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.

Matty Sionnach

Honestly, the most important lesson I’ve learned—and this comes from working in the service industry for over a decade—is that it’s not really about the thing you’re serving. It’s about the people. Whether it was at a pizza place, a café, a bistro, a brewery, or behind the bar at midnight, the heart of hospitality is always people—both the ones you’re serving and the ones you’re working alongside. The thing about the service industry is that the people who choose to stay in it are built different. They show love through their work. They might not say it out loud, but every perfectly pulled shot of espresso or carefully measured cocktail is an act of care. And yet, they’re so often overlooked. But if you take the time to really talk to them, you’ll find they have these incredible, chaotic, beautiful stories. Some of my closest friends started as coworkers who have been in the trenches with me during a rush, or have even been customers who came in every day and simply stayed to chat because they cared. Read more>>

Adryelle

One of my first real jobs was at a commercial insurance company although I’d worked other jobs previously in high school. I took the job because It was right after high school and I didn’t plan on going to college at first. I thought it was a “good job” because it paid well and also had good benefits. I had always been a creative person, and had considered going to art school since I loved painting and drawing, but I also knew I wanted to pursue music. I just didn’t know how I would do it so I took the insurance job and would write music and learn to produce and record after I got home from work. Little did I know I wound up working at that job for 9 years while going to school to learn audio and sound. I made a lot of musical and artist friends during those years, we would all get together and jam out, or go hiking, or go to each others shows. I found my outlets. I learned a lot from this job during the time spent there. I learned that it was the relationships that got me through, but I also realized that I was not design for that type of work, that I didn’t have to do something just because someone told me it was a “good job”. I hated desk work and being confined to a set schedule, I always knew I wanted to work for myself. I think I felt like something else wasn’t possible for me. This pushed me to work harder on my goals for where I wanted to be. I used the dispassion that I felt to fuel where I wanted to go. When I graduated from college I quit the job, it was hard quitting because of the people I worked with, but I was glad to put that type of work was behind me. Sometimes I pondered why I stayed so long, but I think the reason was because I felt like there weren’t other options for me. I didn’t believe in myself and my potential to do something else. I learned later there was a world of other opportunities out there and that I could do whatever I set my mind to. Read more>>

Felicity Folson

One lesson I’m learning currently is that you can be the right package at the wrong address. Sometimes it’s not you; some things just aren’t for you, and that’s okay. I realized that I’m meant to be my own boss, not play myself small to get by. I’m open to being educated on something I’m not familiar with, but speaking to me like I’m not a human is where it becomes an issue. There were times I wanted to learn something new, but it’s hard to do that with someone being over you since they make the calls. I’ve always said if I ever hire employees in the future, I’ll never treat them how past managers have treated me. I won’t fix my mouth to say all of them were like that, but I feel like it’s certain things you shouldn’t have to deal with just to make money so you can live. I feel like if I have to lose my dignity to get it, then it’s not worth having, nor do I want it. Some people don’t know the definition of a leader. When I hear the word “leader,” I imagine someone who is reliable and understanding. They can take criticism as well as make levelheaded decisions when under pressure. They’re not prideful, and they definitely don’t use their title to demean people. I’ve worked with multiple interesting individuals, and through it all I’ve taken notes on how to be better for my company when it’s time for me to step into that role. Read more>>

Marie Edwards

I’m a veteran as well as a former teacher, so I’ve taken quite a few of the lessons that I’ve learned in those two fields and applied them to owning this business. The Army and teaching taught me to be persistent, innovative, and how to problem solve, which all of those traits were essential after buying Sweet Wick Candle Company this past summer. In the military, you have to have a “can do” attitude and be able to problem solve in order to accomplish tasks/missions. With all of the “snags” that I ran across being a new business owner, persistence, innovation, and problem solving skills have been necessary in finding solutions to the issues that come up on a regular basis. I’ve looked forward to the challenges that I’ve encountered, as they’ve allowed me to really be creative in finding ways to solve them. The sense of accomplishment that I get when I look at how much I’ve learned in the few months that I’ve owned Sweet Wick is immense. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to take on all of the challenges of buying a business if I didn’t have the confidence that was instilled in me by my experiences in the military and in the teaching field. Read more>>

Alex Benson

Something I was told early on was to “be careful what you’re good at.” If you can’t stand it, don’t do it. Play dumb if you have to. Otherwise, if you’re not careful, you’ll become the person known for doing that one thing, and it’ll be a bulk of your day some days. Previously, I have accidentally become the guy who troubleshoots everyone’s email account settings, the guy who fumbles in a panic through Cinema4D, the guy who ‘technically I guess knows a little bit of basic HTML’ who you expect to troubleshoot some fancy website. And at times, I was doing more confusing and overwhelming stuff like that than the stuff I’m actually good at and interested in. This one goes out to the people pleasers – saying “nah, no clue” can save your sanity later on. Read more>>

Mantae White

One of the most important experiences I had in a job was my time as a sears sales associate. I learned how to build genuine connections with customers by understanding their needs which helped me guide them to the right product choice. Whether it was explaining the features of a specific product or upselling, I quickly realized that trust and communication were key to closing sales. To add, working in a fast paced retail environment taught me how to manage my time and handle things well under pressure. Read more>>