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.

jessie nunn

When I first got into photography, I worked for Button it Up – an event photo booth company. We worked Weddings, Mitzvahs, Corporate Parties, and more. I had to work with all types of clients. During that time, I really learned that you just gotta keep it positive. You might have to move your event inside, or if your umbrella breaks at a shoot and you might have to use a lamp shade as a make shift umbrella. Keeping your cool and having quick problem solving skills really goes a long way. Read more>>

Juana Taylor

I have worked in corporate America for over 25 years I’ve been very successful working in the Austin area and that there are a lot of technical companies and I’ve been blessed to work for most of the big ones including Motorola Dell AT&T and Apple. I have spent most of my time at Apple and one of the biggest lessons that I have learned is that there is always room for growth and there are always opportunities to learn even when you think there are none. Read more>>

LUKESHIA WALKER

An important lesson that I learned after leaving my corporate job was the importance of investing in myself. I realized that I was pouring into the dreams of the people instead of my own. At that time, I knew it was time for me to make a change and start living my best life. As a business owner, I am able to live my dreams to the fullest. Today, I inspire women to be all they can be and to live their best lives. Read more>>

Tyreon Williams

Though learned on the job, this lesson is in no way limited to a job/career- the important lesson I learned is admitting that a position or employer isn’t for you, is in no way an admission of defeat. It is an admission of maturity, introspection and freedom. So often we enslave ourselves to unhealthy relationships with people, places, things and at time within ourselves (mindsets). Too concerned about what others will think, being lulled into a trance of complacency or being driven by greed. Read more>>

Sonya Brazeal

One of the most important lessons I learned at a prior job was the importance of building relationships. As a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, Herb Kelleher and Colleen Barrett (2 of the original founders/leaders of Southwest Airlines) taught us this very important skill. We have internal and external customers. We were taught to build relationships with our co-workers (internal customers) and our passengers (external customers) by “going the extra mile” when providing positively outrageous customer service. Read more>>

Victor Egonu

Prior to entering the medical field as an operations manager, I worked as an insurance agent selling supplemental policies to small businesses. It was a grueling process; cold calling, no-shows, canvassing in 98 degree weather amongst several other menial tasks. But the thing that it taught me was perseverance and consistency to keep plugging away to get a breakthrough. I learned how to become more efficient at outreach, improved my communication and presentation delivery so much so that I closed nearly every meeting I was able to book. Read more>>

Marquetta Reid

As a Marine for 19 years you learn to build with what and who you have around you. Leaders should strive to reproduce and see the fruit of leadership in others they work with on a day to day basis. I had to learn my position in peoples lives to know how to help build them. I then gad to establish relationship and gain permission to groom and share my experiences and knowledge. If you don’t have relationship with people they won’t be inclined to receive what you release even if it’s accurate. Read more>>

Jonathan Herod

Years ago, I was promoted to Sergeant in the US Army and had to start being in charge of soldiers. The norm is that you know it all and can do all, reason why you have been promoted. Well, I had a very good idea about a project and was then instructed another way by a junior enlisted soldier, not only in front of my peers, but, my subordinates as well. As respectful as the soldier stated, I still took it as an insult to my knowledge of said project. Read more>>

Andie Williams

I went to college and got a degree in Elementary Special Education. I worked in that field for a few years before leaving to be a stay-at-home mom. I worked with very young children and would do home visits to help parents support their child’s development. When I started working in social media marketing, I realized that some of the lessons I learned as a teacher, help me in this work as well. The biggest one is that to get respect, you must give respect. Read more>>

Lauren Boline

Before opening my business, I was working as a Clinical Registered Dietitian in acute care. The lessons I learned in this job solidified my understanding of the role “good nutrition” plays in one’s overall health: important, but not even close to the whole picture. In turn, this heavily influences the way I work with my current clients, because I help these women understand that maintaining the “perfect” weight and restrictive diet really doesn’t mean you’re healthy, and certainly isn’t the thing that will help you improve your long-term health outcomes. Read more>>

Kristi Addis Hickman

As a young twenty-something I dreamed of changing the world through helping women one at a time become the best versions of themselves. I believed that spiritual and emotional healing at the very core of our beings was what the world needed in order to bring kindness, joy, and peace to our communities. I entered into a women’s ministry training program at my church and became a women’s ministry leader who counseled and worked with hundreds of women over the following decade. Read more>>

Charity Washington

So one of my first management positions was a Style Team Lead at Target. I came into that job as a team member then got promoted in that same store. I knew my work ethic was great, I knew how retail jobs were with floor resets and stocking and I genuinely loved what I did so it wasn’t difficult for me to excel. However, when I became a Lead, I quickly figured out that I didn’t know how to delegate tasks. I was so used to doing so much because I could (and because I’m extremely particular) but missing deadlines and feeling burnt out soon landed me in many one-on-ones with my supervisors. Read more>>

Nick Burningup Blaze

The most important lesson I had in a job was working in a convenient store. The reason I say this is because this type of job involves working and being open to the public. I realized over the years working as a manager that customers come first when you work for the public. Far as my experience goes, I learned that working in a store the goal is to make sure everything is accessible to the people that come in everyday. Read more>>

Elizabeth Watkins Price

This may seem like a strange way to answer this, but for the decade before I started my business, my creative self was demanding that I make room for creative expression in my life. Throughout my school years I’d loved writing and music and art, but when I graduated from college I had no idea how to allow those things to be part of my life except that I remained an avid reader and music listener. The creative urge grew louder when I was practicing law, so I sang in a band with my husband and some friends; we recorded two albums as The Starry Mountain Sweetheart Band. Read more>>

Katelyn Queen

I worked at my past job for 3 years. I had fallen in love with my job as the hours were simple and I had the best crew to work with. I had become so comfortable that for a while I didn’t see myself anywhere but there. A situation happened where I was ready to leave my job immediately. It was a hard challenge for me to move away from a place I had come to love so dearly. Leaving my close friends at the time was a burden. I was so sad and depressed, not to mention nervous for what the future could hold for me. Read more>>

Elizabeth Barbour

I had a life & business coaching company for two decades before I started my jewelry line last year. I’ve learned that you must experiment with a lot of different things to find the sweet spot. When I was a newbie coach, I used to feel like a failure if only a few people showed up to a talk I was giving or if a class I offered wasn’t well received. But then I’d deliver a group coaching program that transformed the lives of all of the participants or I’d help an individual client have a major breakthrough and I realized that I was really great at what I did. Read more>>

Ebony Bagley

I was a teacher for seven years. Primarily, teaching kindergarten and first grade before moving on to middle school English. I really enjoyed my time in the classroom. However, between the long school days, after-school work, mandatory activities, lesson planning and extra work you have to do for data purposes, there is hardly any work-life balance. Additionally, there’s the elephant in the room. Teaching is hard work and the salary is hardly reflective of the work, hours and continuing education it requires. Read more>>

Kerry Smalls

One of the most important lessons I have learned throughout my career, has been authenticity. Being authentic, genuine, and having a natural drive and interest in what you take up as a “career” can take you much further than simply doing a job as a task. With this, I encourage myself and anyone I have the opportunity to speak with, to fully step into the power that is YOU. Your unique look, voice, personality, style, point-of-view, charisma, quirky “isms” are all what separates you from your peers. Read more>>