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

CC Seder

Contributing to a greater purpose was always very important to me in a job. I wanted to spend my 40 hours a week doing something that I felt mattered, with people who felt the same way. The kind of job that bonds you as you work together to accomplish something. This drive led me to working at a special needs school for 8 years. The things I learned at this job are unbelievable and I absolutely loved working there. Read more>>

Jeff Perkins

I think the most important lesson/experience I’ve had in a job that’s helped me as a creative is self-advocacy and taking care of your own needs first. I have a background as a higher education professional and as a helping field, you are trained to put others before yourself. In my case this has been mostly working with students who have a variety of needs and real challenges they need support with. Read more>>

Jeanine Murch

I started my career when I landed my first job, fresh out of college, as an art assistant in the children’s division of a large publishing house in New York City. I ended up staying in publishing for ten years, working my way from mostly administrative duties up to a senior level, where I got to design book covers and art direct illustrators and photographers. It was a dream come true, for so many reasons—it was my ticket to living in NYC, which in and of itself was a life-changing step in my path. Read more>>

Laura Sullivan

When I entered the world of natural health as holistic health coach, I focused mainly on nutrition. As I worked with clients, I began noticing that while food and supplements can be very helpful in healing, something was missing. My clients would get to a certain point in their health and then plateau. I knew through my training that we were supposed to look at the whole person, so I began to sprinkle some mind body work into our sessions. Read more>>

Jennifer Willoughby

As I reflect back on my creative career, I am amazed at how many changes I’ve witnessed. The commercial graphic industry experienced great change with the rapid evolution of digital technology. I remember working on a Deck Digital word processor in the 80’s and all you could see on the black screen was green text that required an opening and closing <tag> for any type of type formatting. All text correspondence was typewritten and taped to the back of a slow moving snail. Read more>>

Jackie Vujcich

I have a degree in accounting. Although rewarding in salary it didn’t fill my passion of being a creative. So I started teaching quilting feeling since I enjoyed my hobby why not make money doing it! As I started teaching at various quilt shops in the area, the owner’s would eventually ask me to also work at the shop as a part-time employee. It was definitely a step down going from a salaried position to hourly wages. But I was happy being around like-minded and creative people while teaching or working at the shop. Read more>>

Nuria Rius

I worked as a Photo Editor for about ten years for an art magazine (photography, music, skateboarding, etc). Even if I studied Photography and all that I wanted was taking pictures all day it helped a lot me being on the ‘other side’ to understand what the commissioner wants when they reach out. Not only this: because this period of time happen to be for a small and independent publication where I also produced and organised other things such events, music shows, art exhibitions, etc. Read more>>

Jessica Jennings

Before I became a stay at home mom turned business owner, I was a school counselor and an LPC. Being a school counselor for 8 years taught me more lessons than I can retell, but the overall take away, is that even the little things are important. You never know what choice you make or thing you say will stick with someone. Everyone and everything matters. Remembering little nuggets about people’s lives when I’m chatting at an install, engaging with their kids or pets, truly listening when people are speaking, these are all important aspects (not only as a business owner but as a kind human) that make the difference. Read more>>

Sungha Hong

Giving the benefit of the doubt to the person whom you might be having conflicts with. I’ve worked with a lot of different people, there’s definitely been times when I feel like my co-worker/client is making me upset on purpose, and it can be easy to take things personally. For example, one of my clients gave me vital feedback near the deadline, which could have been much more helpful if I received it much earlier. Most of the time, it’s due to lack of communication, hence misunderstanding each other. Read more>>

Falon Foss

The most important lesson I learned at my previous job, which was also in the custom fine jewelry industry, is to listen to the client, to be kind and most importantly to be honest. This came up many times in my near decade working at this jewelry shop. The time I am thinking of in particular has to do with a client that came in to have a ring sized for their daughter. Their daughter had advanced MS and was in her final year of life and this ring was significant to their family history. The ring had been passed down for generations and it was very unique. Read more>>

Kia Williams

An important lesson I have learned in a prior role that has helped shaped my professional viewpoints is that the “Leadership Blueprint,” is FLAWED. Leadership is an external-facing practice or performance that is imitated and replicated. Notable and often referenced leaders are the likes of incredible innovators Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, or a president/leader of an influential country, but can their successes and leadership blueprints be executed in exact replications by every aspiring leader for any group of people? Read more>>

Lynn Harrison

To most important lesson I’ve learned from every job is to respect and appreciate everyone from the entry level job to the C-suite. Everyone deserves common courtesy, respect, and a hello. I’ve also learned that every activity I was exposed to along the way helped to develop me as an Entrepreneur. There were roles and responsibilities that I was given that never felt aligned to what I was hired to do, but as an Entrepeneur those roles and responsibilities have paid off. Read more>>

Nila Jane Autry

For most of my 30 years teaching art in a public school setting I ached to be a full time artist, to be able to quit my full-time job and just do art everyday, all day. I didn’t realize how valuable the life lessons I learned as a school teacher would be to my future full-time art career. Teaching Art taught me art. Anything I wanted to teach my students, anything at all I wanted to learn was at my fingertips. If I wanted to learn how to create a beautiful stained glass window for example, all I had to do was buy the supplies with school monies, and teach myself as I taught my students. Read more>>