5 Things I Wish I’d Known at the Start of My Career

“No man (or woman!) ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” Heraclitus, Greek philosopher 

Looking back at the course of my career and the path that led me to become a VP of Global Partnerships at RTB House, there have been many ups and downs that brought me to where I am today. Hindsight is 20/20, but in retrospect, I have no regrets. I am grateful for my experiences and feel that they have led me to the right place, but there are a few lessons I learned that could have helped me along the way.

Here are five things I wish I had known years ago.

1. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

Growing up, I spent a lot of time horseback riding. It was a hobby I picked up from my grandfather, and I was practically riding horses before I could walk. Even as a small child, if I fell off the horse or made a mistake, my grandfather would encourage me to pick myself up, get back in the saddle, and keep going.

One of the most important perspectives I carried with me into my career is that mistakes are not a sign of personal failure. Rather, they are powerful opportunities for learning. If something goes wrong, it’s okay to reflect and take a deep breath, but then you need to get back in the saddle and keep going. Failures can hurt your ego, but they also build perspective and make you stronger in the end.

2. It’s important to network without business motives

Networking is an integral element of building my business partnerships. Business relations are often considered cold and calculated, but over the years, I have learned that the best business relationships are actually business friendships—long-term, personal, and based on trust.

Focusing on the person rather than the business at hand is crucial to truly connect. You must be able to tune in to the other person, see them, and listen to their needs. A quality business is built on quality relationships in which both sides share the same values of trust, responsibility, commitment, and respect, a topic I’ve written on already.

3. The best relationships are built on respect and vulnerability

We are usually taught that vulnerability is a weakness, especially in a business context. But vulnerability is what makes us human, and our humanity is what brings us together. I believe that opening up, being yourself, and sharing experiences are the keys to connecting with your business partners.

Let’s not forget about respect, too. Have you ever thought about how you show regard to your business partners? It’s important to respect them not just in a business context but as people with human experiences and human feelings. Treat them as you want to be treated. At the end of the day, just remember to be a nice person first and a professional businessperson second.

4. Patience is a virtue

Part of my horseback riding experience involved learning how to interact and bond with horses. They are very strong yet sensitive animals, and it takes time and persistence to earn their trust. At the same time, you need to be confident and stand your ground. If you don’t ride the horse, it will ride you.

I realized that the same lesson applies to building business relations. We live in a fast-paced world in which we expect immediate gratification, but business relationships don’t develop overnight. They require time, space, and understanding. If you push too hard too quickly, you lose control. Patience is key.

5. Develop your senses of self-worth and self-trust

Over the course of your career, you develop as a person as well as your identity as an individual. At the beginning of my career, I realized that I stood out with my ideas and my approach, and that was one of my greatest strengths. Follow your intuition, even if you’re not in line with what other people think. No one else can deliver what you can, and that is what makes you unique and valuable.

While it is important to give yourself the space to be different, extend that same freedom to your business partners as well. Maintaining a sense of independence, individuality, and flexibility in thinking enables us to achieve more in the long term. Keep an open mind towards yourself and others.

Never underestimate the power of persistence

Horseback riding taught me one more important lesson: The lesson of persistence. If you want to achieve something or become good at it, you need to keep at it. You need to stay in the saddle. If you give up and get off the horse, you won’t make any progress. But if you remain patient and persistent, you can achieve what you set your mind to in time.

Focus on your goals and the people you work with. Approach them with respect and give them the space they need, but remain committed to your cause and don’t back down. Maintain a sense of purpose, sustain your drive, and you will see doors begin to open.

These are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned in my experiences so far. I hope my insight can bring you some new perspective or inspire you to reflect on your own experiences. After all, everyone has their own path to follow and lessons to learn.

Personally, I know there will be more challenges to face along the way, but I’m already excited to make the most out of these growth opportunities. My takeaway is to always be yourself, follow your heart, and enjoy the ride.

Originally published: 6 July 2022