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.

Erica Doo

I started my career in a very corporate setting. I was an artist’s assistant in New York, but it wasn’t the paint-splattered, buzzy creative hub one might picture when they think “New York City art studio.” It was a sterile, white-walled office, where I and many others tapped away at computers in silence. I learned so much from this experience, the main thing being that I am not cut out for a corporate job like that! While I do enjoy some quiet office time, I need conversation and laughter and music to really get my creative juices flowing. My artist’s assistant job taught me some things about the business side of the art world, but mainly it taught me about myself. I am a very hands-on person and am happiest when I am physically creating something. After I left that job, I moved on to start a business where I could create and sell my own artwork. Read more>>

Lisa Havniear

I initially started in the sign business in 1985 working for one of the best sign companies in our state (although it took over 10 years to realize that). They were my last hope of employment before I was going to have to give up my independence (apartment) and move back home. I was at the ripe old age of 20 and desperate.  Read more>>

Kelly Clause

Prior to my art career, I was an elementary school teacher. I really love working with kids, but as many of you can testify, they are CRAZY! They are unpredictable and some of them are simply not meant to sit in hard chairs behind desks under fluorescent lights for 7 hours a day. I was a first year teacher, and so proud of one of the intricate lesson plans I had come up with. I was less than halfway through what I thought was a brilliant history lesson, and to my surprise, I was losing them. I had to reroute. I decided then and there to scrap my whole lesson plan and have them break into groups and come up with a short skit to reenact what they were learning about. Read more>>

Rebecca Howell

Before I made the transition to painting and teaching full time, I worked at the Delaware Art Museum for 14 years, eventually leaving my role as the Manager of Studio Learning & Creative Engagement in 2023 to launch my full time creative business. When I began my journey in museum education it seemed a worthwhile and fun detour from my studio aspirations, and over time, I realized I was gaining many skills that would become an essential part of my studio practice and art career. Read more>>

Tamitha Brown

I was a Center Director for a childcare center. The District Manager told me, ” Ms. Tamitha, let go of all the nuts”. I was running every part of the center from the food program, advertisement, parent engagement, teacher scheduling, and etc. I had an Assistant, however, I was not delegating major responsibilities to the Assistant Director. I was stressed out and overwhelmed and the District Manager knew it. I had to learn how to delegate and trust others to handle the task. Read more>>

Janie-Alice Seecharan

Some of the most important lessons learned that have shaped me as a business owner, came during my previous career in Corporate Finance. For about seven years, I worked in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment where performance and productivity were everything. I was good at it and I was excelling—climbing the corporate ladder faster than I imagined, leading projects, receiving recognition—but in hindsight I was also slowly disconnecting from my core values and from myself. Before making the decision to leave, I was burned out, anxious, and constantly depleted—I remember sitting alone one night, staring at a spreadsheet, and asking myself, Is this it? I had built a life that looked good on paper, but didn’t feel aligned. I had everything I thought I was supposed to want, but I felt completely disconnected and empty. That moment was a turning point and wake-up call. Read more>>

Jill Perrin

I interviewed for a role at a F50 global company that was a significant promotion / role expansion. Given my prior leadership experience and training, I was a strong candidate who possessed key skills and knowledge that could be readily capitalized on. I interviewed successfully – with one hitch. In my wrap up interview, the HR liaison said “I was strong candidate for the role. There was a small concern about culture fit.” Inside I thought “That’s for me to discern, not you.” But they were on to something…. Read more>>

Anson Jones

This isn’t technically a story from a job, it’s a story from school, but I think it still counts. An instructor once told us that if you don’t embarrass yourself once or twice on stage, you’re probably being boring. It kind of blew my mind. Boring? That’s the worst thing to be! Much worse than making mistakes. So my whole thinking changed – when I got on stage, I planned to try new things, and I planned to make mistakes. Then, when one happened, I noticed, let it pass, and focused on what was happening next. I noticed that I usually had the best ideas right after I did something that sounded stupid. When you start rewarding yourself for the right attitude, instead of chastising yourself for the outcome, you open up your creativity and have more fun. Most importantly, you learn about yourself – you’ll make different mistakes than anyone else, and those differences are what make you sound like yourself. Read more>>

Jonathan Fellows

A sales team that I was a part of for a long time had a strategy that consistently produced top results: Show up. Do what you say you’re going to do. Be consistent. Those are all correlated, but the theme was that if you consistently- like on a schedule- put in the work, then success would follow. This really reinforced the work ethic that I carry to this day: Make a plan, work the plan, put in the hours, operate with honesty, integrity and enthusiasm. Read more>>

Mitchell Fischer

I worked for a big box gym for 7 years, I got bounced around in a few different roles but landed in management more often than not. I was extremely lucky to be apart of a project of starting a group class that was like a copy of a CrossFit program inside a big box gym. This provided me with the stability of being attached to a big company while having to learn about managing the business of that program. It was there I learned the value of great service. I was encouraged by the leadership in the program to always focus on how great we were doing in delivering the outcomes that the clients came to us for. Too often in fitness owners or coaches get short sighted on the sales of new memberships, supplements and t-shirts. Read more>>

Tim Dragmen

After college, I worked in the corporate fitness world for a bit, and it opened my eyes real quick. I saw how most of the focus was on making the sale, not actually helping the person once they signed up. That didn’t sit right with me. I knew I wanted to build something different. Somewhere people felt like their time, effort, and money actually mattered. Way too many trainers just show up, go through the motions, and collect a paycheck. I wanted to create a space where people actually feel supported and cared for. Read more>>

Tim Gray

One of the most impactful lessons I learned from a previous role is that the journey to success always begins with small steps and often, those steps start with simply taking a chance. Whether it’s in business, working out, or life in general, progress is almost always rooted in that first move grounded in a desire to grow, to be better, and to do better. Read more>>

Antionette Black

I contribute much of my success from several previous jobs. My cooking skills are what I pride myself in most of all. Combining flavors with herbs and seasoning, colors, and textures, which I’ve gathered from Country Clubs, Private Schools to name a few. From upper-management, I’ve learned team-building, staffing, food cost and control, among other valuable nuggets. Read more>>

Elor (De Mayo) Shem Tov

One of the most pivotal experiences in my career, and the one that most shaped me as a business owner, came during a time of deep personal and professional challenge.

I was the only woman on the executive leadership team, and I took pride in how I led: with clarity, care, and a deep commitment to empowering others. But leadership isn’t always met with applause; sometimes it’s met with resistance. One day, three of my peers blindsided me with accusations that I had created a toxic work environment. It was a calculated move, clearly intended to undermine my position. Read more>>