If you could go back in time to when you began your career, what pearls of wisdom do you wish you’d known then? It’s not an easy question to answer, but it’s what I asked 20 influential and successful professional women in the Springfield area.
These 20 women received the following question via email: “What are the three most important lessons you have learned during your professional career that you’d wish you would have known when you were 25 or just starting your career?”
Their answers were interesting, funny, emotional and inspiring. But it was obvious that three ideas surfaced quickly as common themes.
GrowthEvery triumph and failure is a lesson learned. Some lessons are easier than others and some make us question what we’re made of, but they are all crucial to success. Almost all 20 of them agreed.
“There is always something to learn,” said lawyer Jill Patterson. “Something you had not considered and something that can be done another way. Always be willing to learn.”
Financial adviser Paula Dougherty put it, “You must become comfortable with being uncomfortable, always learning, growing and changing. If you get comfortable, it’s time to step it up!”
Easier said than done, but it’s true.
“Striving to improve your skillset or experience usually means you are going to need to do something that is not in your comfort zone to get you there,” said small-business and management adviser Rayanna Anderson. “Do things that push you and make you nervous! It’s worth it.”
Or perhaps your 25-year-old self needs it put simply: Do the difficult things.
Hard workThere is no substitute for hard work. We’ve all heard it and know it. But for women in the workplace, there may be no greater lesson.
“Details matter,” attorney Evelyn Mangan wrote back. “There is no substitute for being prepared.”
Successful women also use punctuality to their advantage. Going above and beyond isn’t merely sufficient – it’s prudent. To be early is to be on time and to be on time is to be late; that’s the new standard for professional women.
“Nothing speaks louder than hard work,” said up-and-coming university administrator Allison Langford. “A willingness to work hard no matter the job, the season or the reward says a lot about a person’s character. I am going to demonstrate it before I expect it in others.”
RelationshipsIn business and in life, it’s all about the people with whom we surround ourselves. Relationships are crucial to success.
“It’s all about people, which makes relationships a key factor in having a successful career,” Anderson added. “Surround yourself and follow the lead of the best people you know. Spend the time to develop relationships, and thank the people that help you along the way.”
If you’re 25, get started now, or if you’re 30 or even 50 – relationships and networking will never stop being important.
“Forge relationships early in your career,” Mangan said. “The friends you make and the professional associates from early in your career will be the ones who will still be there for you throughout your career.”
Amy Strauss, a civil engineer, was reminded you should never miss an opportunity to lift up and encourage others. This thought was echoed by an insurance executive.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” said Leslie Peck.
Every relationship, though, is an opportunity to learn – even the bad ones.
“Value each relationship you experience along your path,” real estate property manager Karen “K.C.” Cowan advised. “Even the worst ones can teach you valuable life lessons.”
The most successful professional women in our community never choose the easy route or quit challenging themselves. They work hard, exceed expectations, and they build and cultivate relationships.
The insights from this polled group of talented women are invaluable lessons to learn and apply to your own professional and personal lives no matter your age. But based on their common responses it seems important to learn and live by these precepts as early as possible. I want to thank all of these women for participating in this exercise and for sharing their successes and principles with others.
Since I’ve spent my career as a banker and lending officer, it seemed appropriate to end with some sage advice from a former home builder and real estate developer.
“You can never have too much money in savings,” said Janell Manley. “Be prepared to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves.”
Spoken like a true entrepreneur.
Shelley Evans is senior vice president and commercial relationship manager for Guaranty Bank. She can be reached at sevans@gbankmo.com.[[In-content Ad]]
