In August I attended an industry conference in Orlando.?It was a week filled with meetings, speaking events, networking, and reconnecting.?At a particular event I was chatting with an up-and-coming risk manager who asked, “So how did you get here?”??My immediate response, “I drove myself.”??She laughed and said, “No, that’s not what I meant.?How did you get?here, to this position that you are in today?”
So, I gave the abbreviated version of my resume, my humble-ish beginnings as an assistant, my career pivots, the good fortune of working for people who retire, my non-traditional academics journey, and my 24-year career that I decided to shake up a little over 2 years ago to join Walmart - during the pandemic, no less.
As we chatted, I realized what she really wanted was less about me and more about her own career - how she could get?here to the space I occupy. Was she on the right path in her own career???What could she learn from me to fast-track or validate she was moving in the right direction?? These are the same questions I ask myself from time to time - we all want to know whether what we are doing is creating momentum or derailing progress. Are risks worth taking? When the opportunity to leap comes along, should we take it or first ask, "how far?".
In my experience, there are very few completely linear career paths – certainly among those careers that are most interesting - and I would define mine as remarkably interesting so far.??There are lateral moves to learn more, special assignments and projects to expand, some pauses and some sprints, and the time-tested experience of rolling up your sleeves and doing the actual work.??My journey would be hard to replicate – and I am certain that is true for most people.??When I was in high school, I wanted to become a microbiologist – that is vastly different from where I am today.??The journey to?here?is one filled with lessons that continue to guide me and that I am continuing to build upon.??And the idea of arriving?here?is strange because I do not believe I have hit a destination; I'm sitting on a springboard that will launch me to the next here. I am doing the things today that are the experiences I will apply tomorrow.
So, for that inquisitive leader and my captured reader, here are the top five lessons I have – so far – that got me?here?–?to what I’m declaring the half-way point of my career.?
- Working in an insurance agency for 6 months confirmed I didn’t want to be an agent, producer, broker, or a receptionist.??That job was an early crash and burn but it gave me enough “recent, relevant experience” to take me to my first real job.??It also showed me I can fail and that I would fail.??It taught me what my early non-negotiables were, the type of work that does not energize me, and that I could recover from a face-plant. Best to learn that early in your career.??Lesson 1?– fail and fail fast, it’s a muscle you’ll need to become comfortable working.
- Being an assistant taught me about respect.??Assisting is a humbling job.??It’s also an easily overlooked position.??Assistants in all their forms know so much more about the people in an organization, the way things (really) get done, and possess a wealth of knowledge and perspective.??Feeling silenced because of where you sit in the pecking order of jobs can hurt your confidence.??I recall believing that because I didn’t "wear a suit" my opinion wasn’t valued - even though I knew that I had a lot to offer.??That job taught me every person matters, levels and degrees do not equate to value, and single-point-failure positions often sit lowest in the org chart.??To this day I remember the people who treated me like a valued, equal contributor and those who treated me less than.??Lesson 2?– respect everyone at every level, always.??Not only are they part of your team, one day you may call them your peer - or if you are really lucky, your boss.
- As a claims adjuster, I learned how to juggle legal, medical, financial, social service, state and federal regulatory and compliance issues, and a phone that never stopped ringing.??All while battling severe imposter syndrome.??In a role where you interact with doctors, lawyers, regulators, and people in need – usually because something went wrong – your confidence can get shaken and you’ll often question your own ability.??It is a hard job that can feel like boot camp for the first few years.??Remembering to keep a smile in your voice, not take things personally, maintain professional skepticism, and admit when you don't have an answer, all while working to be objective and do what is right can be overwhelming.??That phase of my career taught me so much about teamwork and leaning on others. My earliest peers were learning alongside me. We always had each other’s back, helped one another get through the day, and have become lifelong friends.??Lesson 3?– growth is rarely easy or comfortable and mastery takes time. Lean on, learn from, and be there for your peers.??They are your original network and your paths will likely cross more than once.
- When I first led people, I soon realized how hard it is to shift from doing to leading others who do the doing.??Being an individual contributor responsible only for myself is great for someone who likes to maintain control.??Once you lead others that playbook flips and no longer works.??Leading people has been the most fulfilling part of my journey, but it also comes with its own new challenges.??Leading is when my sales and marketing classes became relevant.??It’s where I learned (and continue to learn) to motivate, teach, strategize, gain perspective, and understand when to remain silent.??Leading is where I realized consistency builds trust over time and short-term decisions have lasting and long-term effects.??Leading means being comfortable being unpopular and is less about?me?and more about?we. It is where strategy and skill intersect. Leading means being able to see the potential in your business and your people, and act an advocate for both - even when it is not obvious to others. Lesson 4?– leading is humbling and ego-crushing and satisfying and inspiring, and it is okay if it’s not for you.
- Moving into various positions of broader responsibility matured my perspective. Learning new disciplines and collaborating with new teams created the opportunity to see the interconnectedness of business. I gained comfort in knowing I didn't have to be the expert in everything - I have an incredible team of experts. With a new perspective, the similarities across lines of businesses and functions became clearer.??They go by different names, but they all have inputs, outputs, processes, strategies, and procedures.??Similarly, while my title is "VP - Risk Operations" my real job is the CEO of my business - I run a dynamic and diverse operation. My business is ever-changing and my discipline is more than claims management. Lesson 5?– look at things from different angles.??Change your seat, change your perspective, and expand your point of view. And remember, you are more than the title you hold and the name of the organization you lead.
My ambitions to become a microbiologist never envisioned my current reality. Thinking about the journey to here is more than five short lessons, but they are the ones I hold close today. The future is exciting - who knows what the next here will be - I only hope the next half of my career journey is half as interesting as the first!
Vice President of Business Development
2 年This is great Michele Adams, thanks for sharing your journey!
Workers' Compensation Appellate Attorney
2 年Sage words indeed, Michele!
Principal at Allan Koba Compliance Solutions, Member of MARC Executive Committee, Co-Chair of Conditional Payment and Section 111 Committee for the National Medicare Secondary Payer Network
2 年Love this and learned a lot from this post. Thanks for sharing so honestly! ??
Sales Executive/Industry Connector/ Officer at SC Employer Advocacy Association
2 年Thank you, Michele Adams, for taking valuable time out of your day for a beautifully well-written article and allowing “us” to have a seat at the table from afar. Someone once said, “words have power,” I surmise this article left others, including myself, empowered, uplifted, and encouraged. Keep on changing the world, Michele, and look forward to reading your future NY Times bestseller.??????
Chief Revenue Officer(CRO) Healthbridge Medical
2 年Good stuff Michelle