment came while I was waiting tables at a very busy restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Read more>>

Tina Fuller Somers

After getting an undergraduate degree in Painting and a master’s degree in science illustration, I worked for a few years for a textbook publishing company before realizing that sitting isolated behind a double computer screen fulfilling checklists of graphics was not how I was looking to spend my life. Read more>>

Sidney Davis

An important lesson learned from my prior job is no matter what the situation is or how bad things get, always be a leader. You gotta be calm and navigate through certain situations to lead you and your team to success. There’s no I in team. Read more>>

Dayle Zelenka

The art of saying “no” & doing what is best for you and YOUR family. I was a “yes” woman, which lead to burnout and stealing of the love I had for my job. Read more>>

Carolyn McCuan

As a leader in the medical industry, it has been important for me to learn how to properly assess data and evidence, in order to make a reasonable and objective assessment. Read more>>

Austin Ryan

Before I worked for myself writing romance and editing for other romance authors my day job was writing and editing as a contractor for a start-up. I liked the work, I got a lot of excellent feedback on my writing, and I got to do several memorable projects. Read more>>

Katy Ursta

Before I started a career in direct sales, I was a seventh grade teacher. Part of my passion as a classroom teacher was connecting reluctant readers to stories. I remember teaching a novel, And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie to my students. Read more>>

Russ White

I worked as a high-end cabinet maker for several years at a great woodshop in Chicago before moving to Minneapolis. My job was to build fancy kitchens and closets and whatever else and then go install them, and I’ve carried a lot of lessons from that time into my studio art practice. Read more>>

Kevnesha Boyd

The lesson was how hard it is to transform the criminal justice system, while working for the Department of Corrections. Read more>>

Gage Luce

“You can pay to learn, or you can get paid to learn.” My first chef told me this when I asked him for a letter of recommendation to go into culinary school. I have since lived by that quote. Read more>>

Rachel Anthony

In addition to cookie decorating, my main career is in marketing even though I didn’t go to school for either. Right out of college, I was doing a digital marketing apprenticeship because I wanted to work in marketing, but knew nothing about it. Read more>>

Candace Richardson

I’d been laid off unexpectedly and it completely threw my life into a tailspin. The company was a startup in a related field to my own and their humble beginnings helped me see deeper into my own ambitions. Read more>>