Reflection

Finally, after almost a year of searching I was offered an Account Coordinator position at Faction Media! Over the past year I have learned a lot about myself and about what is truly important (regardless of how cheesy it sounds).

I have learned about the importance of self reflection and soul searching. I have really had to delve into my strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and fears while not only speaking to potential employers but while working in a job that was not always stimulating, rewarding or glorifying. We can never stop growing and reaching towards our goals no matter how tempting it is to get comfortable.

Which brings me to my next lesson: giving your all no matter what the task. There were days at Nordstrom I wanted to wildly and inappropriately lash out at customers or storm out of the building while thinking: I am better than this. I had it all wrong. It wasn't about the content of my work but rather my ability to stay positive and work hard regardless of how seemingly mundane it was. On that note there was a book written about a tortured soul and former employee of Nordstrom.

I have lastly learned about the incredible importance of friendship and investing in people. Life can get busy and its easy to be selfish with your time but it's so important to be truly present with people that you care about.

I hope to take these lessons and continue to apply them during the beginning of my career. Here goes nothing!

Finding your voice

As young professionals whether seeking out (like myself) or just beginning our careers, finding your voice can be difficult. How or when to assert yourself or join in the conversation can be tricky. Being respectful of those who have wisdom to share and more experience is monumentally important; we aren’t (believe it or not) all knowing beings (as our colleges may have led us to believe). My only concern is when this respect turns into self-deprecation. While searching for jobs I have to remember that I am not only worthy but am and will one day (hopefully soon) be an important contributor to an organization. It would be easy to get down on myself and dismiss my own self worth. With that, Ash and I recently discussed an instance when her boss dismissed her thoughts about a project when clearly her insight did in fact greatly improve the process. Although he does have the final say and is the boss, I encouraged Ash to keep chiming in when she feels it appropriate. Her boss may be wrong in dismissing her but Ash has the choice to keep trying to open up those lines of communication while learning a great deal about what kind of leader she wants to be one day. Should I still write this blog post even if I fear that others don’t think its intelligent or thought provoking? Yes. I must proceed in my personal and professional life with the confidence knowing that my two cents is not only valid but also needed in the conversation. Then, later in our careers we will be able to call out greatness in younger employees and encourage them to also find their voice.