From Journalism to Salesforce: A Journey of Frustration, Breakthroughs, and Victories

It's Friday, September 27, 2024, and as I sit here reflecting on my journey, I can't help but marvel at the unexpected twists and turns that led me to where I am today. From aspiring music journalist to Salesforce consultant and founder of Clear Concise Consulting, my path has been anything but straightforward. But that's what makes it worth sharing.

The Frustrations: When Dreams Crash and Burn

Picture this: It's 2008, and I'm fresh out of college with a shiny new BA in Journalism. My dreams? To see my byline in Rolling Stone, to be the next big thing at MTV. I had four years of internships under my belt, experience as a local reporter, and even a stint writing obituaries. I was ready to take on the world of music journalism.

Then the recession hit. Like a tsunami, it swept away 51% of print publications. The Hartford Current, the oldest newspaper in the US, slashed its staff by half. Suddenly, my dream job, the industry I'd worked so hard to break into, was going through a seismic shift. Print was dead, and the internet was king.

The frustration was palpable. Years of hard work, seemingly for nothing. I pivoted to radio, writing commercials and working promotional events. But even that industry was changing, with broadcasts moving online and large corporations buying up local stations.

The Unexpected Turn: Hello, Salesforce

Fast forward to 2012. I'm working as a director at the Boys and Girls Club, still clinging to the hope of returning to journalism somehow. Then came the curveball: a job application for a Gift Processing Associate at EDF. The role seemed perfect—managing donations, conducting consolidations, updating donor information. It was everything I'd been doing at the Boys and Girls Club, but with better pay and in NYC.

The catch? "Must have experience with Salesforce."

Salesforce? What the hell was Salesforce? I had no clue, but I figured it was just another tool I could learn on the job.

The frustration hit again during that first week on the job. Salesforce was hard. Really hard. There was no Trailhead, no dedicated blogs, no community to turn to. It was just me, staring at this platform that seemed to speak a language I couldn't understand.

The Breakthrough: From Confusion to Clarity

But here's the thing about frustration—it's often the precursor to breakthrough. As I grappled with Salesforce day in and day out, something started to click. Reports began to make sense. I started seeing patterns in the data. Slowly but surely, I was decoding the Salesforce language.

The breakthrough came when I built my first custom app. It wasn't anything fancy, but it solved a real problem for our team. That moment of creation, of turning confusion into solution, was electrifying. It was then that I realized: this Salesforce thing? It wasn't just a tool. It was a whole new world of possibilities.

The Victories: From Learner to Leader

Once that switch flipped, there was no stopping me. I dove headfirst into Salesforce, soaking up every bit of knowledge I could. The victories started piling up:

• 12 Salesforce certifications in just 1.5 years
• Consultancy work for government entities like HRSA and Homeland Security
• Teaching NYU's first Salesforce Administration Certificate program, helping 160 out of 200 students land jobs
• Creating a data quality/governance product for non-profits
• Founding Clear Concise Consulting, turning my hard-earned knowledge into a way to help others

Each victory was sweet, but the real win? The ability to help others navigate the same frustrations I once faced. To turn their confusion into clarity, their setbacks into success stories.

The Lesson: Embracing the Unexpected

Looking back, I realize that every frustration was a stepping stone. Every setback was setting me up for a comeback. The death of print journalism pushed me to explore new territories. The struggle with Salesforce forced me to develop problem-solving skills I never knew I had.

Today, as I run Clear Concise Consulting, I carry these lessons with me. I remember the feeling of being overwhelmed by Salesforce, and it drives me to make the learning process clear and accessible for others. I recall the uncertainty of career transitions, and it fuels my passion for helping others find their path in the Salesforce ecosystem.

To anyone out there feeling stuck, frustrated, or overwhelmed—whether you're learning Salesforce, considering a career change, or facing any other challenge—remember this: Your struggles are not roadblocks. They're the building blocks of your success story.

Embrace the journey. Learn from the frustrations. Celebrate the breakthroughs. And never, ever stop pushing forward. Your next victory might be just around the corner.

#SalesforceJourney #CareerPivot #NeverStopLearning #ClearConciseConsulting