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.

Alexis Cate

My first official job was at an ice cream parlor in New Jersey on Point Pleasant Boardwalk when I was 16 years old. It was such an amazing first job, I worked with my best friend, we were right by the beach, became friends with all of our co-workers, played fun music, did fun activities before and after work, it was a blast. The only that wasn’t the greatest was our boss, she wasn’t very fond of all the young high schoolers having fun at work, even though everyone was great at their job. A little back story on my best friend and I, we LOVE to make each other laugh. No matter where we were, what we were doing, you could hear us giggling from miles away. Read more>>

Lindsey Smith

Never sacrifice what drives you. You know, that thing that wakes you up in the morning, keeps you up a little too late, or makes you excited to say yes to something that doesn’t quite make sense on paper, but makes sense to your soul. That lesson has become the foundation of how I approach work as a creative entrepreneur. If a project doesn’t honor my creativity or serve a deeper purpose, it’s not a good fit…for me or for the client. Read more>>

Paige Negrete

One of the most important and formative experiences I had that shaped me as a business owner was my time working at a gymnastics facility in Redlands, CA. That job was so much more than just a paycheck—it was the foundation for everything I do today. I first started as a recreational coach, just dipping my toes into the world of gymnastics instruction. But pretty quickly, I found myself wearing a lot of different hats: I coached Hotshots and Pre-Team, moved into team coaching, worked the front desk, and eventually took on the role of Recreational Director. Read more>>

Maria

I thought being an actor meant starting as a waitress. It didn’t. It just meant I’d get really good at apologizing to angry strangers for ruining their shrimp fettuccine. Read more>>

Lisa Edney

It turns out the most defining moment of my corporate career wasn’t a promotion or a major win—it was feeling completely out of my depth. Tasked with leading the rollout of a new digital purchasing system across several reluctant teams, I was surrounded by seasoned professionals with far more technical experience. I questioned whether I belonged. Read more>>

Sherry Ward

One of the most important lessons I ever learned came during my very first internship, at just sixteen years old, working at Rockwell International on the Space Shuttle Challenger. On January 28, 1986, my coworkers and I stood in a massive airplane hangar, watching the launch on big-screen TVs, filled with pride, anticipation, and celebration. Read more>>

Katie Guntle

Real estate wasn’t always my plan—but after four moves in four different states, it quickly became my passion. My husband’s career led us on a journey across the country, and with each relocation, I gained a new perspective—not just as a homeowner, but as a consumer navigating different markets, different agents, and very different experiences. Some were smooth. Others? Not so much. Read more>>

Alyssa Citarella

For a brief stint of time in a past life I worked in Italian markets – which is a poetic way for me to remember my 15 years climbing the supermarket ladder from cashier, to deli worker, to catering manager, to customer service lead, to bookkeeper, to assistant store manager – between the ages of 15 & 30. Aside from the many various skills, and the millions of day to day interactions with customers and coworkers – there is one particular experience that I will never forget, which changed how I handle setbacks, failures, and issues in my work to this day. Read more>>