We asked some brilliant entrepreneurs, artists and creatives to reflect on lessons they’ve learned at prior jobs. We’ve shared highlights below.

Markeon Edwards

The most important lesson I’ve experienced in a job was that, you have to give your all or nothing. Your job ethic shouldn’t be different depending on the job your doing. If it’s fast food or real estate, you should the same compassion to making sure the job is done. Read more>>

Sarah Randall Hunt

The most important lesson I’ve learned as a creative is knowing your vision for your next step and your big picture. I call it defining your why. It’s not simply enough to work hard and want to work, especially in today’s world with increased competition. You must know your purpose in your chosen field, what brought you to that job, and what kind of projects you want to create with what impact. If that feels too big, simplify. With whom do you want to be working in the future? Taking the time to answer any of these questions will draw your roadmap for what you need to do to get where you want to go. Your roadmap has to be connected to your why. Read more>>

Ayana Ames.

I’ve had a few different jobs and positions that have impacted me as a business owner. I would say the most important experiences I have had came from interning and management positions. Throughout all of these positions, the common themes were customer service and direction with purpose. Working in the photography industry with children, as well as the death care industry has given me the most perspective. As far as customer service goes, I learned: Read more>>

Janell Hearns

A few years ago I was transitioning into a new career. The job opportunity I received at the time was going to be the very first I had in the field I had been trying to break into. I was so eager and at the same time afraid to lose the opportunity that when I received an offer I took it right away without negotiating. The decision negatively impacted me until to the day I moved on from the company. Naively I thought that if I worked hard enough they’d see my worth and pay me appropriately and that just isn’t how things work. What I learned from my mistake was to KNOW and demand your worth and also to never be afraid to walk away from a situation that does not work for you. What’s for you is for you. Read more>>

Matt Borlenghi

TAKE A BREATH BEFORE RESPONDING! Years ago, I had just quit All My Children to pursue sitcoms and the laughs to be had at work (rather than the drama and having to tell Kelly Ripa I loved her 25 times a day, lol).
I was asked to meet with the heads of talent and casting at FOX. 90 seconds into the meeting they said “So, do you want to be the new guy on Beverly Hills 90210 or Melrose Place?”. Being the impetuous young dumbass that I was, I said “Eh… I just left a soap.. Not really into more drama right now. I want to do sitcoms and laugh all day”. Read more>>

Chris Charles

One of the most important lessons I learned while working in corporate America was ultimately, you really don’t have control or equity in said company most of the times. While working a great tech job back in 2009, I wound up getting laid off along with several other people due to the downturn in the economy at the time. After the final meeting in the conference room, I returned to my desk to find my belongings already packed up in a white box, my computer wiped and my former manager ready to walk me out the building. Read more>>

Andrea Ball

something, doing it correctly in the best way possible. I’ve worked in dialysis for many years. The job is repetitious. It has taught me to be very intentional about reviewing processes and looking for opportunities to improve. Along with being repetitious, dialysis is a high anxiety job. You deal with various things happening at once. You may be dealing with 3 patients, machine trouble, phone calls and assisting a doctor or social worker all at the same time. I had to look for ways to prepare for the time when things would get busy. Read more>>

Khi Lo

You need a real job to make art until you start making real money from being an artist. Don’t listen to the crazies. It was 2017, and I was a sophomore in college, wasting away in a film studies elective class. I perked up when I overheard a few of my peers talking about a music video they were editing. As an artist myself, I decided to approach them for what was my first hit song (a SoundCloud-only release titled ‘Unlimited’ with 40,000 plays). That was the worst call I ever made! Read more>>

Sharon McKay-Anguin

My most important lesson/experience I that I had was workload balance management. At my previous job I had to learn to multitask which involved processing health benefits. I was encouraged by a former supervisor to look at the bigger picture and prepare to have to assist others with a wide range of benefit processing. In less 2yrs later, I was granted my dream job POC San Antonio TX n Human Resources as an Assistant now potential 1yr later HR Specialist. Also most importantly it’s a virtual position. In HR promotions are sky’s the limit for my future retirement as well. My received advice Always Look At the Bigger Picture. Read more>>

Edward Cunje

I used to work for Wolfgang Puck’s catering company. We catered huge Hollywood events and galas, including the Academy Awards. The night of the awards ceremony, I was in charge of wrapping a satchel of baby carrots with a garlic chive. The chives were damp, so they would be easier to wrap the perfectly steamed carrots. But the Lord gave me massive sausage fingers and using them to wrap something as delicate as a satchel of baby carrots was not easy at all. The mood in the giant kitchen was tense. The Sous Chef in charge of event was a tyrant. He paced up and down the walkways in the kitchen, making sure everyone was on task and time. Read more>>

Matt Land

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in my life is that money does not buy happiness. Coming out of college that’s what I thought the solution was. Society trains us to go get a big corporate job and work your way up. The 9-5. It’s safe, and just what you do. With that I went straight into the Fortune 50 tech world and started working my way up. I did very well to the point where I never had to even look at my bank account I just knew it was good, but I was miserable. The same day to day surrounded by people who coast and take advantage of each other and only chase money. Read more>>

Neha O’Rourke

The most important lesson I learned was through epic mental, emotional and physical breakdown in my ad career. Prior to starting my coaching company, I used to work in advertising and from the outside looking in, I had everything together in my career: I was working at the top ad agencies, made six-figures, worked with some of the best brands, got promoted quickly, and was on the path of what society deems “successful.” Read more>>

Merald Holloway

“Knowing is half the battle”. For older other Gen X and older Millenial folks, they will remember that line that served as part of a public service announcement embedded into a GI Joe cartoon episode, telling kids about some type of hazard they should avoid with some nuggets of wisdom that theorized that now that they know, they will never make the same mistake again. Sadly, that isn’t always the case. Having 50% of something doesn’t guarantee success or sound decision-making, but it helps. Read more>>

Emmie Barnett

Before starting TheEmmieBDesigns, I worked at a local boutique for over five years. Not only was this my first experience with retail, but at 16 years old, it was my first job. I was eager to learn from my boss and fellow coworkers, but something that is not easily taught is how to provide appropriate customer service. While each customer is different and therefore requires a different approach, I made it a priority to make every person who entered the store feel important. I made myself available and easily approachable so that I could aid customers in their shopping experiences. Read more>>

Ginger Grimm

Most in the artist community would cringe at idea of seeing their works through the lens of a salesperson, yet like it or not, a lot of what nine to five sales people do is the same as artists. We have to pitch our work. We have to network. We have to put in the effort that our work presentable. We have to write, read, and negotiate contracts. Although I am still working that job to pay my bills, I would not be as prepared for all of those eventualities if I had not taken the opportunity. Read more>>

Christie Lynch Ebert

As a former educator and administrator, I know the importance of planning, practicing, and preparation. You may have heard the expression, “Prior proper planning prevents poor performance!” As a teacher, I had to have my lessons planned to a “T,” and ready to share with anyone who walked in my door – especially the students. I practiced different set-ups and procedures for my classroom to ensure every student could access the materials, move safely in the space, and learn. Read more>>

Pearlie J.

Learn to discern that moment of challenge or frustration over your emotions! So many times it is so easy to allow FEELINGS to override the facts or true intent of a situation. Being one who identifies as an Entrepreneur and Creative, there has been a few times I can recall my emotions almost or completely blind siding me in a decision. For most, this is hard to admit but that’s not my style. I own what I did and how it helped tailor me to be even better. Read more>>

TIFFANY VINSON

I know that in my business, some lessons weren’t always taught in school, but through life experiences. I worked as a personal banker for a large bank, this particular location was unique because there was such a diverse range of clients from ages, financial & social status. What I learned by working at this particular branch was that each one of the staff truly gave our best to serve our guests. Read more>>