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.

E. L. Briscoe

I learned very quickly that individuals are important but only as parts to a whole. We should always consider how our actions or inactions will or could affect others. I have seen how disruptive a single individual can be in a group of people who have a plan. I have worked in an environment with a dysfunctional infrastructure that had good people as well as one with an admirable infrastructure with dysfunctional people. Neither has a chance at consistent, positive outcomes. But one of those has a chance. With people who are ready and willing to work towards the same goal and can rely on one another; a positive outcome is on the horizon. I learned that no matter what is around me, I must be true to the philosophy of “it’s not about me”. It is about the outcome and I must put aside all else. Read more>>

Nicole Loor Piedra

Reflecting on my career, I realize I’ve experienced pivotal moments that have shaped who I am today. At 19, while scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon a six-month internship offer. I applied on a whim, not realizing it would be the first step toward my personal and professional growth. It was there that I discovered part of my passion. I started out as an intern, but the responsibilities were much greater than I expected at that age. My role was to train new employees—something I had never done before and didn’t know I would enjoy. Read more>>

Eliza Peterson

When I first started hiking groups of dogs, I was an independent contractor for another pet service company. They were operating on an 80-acre shared property that was loosely fenced in. Some sections of this property were poorly fenced, other sections weren’t fenced at all and often times gates were left open. I learned quickly that even the most well-trained dogs will leave the property if given enough motivation. Reasons like, chasing after wild animals, or running from a loud, unfamiliar noise such as a gun shot or tractor. We were supposed to be the only people using certain sections during the afternoon hours but being a shared property that wasn’t always the case. I would find myself on the trails with people riding horses or I’d be just a few acres away from people hunting for deer. Hiking under these circumstances taught me that the dream hiking property would be a smaller, securely fenced property that would not be used by multiple organizations for varying purposes. Read more>>

Shackisha Clark

Regarding the most important lesson and experience I had in a job that has helped me in my professional career, my most recent venture is health and life insurance sales. I had my license in 2019, but I actively started to use my license to make sales in October 2021 when I got hired by an Affordable Care Act under 25 health insurance company for the state of New Jersey. This company is the largest health insurer in the state. I was brand new when I walked into this company while everyone else was experienced. I love a challenge so I decided to take a deep breath and decided my goal was to learn as much as God wants me to learn. Of course, money is always motivating but I learned long-term lessons. I learned the health insurance laws, security laws, and privacy laws. I gained a more business mindset to use in my own business. I also learned about having soft skills such as patience and detail-oriented. Teamwork is also very important. Read more>>

James Osborn

Two core principles: my name is my reputation and I will treat everyone like I would want to be treated myself. In life and in business, this is paramount! Read more>>

Aurellia Himawan

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that businesses will always put their bottom line first, but people won’t, and it’s important to differentiate that. After witnessing so many layoffs during and after the writer and actor strikes last year, and then personally being victim to a “position termination” myself, I saw that corporations won’t hesitate to eliminate their employees if it benefits them more to let you go. The days of being at a company for 20, 30, or 40 years are long over, especially in an industry that constantly has to adjust to changing technologies and market conditions like entertainment. At the end of the day, an employee is trading their experience, skills, and time for compensation, and a company should never be prioritized over your life. Your value as a person is not in productivity. Read more>>

Michael Harris

I have two “most” important lessons that I learned in previous jobs. Both had a huge impact on me as a small business owner. The first was a management interview question that change my perspective on how to treat people. The situation is you are a restaurant manager in a very busy and crowded restaurant and a well dressed businessman walks to the bar and has a 8-10 year old child with him. As the parent sits at the bar and starts to have a drink, he loosens his tie and stares off into the mirror while he kids proceeds to run around the bar area, yelling and making a scene. As a manager how do you approach the adult to get the child under control and what do you say? At this point, you give an answer and then the interviewer tells you the backstory that the man just buried his wife and is trying to work-up the courage to tell their child. Read more>>