When I was younger, I never knew what I wanted to do to earn money.
I felt like everyone else had been given a manual on how to live and go after what they wanted. I had no idea what I even liked, much less where to focus my energy.
I felt there were endless possibilities, yet plotting a course forward was puzzling and terrifying. I knew I wanted to be successful and do things that I could be proud of, I just didn’t know which direction to go.
I floundered in the jobs and the opportunities I did get as I didn’t have the confidence to make them successful. I always felt like I was missing something meaningful.
There were aspects of each job that I did well and that made me feel good or excited, I just couldn’t find anything that kept me engaged consistently.
Looking around and seeing my friends excel in school and jobs only added to my feelings of inadequacy and being lost. I wanted what they had.
At 29 years old, I fell into a sales role with a company that had solid structure and a way to be promoted from within (they were willing to train me to lead). It felt manageable, so I focused on working my way up learning key competencies and gaining confidence along the way.
I was very fortunate to have leaders that were true mentors. They shared their knowledge and key insights with me freely. If it wasn’t for their focused efforts and the good timing of promotions into elevated positions, I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I did.
Many people and factors contributed to my overall success. I often wondered if I had known how to harness my own unique potential, it could have made a positive difference for me years earlier.
I now understand there are many people that struggle with understanding their potential and choosing a fulfilling path to earn money. I would like to support a better future in this area.