There have been two themes throughout my career. The first has been my commitment to my profession of communications. I’ve always loved what I do and I have a passion for the discipline. It’s an exciting profession, never boring and always challenging. And it is the challenging part that is personally most rewarding. To take on a challenge, leverage expertise and talent from your team, craft a strategic response, and execute with excellence is an experience rich in its diversity of accomplishment.
The second theme is “Do what you love and love what you do.” You owe it to yourself, your team and your employer to be fully engaged in the here and now. You can’t predict the future and you shouldn’t waste your time on “if onlys.” What you can do is manage your time, your behavior and your commitment today, right now. Those who deliver on their commitments are solid performers, but those who exceed expectations are superstars. Others will always take notice of those employees, and great opportunities will surely follow.
I began my career as a substitute teacher, and then joined a public relations agency in a secretarial role. I was thrilled with the opportunity, and that enthusiasm combined with a lot of hard work helped me progress into more senior roles. Now, I’m privileged to lead an industry-best communications team for a Fortune 100 company, and my enthusiasm for my work, my company and my team continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
Throughout my journey, I kept personal responsibility a priority. Regardless of where you are in your career, I believe these behaviors are key to success:
Lead by example. You were hired because someone believes in you. Think about that every day and work hard to earn that confidence.
Embrace the highest ethical standards. Be a role model in this area and never compromise your ethics. Always treat others with respect and seek out diversity of thought and opinion.
Be in charge of your own career. Don’t look to others to make your dreams come true. You own your career – make the most of it!
Remember, your journey is your own. There will be victories and challenges, excitement and frustration. But, through it all, if you love what you do, exceed expectations, partner and team effectively, and own your own success, you will position yourself to become a leader tomorrow.
