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.

Tara Gazdik

I like to joke that throughout my marketing career I’ve pretty much marketed every industry (and every vice), but I would have to say that my most important lesson came from being a social media marketer for a restaurant chain. Very rarely do people take the time to thank or share positive reviews, but you better believe that the moment they feel slighted or inconvenienced in any way they are sharing it all over social media. This realization taught me the importance of spreading positivity online and ensuring that my own digital footprint was one I felt proud of. Read more>>

Jeanne Rietzke

When I graduated college, I immediately jumped into being a full-time creative. I worked in restaurants to help pay the bills. That worked well until I got married. Finally, I started a more professional job and made the art nights and weekends. The most important lesson I learned was handling sales and marketing. Artists are not taught in art school how to write a resume, approach a new buyer, show their work to new customers, handle customer service issues, etc. They rely on others to do that, and it costs them money. I have always been able to market and sell my work. Read more>>

Ricardo Blagrove

Being in the arts can be an all-encompassing life but I’ve learned the importance of finding my own safe space to nurture creativity and emotional well-being outside of the arts. Creating a balance between work and personal life is crucial, as is knowing when to take a break to recharge and maintain a healthy mindset. Read more>>

Marygold Martinez

I actually had multiple prior jobs that taught me the same important lesson. It took me until now to actually really absorb it. That instead of hiding away and just supporting other people’s goals and dreams; I should step out and take my spotlight. I’ve been trying to fit into shoes that don’t fit me and play smaller because I personally didn’t want to be seen. But then realizing I’m not that small of a person and the reality was, I did. I wanted people to see who I am and that what I believed in is important. And as much as I don’t want to take responsibility for being a leader or “in charge,” I do need to step up. But they also can’t see me if I don’t know who I actually am and hide behind identities that I think I am or who people want from me. Read more>>

April Mcnamara

About 10 years ago I was working in an acute care hospital as an occupational therapist. I’ve been thinking a lot about a moment that occurred during that time recently. I worked on multiple floors and on this particular day I had 2 patients to see on the oncology floor. So, I knock on the door and enter into the first room where there is a woman in a hospital gown sitting up in her bed surrounded by 3-4 loved ones. I remember vividly that when I walked through the door the room had a warmth to it…the lighting…the temperature…and overall vibe. Read more>>

Mia Cristerna

Money doesn’t matter, would you do the job without the paycheck? I worked my hardest, challenged myself the most and felt the most accomplished.. clocked out. On the farm I worked with no promise of pay, just knowledge offered in that experience. Being best in the world was really $15/hr and inspired zero happiness. Your passion will lead you towards purpose and that is priceless. Read more>>

Erin Gaskins

I started my professional career as an educator. Hired to work for a small, mountain school district in Colorado shortly after completing my degree, I arrived in town a couple weeks before school started so I could move in and set up my home and classroom. Excited to begin, I asked my principal for the curriculum materials I should use to begin planning, to which he replied, “Curriculum? I guess there’s something around here in a closet somewhere. You can look around and see.” There was nothing to speak of. I quickly learned that to be successful, I would have to rely not on what some pre-packaged program was telling me would work with my students, but on what my students were telling me they needed. Read more>>

Yusto J. Yona

Attention to Detail: Ensuring chemotherapy drugs’ correct patient, drug, dosage, and stability is crucial. Even a small error can significantly affect patient safety and treatment efficacy. Team Collaboration: Working closely with oncologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care for cancer patients. Effective communication and teamwork are essential for successful patient outcomes. without a multidisciplinary team, nothing good can be achieved Compassion and Empathy: Although dealing with cancer patients requires vast knowledge also cancer patients require a high level of empathy and understanding. Providing emotional support and showing compassion can make a significant difference in their treatment journey. Read more>>

Misty Malec

One of the most valuable lessons that I’ve learned from a previous company that I worked for is to treat your employees & clients with the upmost respect & dignity. They are the ones who help your business continue to run day to day. I worked for a company right around 12 years, And I watched the business owners down talk and degrade a lot of the employees & clients. Read more>>

Tom Blood

During my career in advertising as a writer/Creative Director, I was involved in many new business pitches as well as all kinds of work creating for our existing client base. Rejection is very much a part of advertising. New business pitches, you’d be going up against other ad agencies, vying for the same piece of business. Sometimes, that involved spec creative. I was fortunate that we won, more often than we lost – but when you did lose, you had to accept it, learn from it, and move on. Same thing when presenting new campaign ideas to an existing client. Sometimes, they would buy it, sometimes they wouldn’t. Sometimes, you’d have to go back to the drawing board and completely start over. Other times, you’d have to modify what you presented. Read more>>

Allison Teicher-fahrbach

Rejection is redirection. You won’t always get what you want, but that could mean that there is something better out there that is waiting for you. Sometimes someone saying “no” could be an opportunity for you to reflect on your experiences and reconsider what you are working towards. You may realize that, deep down inside, you were working towards something because it is what is expected of you, what others hope for you, or what you “should” receive. You really need to think about these questions: “What problem in the world do I want to solve? How can I solve it unlike anyone else?” You may realize that you hold a special power that no other person has. It could be how you view the world, how you engage with others, or how you create things. Read more>>

Yiran Ye

One of the most important lessons I learned as an artist came during my time working on a fast-paced interior design project at a design company right after I graduated. We were tasked with creating a giant retail space, and the deadline was extremely tight. Because we were a really small team working on such a large project, even though I had just graduated, I still had to provide a lot of design ideas and coordinate closely with clients, engineers, and fabricators. This project became a pivotal experience for me, teaching me the importance of adaptability and communication. Read more>>

Cecilia Boateng

In 2022, I was going through some personal issues and I also realized early on that I did not like my job. So in the eyes of my boss, I was not performing as they would have liked. And when I say performing, I mean that I was doing my job but they felt like I was not excited about the job, which was true. Long story short, my boss and I ended up having a meeting to discuss what was going on with me. One thing that stuck out to me that she said was that my personal issues were not an excuse to not be excited about the job even though I was completing my tasks well. And what made what she said worse was that I had just come from my little nephew’s funeral so my mental state was not the best. I say all this to say that the biggest lesson I learned here was that I was completely on my own in this job environment and that I had to support myself and I couldn’t count on anyone to come and save me and also to not get too personal with my job. Read more>>

Hennelie Hawes

Before medical school I was an NFL Cheerleader with the Minnesota Vikings. My time with the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders was one of my favorite jobs to date, but little did I know at the time that it would also turn into one of the most impactful jobs I have ever had. As an NFL Cheerleader you hold a very public and professional profile. Whether in uniform or not, there are eyes on you at all times, and your words, behaviors, and attitudes are being watched by many people from all different angles. How you carry yourself on or off the field is not only a representation of you, but of your team, and ultimately the Minnesota Vikings Organization as a whole. This role came with a lot of weight and pressure that I did not expect, but what I learned from the professional aspect that came with this job is something I will carry with me as a physician, and something that translates quite well to that role as well. Read more>>

Galit Ptalis

Working to make the internet a safer place, Galit Ptalis had carved out her career as a tech leader both at YouTube and Google. However, Galit faced a challenge closer to home that she couldn’t ignore: finding a fun and modern place to take her three young kids for haircuts. Every visit to the barber or salon felt like a chore, filled with long waits, uninspiring environments, and an overall lack of excitement for her children. Determined to transform this mundane task into something extraordinary, Galit decided to leverage her business acumen and personal experience as a mother of three to create a modern haircut experience for kids. Thus, the idea for “SuperAwesome” was born. SuperAwesome isn’t just a haircut salon; it’s a vibrant, lively place where every child feels special. Read more>>

Lindsay Godin

I took a full-time academic position back in 2020. This job required much more responsibility and expectations than I used to (like 30+ hours a week more work than I was used to). I often prioritized my job obligations over my studio time, general health and well-being, and relationships. I learned a valuable lesson that you need to give time, care, and attention to yourself, your artistic practice, and to others. No job is more important than your physical health and well-being and your relationships. Make time for yourself and make time to care for others. Schedule time for this, it’s important. Read more>>

Heejo Kim

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my artistic career is the value of consistency and persistence. This insight came from one of my professors during graduate school, and it continues to shape my approach to my work. It wasn’t just a piece of advice; it was a mindset that helped me navigate the ups and downs of being an artist. During my time in grad school, I faced a string of rejections—applications, exhibitions, grants—that left me feeling discouraged and questioning my path. I would take these setbacks personally, allowing them to affect my mood and confidence in my work. One day, I opened up to Professor Ellis about how these rejections were weighing on me. His response was simple yet powerful: “Try not to ride the highs and lows of success or failure too much. Persistence is what matters most, because both good and bad outcomes will come and go.” Read more>>

Isaiah Daniels

One of the most important lessons I learned as a business owner came from my time working as a manager at McDonald’s. After being promoted from Crew Trainer to manager, I faced a difficult transition. Many of my co-workers were also friends, and when I stepped into the management role, they expected things to stay the same. They thought they could push boundaries and get away with more just because of our previous relationship. Read more>>

David Li

My prior job at HBO was incredibly important as it provided me with a deep understanding of the crucial aspects of building an audience and brand. Working within an organization such as HBO, I witnessed firsthand the meticulous efforts and strategic planning involved in captivating and retaining a diverse viewership. It underscored the importance of creating compelling content that resonates with audiences while maintaining a strong and consistent brand identity. The perpetual challenge remains: if we don’t have an audience, how do we get them? Once we have an audience, what do we do with them? Read more>>

Paul Jxhn

During my first year of university I used to work for a clothing company selling luxury brand hats at weekend markets. This was the first time I had ever had to convince people to buy a product. The first 2 weeks I made 2 sales. I was working off commission so I had to make sales. I had to think about what I was selling, who I was selling it to and why they would want to buy it. By the 3rd weekend of working the markets I had started getting sales. I was selling 5 to 8 hats a day which would increase as time progressed. The experience of working at the weekend market had taught me how to connect with people first instead of just expecting them to buy things from you. Read more>>