A Letter to My Younger Self
Posted by ablack on Mar. 15, 2016 / Subscribe 0
Dear Maisha,
Be really nice to Tammy. And Tina. And Amanda, Suzanne and Danielle. They all are going to play incredibly unique and important roles in your career. Despite the fact that you’re working in accounting right now, you’re going to find a career that you absolutely love one day. You’re going to be a marketing professional – a really good marketing professional – and a lot of that success will be due to the people you meet and connect with.
This might be against the time-travel rules, but I’m going to tell exactly how it’s going to happen so you can be ready. You’re going to apply for a job as a marketing coordinator and despite the fact that you’re under-qualified, Tina is going to hire you. Tina hires you based on the recommendation of her good friend Tammy. You and Tammy will have already crossed paths at a previous company where you helped her find lost diamonds and handled a jerk-boss with class and tactfulness.
You’ll meet Amanda while working for Tina. Observe everything she does because she’s smart, funny and fearless. She’s going to be one of the few work-friends you have in life, so it will break your heart when she leaves, but don’t panic; you’ll stay in touch. She’s going to become an economic developer for the Town of Gilbert where you will own a home so your paths will continuously cross.
You’ll meet Suzanne in the restroom while working with Amanda and Tina. She’ll be working for an architectural firm that shares the same building. Both of you will be laid off when your respective firms shutter their offices. Once you’re laid off, you’ll have lots of opportunities to consider, but Danielle will help you find a company that fits you best. As luck would have it, Suzanne will become your manager. Again, observe everything she does because this woman is the industries’ best-kept-secret and she too becomes a very dear friend. Suzanne will leave Jokake too, but she will have laid a good foundation for you to step into and grow. Incredible opportunities will come your way and the collective guidance of these women (and many other individuals) will help you navigate each of them.
I’m not really sure how this time-travel thing works, so in the event that my disclosure of such details will change the course of your life going forward, I want to leave you with a bit of advice that will be valuable to you:
Glean as much as you can from as many smart people as you can. Find mentors, both within your company and outside of it. Respect their time and their knowledge. Ask questions and really listen to their answers and wisdom. Separate the meat from the bones. Build your own board of directors – people who know their stuff and are willing to share it with you. Then, once you know a thing or two, become a mentor and share your knowledge with others.
Follow this advice and even if you don’t become a really good marketing professional, you’ll still become a really good person.
Love always,
Maisha
P.S. That guy you’re dealing with right now…he is NOT the one!
About the Blogger: As the marketing director responsible for internal and external marketing efforts at Jokake Construction, Maisha Christian Hagan occupies the space where strategic and creative business solutions intersect. She has a passion for people, a mind for business and a gift to teach – all skills that go to great use as Mentorship Chair for SMPS’ Arizona Chapter. Maisha is also a sought-after speaker and facilitator focusing on marketing strategy, S.M.A.R.T. goal development, DISC profile, corporate culture, brainstorming and communication, influence, and conflict resolution.
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