For me, the theme for the first phase of my career was simple: Learn everything. Take everything. Figure out who you are.
It doesn’t always look glamorous. In fact, it rarely does.
Before internships were expected. Before “career readiness” was a thing people talked about.
I landed a co-op role in a customer service for a major utility. Not strategy. Not leadership. But really hard work.
I learned how to listen. Really listen. And how to understand the problem someone was trying to solve.
I learned that most problems aren’t presented clearly. And that the challenge was often to translate frustration into something actionable.
I learned that creativity isn’t reserved for big ideas.
It shows up in small, practical ways.
That skill set stayed with me.
Then came the first “real” job.
The kind you think will define you.
What actually defined it for me wasn’t the role. It was the person I reported to.
A great boss, although I didn’t know to call him a mentor yet.
He pushed me in ways that didn’t feel like pushing at the time:
• “Go meet people in other departments.” • “Understand how the business actually works.” • “Raise your hand, even if you’re not sure you’re ready.” • “Get involved in projects outside of the company- chambers, Junior Achievements.”
Simple advice. But it changed the trajectory.
Because suddenly, work wasn’t just about doing your job well. It was about seeing the full picture.
Products. Problems. People. Decisions.
I started to understand how things connect. And more importantly, where I wanted to fit.
Here’s the part people don’t say out loud:
This phase is all about you.
You are building:
- Your instincts
- Your standards
- Your network
- Your reputation
- Your confidence (even if it’s quiet at first)
You should be asking:
- What am I good at?
- What do I want to get better at?
- What kind of environments bring out my best work?
- Who do I want to learn from?
And then act on it.
You volunteer. You ask questions. You say yes more than no. You put yourself in rooms where you don’t think you fully belong.
That’s not opportunistic. That’s foundational.
Looking back, none of it felt strategic at the time.
It just felt like showing up. Paying attention. Taking opportunities when they appeared.
But that’s the point. The foundation isn’t built in one big move. It’s built in a hundred small ones.
Now, years later, the most rewarding part is seeing it come full circle.
Working with interns. Hearing their questions. Watching them try to piece it all together.
And sharing advice that I got from my mentors, sometimes literally word for word. (You know, like when you repeat something your Mom used to say, and you can’t believe it came from your mouth!)
Because the fundamentals haven’t changed.
Learn how to listen. Understand how things work. Get in the room. Raise your hand.
And don’t rush through this phase. It’s awesome.
Take it seriously. Take it personally. And take what you can from it.
#TakeItAllIn
