Tag Archives: challenge

If It’s Not Broken, Don’t Break It

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We’ve all heard the common adage, “If it’s not broken, then don’t fix it.” But what if I proposed to you that this way of thinking was actually inhibiting your growth potential? What if I said that in certain situations, it’s more sustainable to continually fix something, even when there is no danger present? Would you believe me? Well, if you still need convincing, please read on…

There are times in life where things are just going to be amazingly good. We’ll have the best significant other, have just landed the coolest job ever — complete with an amazing salary. For some people, just being able to finally shave their legs or do their laundry is enough to constitute a really amazing day, week, or even year.

With all that awesomeness surging through your veins, however, it can be pretty easy to get comfortable and complacent, and that is where the danger lurks. I had a friend once tell me that the only constant thing about the future is that it’s always changing. Getting too comfortable with how something is working in the present might create adversities for adapting to changes in the future. For me, personally, I found that the best way to stay flexible to these changes is to be, well…paranoid.

If you glanced at my resume, the first question you would probably ask is, “why has she done so many professional development programs?” INROADS, Deloitte, Fullbridge, Scripps’ Emerging Professionals Program; you name it, and I’ve probably done it once, if not twice. And I can see the “why” formulating at your lips. Wouldn’t I be just as good with just one of those programs? Doesn’t it start to get redundant after a while? And the truth is, sometimes. But my paranoia has led me to develop FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) Syndrome.

Yeah, doing one program is fine, and I’m sure there are components that will be similar in the second program, but…what if there’s something more? What if I miss some crucial piece to this World of Work Puzzle?  For instance, what if there’s an alternative way to shake your interviewers hand that the first program didn’t teach, but the second one does?! I’m being facetious now, but this past winter break my paranoia did, in fact, bring me a huge payoff.

I remember making inquiries in the fall about the Fullbridge Program, a start-up program that is dedicated to providing liberal arts students with the transitional education they need to go from the classroom to the workplace. I remember being told that with my extensive background in professional development, I already had enough experience. But, of course my FOMO tendencies still drove me to sign up for the program anyway. Sure, there were many parts of the program that I knew like the back of my hand as a result of my participation in other programs. However, just as predicted, there was that one thing that I was paranoid about missing out on; the opportunity to network with a group of employers at the end of the program. It is through that event that I was hired the next week to work as an Intern in the Digital Strategy Department at ID, one of the premier entertainment industry PR/brand communications firms in the country.

Me on my first day at ID.

So, I would say that even if life is going super well for you right now, it will never hurt to keep fixing yourself and taking advantage of new opportunities for growth.  As the saying should go, “If its not broken, don’t break it.”

Jumping the Gun

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Halloween is coming up, and in the spirit of the occasion, I’d like to share my favorite scene from one of the first horror movies I remember watching: the classic, Jaws. The scene is a famous one, and it stands out to me, even now. You know the one—picture an oblivious girl floating in the ocean, while a massive shark circles in the water underneath her. The shark gets closer and closer to her kicking legs; ominous theme music starts to play, signaling the imminent attack; and blood, gore, and screams ensue. The basic premise of the thrill for me was that I knew something the characters in the movie didn’t—what, where, and when the danger was.

When navigating the professional world in Real Life, being aware of where potential pitfalls lie is generally an advantage. For example, it is helpful for me to know when major deadlines coincide (I keep track in a planner), what to do with my plate when standing at a networking event (hold in my right hand and eat with my left, transfer to shake hands), and whom I can casually reference in a cover letter (network!). Being aware of one’s responsibilities is common sense, and anticipating potential challenges—the sharks lurking in murky water—allows one to maintain poise when stressed.

Don’t be daunted by the big dogs on campus or at work. You do you!

As a second-semester freshman, I thought of starting a career-focused group at Scripps that was similar to one already established at another of the 5C’s. I didn’t have what I considered official, authoritative, resume-worthy experience. So while my idea was in its beginning stages, I contacted the two students who led the other club to set up what I thought would be a helpful, informative meeting. Unfortunately, that was not my experience—the two students drilled me, questioning my experience and intentions. They refused to discuss how they had raised funds or how they had found support in the 5C and larger Claremont community. The meeting ended with them overtly warning me, “We just want you to know what you’re up against.” I’d considered the possibility they’d be wary of me, but I didn’t expect to feel like I’d just been hit over the head with a rock.

Unfortunate experiences aside, there are times when the old adage, “Ignorance is bliss” applies. Within reason, there can very real benefits to not knowing one’s limits. In my experience, this has led to my jumping the gun, metaphorically speaking. For example, I requested and received permission to take a business law class at CMC as a second-semester sophomore. On my second day of class, I realized that I was the only Scripps student and the only sophomore in the class—it was widely considered a senior-level course at CMC. I sincerely don’t intend this to brag; I enrolled because it never crossed my mind that I couldn’t, and nobody told me I shouldn’t. (Please always discuss your academic goals with the relevant folks first!)

Last year I attended job fairs where, as a freshman in a room of upperclassmen, I was alternately commended or completely ignored by recruiters. At my internship at the Williamson Gallery this summer, I was the youngest in the group by two academic years and three years of age. (In a previous post, Emma shares what she learned from the higher-ups during her internship). I felt inexperienced compared my older, well-traveled peers and expressed my doubts to my supervisor. She responded, “Don’t worry. We hired you for a reason.”I am writing this post to remind you all, especially freshmen and those of you who consider yourselves relatively lacking in experience, that there are upsides to your position. Go ahead and jump the gun. Stand on the shoulders of the giants you know. Learn from others’ mistakes, instead of suffering the pain of your own. You don’t have to be an expert to lead a club, take classes with older students, compete with more seasoned applicants for jobs and internships, or interact with those in positions of power and authority. Not knowing the ropes can be freeing, and for many, your youth heightens the significance of your achievements.

What challenges did you survive in your early days at Scripps, in a group or organization, or at a job? How has jumping the gun, so to speak, benefited or disadvantaged you?