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

Tammy Afriat

As an engineer, I worked on a system where I learned the importance of preventative management—anticipating issues and implementing maintenance to ensure the system is constantly working.

This experience shaped my parenting approach. Instead of finding myself in a situation where my kids and I are overwhelmed and exhausted, I focus on understanding my children’s needs and creating healthy routines as a proactive approach to cultivating peaceful family dynamics. Read more>>

Jori Halpern

Upon graduating from college, I was working as a server at a sports bar. I didn’t love the job, but I can’t say I hated it either—you know what I mean? Anyway, one day my manager pulled me aside for a quarterly review. We both aired our frustrations, and after we’d both had our say, he looked me in the eye and said, “Jori, you have to remember that we are as replaceable to you as you are to us.” Read more>>

Jonnie Macson

Taking ownership is one of the most important professional lessons I’ve learned in my years as a professional. Quite early on in a previous role, I realised that being upfront and honest about what you do means so much. Owning both your successes and your mistakes only serves to reinforce your authenticity and integrity. Read more>>

Jake Cameron

Chasing acting has been a roller coaster full of ups and downs which forces me to work many jobs that I don’t necessarily enjoy. I remember working this one job as a tire technician which basically means I had to change tires at a tire shop when someone bought a new set or someone was swapping their summer tires for winter ones. During one shift I remember thinking, wow I’m really not liking job, I’m not enjoying this at all. That’s when I noticed and learned an important lesson in doing what you love. I remember thinking to myself at that point, I’d rather make 30$ a day doing what I love and enjoy, then 150$ a day doing something that makes me miserable. I try my best to live by that. Read more>>

Kimberly Clark

One of the most important lessons I’ve carried from my time in the Navy into my business as a speaker is the power of discipline, structure, and resilience. Joining the military was no easy feat for me—I had to lose a significant amount of weight just to qualify for basic training. Once I got in, the challenges didn’t stop. The intense physical demands and mental fortitude required to graduate taught me how to adapt to new environments and thrive under pressure. Read more>>

Jennifer Hines

My creative journey to freelance was a bit circuitous, so I used to support myself by working full-time at a publishing company in an illustrator/designer role. The company was my first full-time career-level job. They created technical and vocational textbooks, and the days were very structured–even though it was a professional office job, we still had scheduled breaks and lunch timeslots, and everyone arrived and left at the same time every day, as if we were punching a time clock. There were no company cell phones or logging in from home to work on things, so basically we all worked 8-5p and took our breaks and lunches when the time came, and left all our work on our desks at the end of the day. While this may seem overly proscriptive to many who work in office environments, I actually really enjoyed that when I “clocked out” for the day and drove home, I was leaving all of my work and stress behind. Read more>>

Lovely Marshall

The most important lesson I learned in a job—the one that shaped me as a business owner—came during my time as a Product Manager at Facebook. It was the WORST and yet the best experience of my life, one that pushed me from rejection to resilience and ultimately to the success I lead today. Read more>>

Autumn Case

Before I became a photographer in 2020, I was in the Air National Guard for over 6 years. The day I turned 18 I entered a very disciplined world that I called work. From the very beginning I didn’t fit in. I was actually excited to be there, excited to be part of a team and to grow and learn. My flame was quickly dimmed by the suffocating negativity and toxicity in the work place. In 2020, Covid-19 brought me 2 months paid time off so I finally had time to slow the heck down and cultivate my own routine filled with love, patience, and creativity. I soon realized that this was the type of life that I wanted to live. Through deep mediation, I also realized that my entire world is capable of change. Inside and out. Read more>>