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.

Robert Franco

Building relationships is key! I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it wasn’t for my friends and connections I made while I was a bartender in Dallas Tx. When I wanted to start this company it was just an idea, but my friend Shannon believed in my idea and believed in me. So he loaned me the money to get it started. Mind you he loaned it to me knowing that I had never done this type of work before and just believed that I could make it work. Read more>>

Mary Campbell

I’ve had some, shall we say, interesting bosses in the past and one of the most important things I have learned is that, above anything else, respect and gratitude are two of the most important things you can show someone who is working with you. And this is across the board…whether it is your most important customer, the lady at the UPS store who takes your deliveries, your accountant, or your business partner, respecting the time, talents and the energy that they put into making your business successful is so important. And showing gratitude. We talk a lot about gratitude these days but it is as simple as saying “thank you” and remembering that being able to run a business that you love and have passion for is truly a gift. Read more>>

Tamalia Meadows

The most important experience that I have had that has helped me professionally is servant leadership. For some, this may be a foreign concept. I do not have a degree in communications or business, but when you are in the business of caring for others it gives you a different perspective. For over 30 years I have been immersed in caring for others and understand that it is a privilege and a trust that I regard as sacred to be with someone at their weakest point in life. This has helped me be a better co-worker, colleague, and even supervisor. One job has not helped me with this lesson, it is a culmination of all of the experiences that I have had taking care of others. I make it a point to connect personally and professionally to better interact with those around me. Read more>>

Joe M. Turner

Prior to my professional speaking and performing I worked in the change management consulting industry. Before that I worked in the musical theatre. I was still active in performing magic and other forms of theatre while I was a consultant, but it was avocationally. Even as a part time performer, though, I noticed that many solo performers of immense skill did not have the ability to connect with an audience on a level beyond just “doing their thing.” Read more>>

Erika Sato

I dreamed of being a doctor, actually a plastic surgeon, since I was very young, grade school to be exact. Everything I did, every decision I made through high school and college was all to “pad my resume” to make sure I got in to medical school. During my senior year of college, I began to feel burned out. I started to wonder if I was choosing the right career…if the time/dedication was worth it? That is when I did something that was so out of character for me and chose to take time off. Read more>>

Jessica Lizel Cannon

My career reached a turning point when I realized there had to be more in life than what my job provided. What became my identity as an accountant also became my distraction. I chose my career for many different reasons, but none of them came from a source of passion. So when I finally had the courage to ask the universe, “Why am I here?” I did not expect an answer towards many different possibilities. Read more>>

Jeanne Rawdin

I’ve learned through my professional experience that people’s reactions toward you are usually not about you at all. Everyone is going through their own challenges and struggles and they may just be having a bad day. The best approach always is to show compassion to others, no matter what’s happening. Read more>>

Lane Rizzardini

The lessons I learned at past jobs that most impact my work now all revolve around client service psychology. They fall into two buckets: 1. Clients Trust The Person They Agreed To Give Their Money To – This typically means the salesperson, which becomes a problem when your salesperson is so inundated with client requests they don’t have the bandwidth to go make more sales. If they ignore the client and go sell, the clients get mad and churn immediately. Read more>>

Brandon Madrid

Of the most important lessons I’ve learned from the first job I ever had was being on time and working hard I wake up early and I’m down generally in the shop at 6 AM every day. Pretty typical that I work 10 hour days five to six days a week. Read more>>

Nicholas Altomare

My previous job and career was in advertising as a long-form television media buyer, I was in contact with television stations and national cable outlets across the US and Canada to negotiate and purchase thirty-minute blocks of time to slot in my client’s direct response ads. It is a career I had for almost thirty years, the last twenty-three running my own media buying company appropriately named Nick’s Long Form Media. Read more>>

Clint Warren

A lot of my friends call me “Doc,” and I see the look on my fans’ faces when they do, so I figured I better explain this. I’m not an MD and it’s not really a nickname like “Dr. Dre.” I’m one of those academic-type doctors. I always loved music and always had a passion for it. I grew up as a child actor/musician performing on kid-specific TV shows in South Africa. The biggest one was called “Zap Mag.” Read more>>

Katie Thompson

The most important lesson I learned that has helped me as a business owner is to under-promise and over-deliver and focus on your “zones of genius.” As business owners, we are often taught to “fake it ’till you make it.” I understand that sentiment to a degree; however, I also believe in working hard at your craft and only taking on clients you know you can deliver amazing work to. For many months before I started charging clients, I did work in exchange for testimonials and bartering with other creatives. Read more>>

Tina Keyner

The most important lesson I have learned that has stayed with me is to not become complacent in your business. I had worked for a company that had been very successful in the past in their area of commerce. Rinse and repeat was the answer to their success year after year. I began to be a believer in this system.. but I soon began to see their ways fall behind as technology improved. They never seized the opportunity to take behind the scenes pictures in day to day duties, or on location event pictures. Read more>>

Yaro Severn

Before I had my photography business I worked in restaurants, serving and bartending. The most important thing I learned in those positions was to anticipate customers’ needs. I was trained to refill glasses before they were empty and check for all the right utensils and condiments. This skill has definitely translated to photography, especially newborn sessions. I bring everything needed for a session so that the new parents can just sit down and relax. I get the sets and props ready, Read more>>

Ashaki Brown

I was a 22 year old fresh out of college and newly in my career as a Plant Accountant. The Plant Controller… my boss… was an older white-haired man who was very witty and always had a story to tell. I always found myself listening intently for the punch-line or the lesson. I was never really sure which I was going to get, but I learned invaluable lessons from him. The one I lean on the most almost 18 years later and now as a business owner is to look for ways to add value. Read more>>

Jessica Maxson

Throughout my 14+ years of professional experience, my view of success and happiness has shifted dramatically. When I graduated college in 2008, I had real goals of climbing the corporate ladder, becoming a Vice President of a Marketing department by the age of 30 and being financially well-compensated. I worked 50-60 hour weeks and spent more than the occasional Friday night at the office wrapping up projects to ease my ever-growing stress. Read more>>

Amanda Henry

In 2010, just before I turned 20 years old, I decided to start a career in the adult industry. I filmed some videos in my small midwestern town and worked with a webmaster to promote and sell them. I traveled to Miami to meet with other producers and agents and eventually I learned that I needed to become independent and be able to do all of the things I was having others do for me. I learned every aspect of being an entrepreneur and made a living building my own website, and filming, editing, producing and marketing my own videos. Read more>>

Esther Huynh

One of the most important lessons I experienced in a previous job was working at a large corporate company. It was my first “big girl” job where I was able to move into a salary based income after college. It was the job that would allow me to pay off my school debts and allow me the freedom of transitioning into a full fledged adult. I had very little expectations on how the work community would be like but I immediately found myself extremely intimidated by the team I worked with. Being a photography major gave me some insight into the creative industry but I was never fully prepared for the high demand and turn around time that came from working at an e-commerce business. Read more>>

Christopher Dollar

The old English proverb, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” comes to mind when I think about the most important lesson I learned at an earlier job. Before founding TriGem Homes and Gardens, I worked at a well-established design build landscape company. Like other companies, we expected quality from our team members. We would tell our new hires that we expected them to do quality work and hoped they will define by themselves our expectations of quality. Read more>>

Devin Connelly

I would say that consistent and honest communication, either proactively or reactively, goes a long way to solving almost any problem that you could have with a customer, Most people understand that circumstances can arise externally or internally that change an order, delay delivery, etc. but what there rightfully is low tolerance for is radio silence on a matter. I know I don’t appreciate not having critical information, and I certainly wouldn’t want to put a client in that same situation. Read more>>