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

Antoinette Clay

There’s nothing worse than knowing you’re good at what you do—but watching someone else take the credit.

A few years back, I worked in an environment where I was always taking on projects and overperforming. I gave great presentations, produced solid work, trained staff, knew my stuff inside and out. And yet, somehow, when it was time for big decisions to be made—I wasn’t in the room. Read more>>

Mitch Worzel

I’ve learned so much from every job I’ve had. At the time, you don’t always see what you’re being prepared for, but looking back, there’s always a thread connecting each experience—leading you to where you are now.

My first job at a local store taught me teamwork, punctuality, and the importance of finding my niche. It was my first exposure to operations, money handling, and the ins and outs of running a business. That’s where I first realized my love for organization and efficiency. Read more>>

Andrea S. Knox

One of my first jobs as a psychotherapist was Grief Counselor at a hospice organization. I worked with patients who had less than a year to live as well as individuals and families who were grieving after a loss. I expected most of the hospice patients to be elderly, but this was not so. There were dying patients of every age- from children through all stages of adulthood. The preciousness of life was made clear to me in this work. I got to hear about the fears, regrets, and struggles involved in grief and end of life. All of this cemented for me that the only time guaranteed to us is now, and not to wait if there is a dream you want to fulfill, a change you want to make, or way you truly desire to live your life. I’ve used this as a guidepost to have flexibility in my career path and to prioritize important projects, like writing a book. Read more>>

Travis Crumley

For almost 10 years prior to pursuing photography I worked in corporate America as a Recruiter. I was following the traditional American way of going to school, getting a corporate job and working to build a career. As the years progressed I began to realize that I wanted more than to sit in front of a screen and feel like I was always have to work harder to just keep my job. I would find myself at work listening to YouTube videos on photography and was watching all of these other people out there traveling, exploring and following a passion that made them truly happy. After years of sitting on the fence I was with a corporation who was downsizing and saw this as my opportunity to transition and follow my passion. At the end of the day the lesson I had learned is that life is short and if I did not pursue what makes me happy I would wake up every day questioning myself. Read more>>

Samantha Welch

Some readers are going to love this story and some will have strong opinions, but others opinions are none of my business. Prior to buying the franchise, FIT4MOM Santa Clarita, I was in sales for Arbonne. Arbonne is a MLM (multi level marketing) business focused on health and wellness. The MLM business model is very low risk so it was easy for me to confidently dive in, knowing if I was unsuccessful I wouldn’t lose a lot of money. What I thought I was getting myself into was chatting with people about a 30 day detox program, but what I gained from it was so much more than protein powder sales. Read more>>

Ashley Blackmore

The most important lesson that I have learned in past jobs that has helped me as a business owner has been organization and time management. As a social worker, we wear many different hats for our clients, but also the organization we work for. Sometimes we have to be a coordinator, strategist, resource provider, or therapist and that takes time management and organization. In my business, Candle Talk, I am a solopreneur. That means I wear all the hats and I am by myself. I have been able to use and even sharpen my skillset of organization and time management to make the candles, the content, and logistic planning- just to name a few. I am learning about myself that I need a plan and time to complete tasks to keep a peaceful mind. Read more>>

Emaline Sampey

My experience as an artist who got a job to make ends meet is unfortunately, a very common one. I, like many young creatives through college and early adulthood, got swept into the food and beverage industry. Now, perhaps to the outside observer, bartending and painting may seem like opposing skill sets. Like a monk who Djs on the weekends. But ask any 20-something creative with four roommates, a student loan on deferment, and only one pair of unstained pants, the marriage of bar life and an art life can be rather harmonious. Read more>>

Kevan Knight

Back in 2020, I was laid off at the start of the pandemic for the first time. This was the end of April. This had become a long journey. I was still getting paid for a few months. That is the beauty of working at a company for about 5 years. The funny thing is that it was suggested by a friend to try the gig economy. I can kick myself now because at that time being locked up in the house people were paying a high premium plus tips to get things delivered to their home for a few years. I did experiment with it later on (a few years later), but I think I was too late. Anyway, I did get hired again for another job as a Database Developer in November 2021. Read more>>

Brice Johnston

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as an artist, creative, and entrepreneur came from an experience that, at the time, felt like a major setback. My background is in education and social work, and I spent nearly eight and a half years in the field. While I was passionate about my work, I was also feeling burnt out. Growing up from a single-mother household, having a steady paycheck was something I valued deeply, so even though I had thoughts about leaving, I never seriously considered it. Read more>>

Suzy Grifa

Being a bit fearless of failure, doing a task scared, and continuously developing communication skills are foundational lessons that have propelled me throughout my career. From my early experiences being on a freelance makeup team and sometimes being booked for jobs in which I could have easily felt that I lacked enough experience or credibility, my mentor always encouraged me to simply show up confidently, professionally, and to rarely say no to an opportunity. Read more>>

Ruta Zilinske

Success isn’t just about skills or talent—it’s about who you surround yourself with and having the courage to step outside your comfort zone. These two lessons didn’t come easily to me, but they changed everything.

I learned early on that I couldn’t do it all alone. I’ve been in both extremes—leading teams of 700 people in the corporate world and feeling completely isolated in real estate. The contrast was striking. At first, I thought I could push through solo, relying only on my own determination. But the truth is, we are built for connection, for collaboration, for community—and that’s how we grow. Read more>>

Brayley Josephson

The most important lesson that I have ever learned is the important of persistence.

The summer I was 17, I decided that it was time for me to get my first job, and have an income stream of my own. For some reason, I loved the idea of working at a specific local hardware store that was about 5 minutes from my childhood home. I remember walking into the store and asking the cashiers for an application. They sent me to a back counter where a man (who I thought was just a manager but later came to realize was Dave, the new owner of the store) came to great me. He handed me an application, and I asked him for a pen .Read more>>

Lindsay Bradley

The most important lesson I learned in my career came when I realized that when your values no longer align with the work you’re doing or the company you work for, no amount of money can fill that gap.

Many years ago, I was excited to land an executive leadership role in a small but successful family-owned business. I was recruited to bring an “experienced and outside perspective” in hopes of helping them reach the next level. Little did I know, my inexperience in navigating family dynamics was about to face a harsh reality check! Read more>>

Sharrell Lordeus

One of the most important lessons I learned in my professional career was that the speed and efficiency of a team are determined by the pace set by its leader. I realized that paying attention to details and recognizing the value of every role within a business directly contributes to its success. My pervious boss taught me nothing regarding treating others with kindness and respect. Because I witnessed what she lacked, It was like God placed me there to be better than her as a future boss. Showing appreciation for employees, no matter the size of their tasks, fosters a positive work environment. I also learned that sharpening emotional intelligence is essential to becoming a leader people respect and enjoy working for. It’s not just about delegations, it’s about being in the trenches alongside your team, working towards a shared vision. Read more>>

Alicia Robbins

I was working in a very traditional sense as a physician in a job where I wasn’t happy. One day I had this epiphany that no one was coming to save me. No one was going to give me the perfect job or help improve my situation. And anyway, the type of practice where I wanted to be didn’t even exist. I think it was around the time I was turning 40 and I realized that I, and only I, could change the trajectory of my life. It was then that I made the decision to create what I wanted for myself and for my patients. I think changing one’s mentality is so empowering because otherwise you risk staying in “victim mode” and never taking control over your life. Read more>>

Laurel Booth

I jumped straight into critical care nursing after graduating from college with a Bachelors Degree in nursing. I was 22. As a brand new nurse I was still in the technical phase: learning how to assess patients and how to manage my time effectively. By modeling myself after more seasoned staff, I learned to always respect and afford each patient dignity. I made sure I would acknowledge each patient by saying, “Good Morning” although they were sedated with a breathing tube. I would pull the blankets up over their shoulders so their body is not exposed. I would clean their mouth and comb their hair, so they are presentable to the world. Read more>>

Ziyu Liu

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from my curatorial and architectural experiences is that organizational abilities are often more critical than technical expertise—especially when managing large-scale projects. Additionally, I realized that in art and design fields, a diverse skill set is invaluable—no experience is ever wasted. Read more>>

Moody Shwales

My first vocation in life was soldiering. I served in the Army in a front-line unit. The lessons I learned there, which can be applied to all walks of life, could fill a book. The most fundamental of these is: Do your job!

Sounds simple, right? Yet it’s something many people don’t apply correctly. It boils down to focusing on your task and not being concerned with what others are doing. It’s not about looking for ways to show everyone how clever you are at the expense of your peers, worrying about who gets credit in the event of success, or trying to avoid blame in the event of failure. If we all apply ourselves to the task at hand with focus, effort, and professionalism, the team will succeed—whether it’sa military mission, a multimillion-dollar film production, or an elementary school play. Read more>>

Hannah Carande

One lesson that has shaped my career the most to date is the idea dubbed “fake it till you make it” – although I think that phrasing sounds misleading because I never felt like I was truly “faking” anything. Instead, I learned that success often starts with believing in your own potential, even before anyone else does. Read more>>

Lori Welch Brown

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is to stop comparing myself to others. It was a hard lesson for me to learn–one that took many years. Growing up in a blue-collar family, I chose secretarial school over college. Per my dear, sweet dad, “If you can type, you’ll always have a job.” While he wasn’t wrong (at least then), when I entered the work force, I found myself surrounded by recent college grads. Conversations around the water cooler and at happy hour seemed to always start with, “So, where’d you go to school?,” which left me feeling ‘less than’ and ashamed. Read more>>

Iona Kallika

Moving from the east coast to San Diego, I was overwhelmed with opportunity. I think there’s always been a sense of pressure put on people to find a niche—to settle into something quickly and stick with it—but I’ve never quite figured out what that is for myself. Instead, I’ve embraced exploration, trying new things, and getting involved in as much as I can. I think it’s so important to get involved in as many experiences as you can even if the value in it is not obvious to you yet. The random opportunities I have become involved in are the ones that have always come back around to help me in some way, whether that be professionally or socially.  Read more>>