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.

Dave Paco

I was a taxi driver in the city of Denver in the early 2000s. I had many jobs before that, even ran my own small business, but driving a cab was my first experience working as an independent contractor in an industry where I could actually make a decent living. My own small business was a punk rock record label which, although a fun and creative outlet, didn’t have a chance in hell of really making any money. So, working as a cabbie, I was finally able to develop a sense of self-sustainability and learn to rely on my own hustle to generate a living, rather than rely on the paycheck to paycheck model of a standard 9-5 job. Read more>>

Gauthier Raad

What I have learned so far is that nothing comes without taking the risk. Sometimes risk is going and talking to a person. Other times risk is going somewhere where we do’nt want to go, risk is going out of our comfort zone, risk is challenging your fears, risk is challenging the voice in your head, risk is believing in yourself even when other people don’t, risk is driving somewhere you are familiar with, risk is sending your CV to that job… What I have learned so far is that without the risk that I have taken so far, I wouldn’t have arrived where I am today. Even when the vision was unclear. Read more>>

Ysabel LeMay

Advertising was the foundation of my artistic career. I first worked at larger advertising agencies which thought me to work with a team. As well, I learned to be comfortable handling budgets, hiring suppliers and artists, and firing the ones who were preventing me from delivering quality products on time. I also learned to think differently, outside the box when promoting my clients. I applied all these skills as a fine arts artist. Read more>>

Carly Hodson

The most important lesson I’ve learned is that “nothing worth having comes easy”. Anything “worth having” takes effort. You can’t get discouraged when you have tough battles to face. Through my career I’ve faced a significant amount of adversity but it has never stopped me from reaching my goals. Adversity has made me more resilient and a better leader overall. When I first got started in the fitness industry, I wanted got become a General Manager. Read more>>

Marvin Rodriguez

The most important lesson I’ve learned is just be yourself. I can’t stress that part enough. There was a time where I felt this odd pressure to act 100% all business and not be able to express who I really was. I was caught up trying to impress the wrong people. Back then I even knew that those people were not supporters of my passion. Since it did not have a designer label next to it , they showed no interest. That’s not who I was or am. Style is expressing who you are , and people don’t like it then they aren’t the right crowd for you. Read more>>

Aston LaFon

Pitch less and ask more questions. In sales, its fairly easy to bombard your customers with features, benefits and technical details that make your product the best thing ever but, it’s far more powerful to ask your customers questions that when answered, will reveal your product as the solution they didn’t even know they needed. Read more>>

Candice Eden

In previous jobs in corporate settings, I learned the importance of underpromising and overdelivering in any task I was to execute. I never wanted to set an expectation that would bring undue pressure or flawed delivery, so I made sure customers’ expectations of me were set ahead of time and then surprised them with the ‘extra’ excellence I had already factored in but didn’t necessarily disclose to them. This translated to my businesses and ministries beautifully! Read more>>

Liz Faublas-Wallace

Prior jobs have taught me to treat the people who work for me as the most important part of my company. What we do, the products we deliver, our growth, and financial success are not possible without my team and they should be treated in a way commensurate with that understanding. For years, I believed working for a company or organization meant I had to conform, acquiesce, and surrender my voice. Read more>>

Kate Cameron

A lot of people don’t know that before the pandemic I was an Operations Manager for about 60 Airbnb’s in Nashville. It was a job I fell into and I will spare that story, but it really changed my prospective on my music career as it was the hardest logistical job I ever had. Managing day to day guests, supplies, co-workers, cleaners, maintenance and leasing for 60 different apartments placed all over Nashville was close to impossible. Read more>>

Robyn Otero

Having been trained in Brazilian waxing through a waxing franchise, I honed in on my skill by striving to be the best and brainstorming ways to make the process easier. I offered more than just a wax, I like to think I established trust with these women by being personable and efficient. I learned that one you feel you’ve mastered a skill that you love, it’s time to go out on your own and have complete control over your service experience for clients. Franchises are great to first learn the skill but don’t let them hold you back from going out on your own. Clients will find you – don’t worry about that! Read more>>

Nina Clifford

The most important lesson that I have learned while working in photography is to enjoy every experience as it unfolds. I mostly photograph weddings and young families, which means I am on my toes and creatively following their lead during a session. It is important to step back into the background and try not to control the situation too much. Not only does this help clients become comfortable in front of the camera, but it allows me to capture natural moments as they unfold. This helps me document genuine, beautiful moments that serve as cherished memories. Read more>>

Tiree Hooper

The most important lesson a job has taught me that helped me as a business owner. Is reputation, reputation is everything in the business world and it can make you or break you. Read more>>