While Josh and I have never met in-person, our connection began at the beginning of the pandemic, and YoPro Know brought us together. He has graciously allowed me to speak to his network and I'm excited to offer him the same opportunity with this week's blog post about a letter to his younger self. Enjoy!
Of the many lessons learned in my career, this is what I would most want to say to my younger self:
There is no such thing as an overnight success.
Big wins are the tip of the iceberg: a lot of preparation, effort, and past failures went into achieving a successful outcome.
Remember that last part; it's easy to get discouraged when things are going poorly, but the most painful lessons can be the most powerful and valuable.
Many circumstances are beyond our control; we can control how we react to and learn from any situation. For example, dealing with a difficult boss or co-worker can better prepare us for the next difficult person we encounter.
5. Growth comes from leaning into one's discomfort.
6. Leaning into my own discomfort: attending a professional association meeting for an unfamiliar field to me. Impostor syndrome hit me as I first walked through the door but faded away as I gained knowledge and connected with people that I otherwise wouldn't have met.
7. Imposter syndrome is a part of the greater issue of comparing ourselves to others.
8. You are uniquely you, with your own set of gifts, dreams, and challenges.
9. The only person we can fairly compare ourselves with is ourselves. For me, I want to be the best possible version of myself. I intend and will make this happen by putting in time and effort to keep learning and growing, day by day.
10. Most importantly, I will also remember that my career and life may not take me to places I necessarily want to be, but where I need to be when I need to be there.
For those would would like to learn more about my story and lessons I've learned, I'd be happy to connect with you and talk (and listen) further.
If you liked this week's story, make sure to take a look at the blog posts below!
10 Things I've Learned In 10 Years Of Working
Making The Most Of Your Situation: From Waitress To Executive Director
The Intersection Where Hard Work, Preparation, and Opportunity Meet
What's Next?
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