Three years ago today, I got that “Aha” moment in my career.
It was unexpected, but at the same time not-so unexpected. I knew I had to be tested head-on at some point.
Being a then-25 year old, riding high in politics, that soon came to a near crashing halt. An opportunity I took, in the hopes of taking that next mid-level career step, turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life thus far. I realized many groups and causes in or who do business in This Town could generally care less about creating a hub for mid-level careerists. This realization definitely left me disenchanted but I wasn’t yet ready to throw in the towel. Hoffman’s aren’t quitters.
I had lost hope in the political industrial complex. It left me feeling dispirited. All those relationships you cultivate and years you invested seemed to be meaningless in a blink of an eye. There are bad apples who weigh down the good ones in any industry. I also saw a lack of innovation, creative disruption, and true free enterprise values absent in This Town. It irked me to see people not living out their values in the market place. I wasn’t going to be one of them.
I always had an inclination towards business and thought I had to wait until I turned 30 to pursue that route. Thank goodness I didn’t! Age is just a number, after all. I’m a daughter of a business owner so I had to have the business bone in me. Turns out I did and realized I was capable of going on my own.
It hasn’t been easy launching or running a business — my sole proprietorship (for now)—but I’m grateful for that “a-ha” moment. It’s led me to work with some of the most talented individuals, start-ups, businesses, nonprofits, political campaigns, and most recently, to becoming an Award-Winning Outdoor Writer. I can’t ever envision myself returning to a 9-to-5 job. That’s how content I’ve become.
Successful people all endure hardships, road blocks, and great challenges. If someone seeks to tarnish you or diminish your talents, go prove them wrong because success is the best revenge. That’s how you get back at people who want to undermine your prospects. And have fun doing it!
Entrepreneurship makes this country great. Success shouldn’t be easy to obtain nor should you feel entitled to it. You must be challenged, you must be tested, you must jump through hoops. It’s not enough to simply focus on making a profit; your work should be meaningful. You should be working to quantify and replicate success in your work and to those you work with. You must add value! And don’t trust the government to have your best interests in mind…YOU build your business; no one can or should.
I love helping people succeed in their branding. I love seeing clients get printed or mentioned in prominent media outlets. I love training people or lecturing college students on a whole host of topics that hopefully leave them inspired to win campaigns, start businesses, or advocate for issues.
May you be blessed with “aha” moments on your career or business journey— the “aha” moments out there, moments realized, and moments soon on the horizon.
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