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

SOO YOUNG CHOI

I learned that having a strong responsibility is the most important and hardest thing to keep. It applies to all types of relationships in our lives. Read more>>

Mallory Roberts

I had been a SLP for about 4 years when I started working at a pediatric outpatient clinic. My passion in my previous setting was in swallowing disorders. Read more>>

Ben Raanan

One of my greatest mentors is a fabulous Artistic Director named D. Lynn Meyers. I worked with Lynn for eight years at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Read more>>

Kyle Williams

If are present in your job you will always find that you will use your strengths to do the job and those qualities will improve. I worked full time at a chocolate/fudge/ice cream shop when I turned 28 years old. Read more>>

LeeSon Bryce

Roughly five years ago, I used to work as an assistant manager in a flooring department. At first, I didn’t know what I was doing. I had papers all over the desk, things in the department were all over the place, I kept losing track of customer orders, etc. Read more>>

Becky Roberts

My first career was in the floral industry in Los Angeles for the better part of a decade. I learned from some of the best in the industry, had a celebrity clientele, and owned my own floral events company. Read more>>

Kim McIntyre

I use to instruct wilderness expeditions in northern MN in the wintertime. Students were learning how to winter camp, dog sled and cross country ski. Read more>>

Hollis Citron

I have been working since I am about sixteen, starting with babysitting. All of my other jobs ranged from restaurants to retail to teaching in the classroom. Read more>>

 Jennifer Germaine

I got the proverbial “dream job” after I graduated law school with a large law firm in the mergers and acquisitions department. I remember making my decision to join the firm because they preached work life harmony and how great of a place it was to work. Read more>>

Arnisha Smith

Back in December 2021 I was feeling discouraged as a creative and I wanted to throw in the towel and go corporate. I applied for a job at Michigan First Credit Union, during that application process I saw an ad on Instagram for a New Balance design challenge Read more>>

Raul Casillas

One remarkable insight I had when I found myself working with one of the top Architects in LA, yet I still, felt with no creative freedom and unable to express myself as I desired. Despite being part of a well-known creative office in the US, I felt trapped by the formalities of architecture. Read more>>

Adam Mobarek

This is a fantastic question because there’s an image I have seared into my mind of when I learned one of the biggest lessons of my adult life – no one truly knows what they’re doing out here and you have to take action toward at least attempting to achieve the life you want. Read more>>

Natalie Brown

The most important experience I had prior to creating my floral design business, The Happy Hydrangea, was as a middle school teacher. Read more>>

Jay Holobach

Prior to transitioning into being a full-time artist, in my previous professional life I was a Program Manager working at organizations such as NASA, US Navy, GM, and Raytheon. Read more>>

Jamie Rockymore-Bess

Prior to creating Helpful Living Magazine, I worked in a hospital setting, starting off working directly with patients, observing their behaviors, sitting on treatment teams and having conversations to understand the reason for their hospital admission. Read more>>