What/who has been inspirational for you personally or professionally?
In my personal life, my stepdad was my inspiration. He was in the military and was very strict. He started his own, very successful construction business. He instilled a hard work ethic in my sister and me, to be kind to others and take time out to enjoy family. When he passed, so many people at his funeral couldn’t say enough about how wonderful he was.
In my professional life, a few managers have helped me along the way, encouraging and stretching me. The most recent ones are Michelle Ott and Barbara Serra.
Michelle encouraged me when I first started as a Team Lead giving me the confidence to move forward. Barb was there to help me navigate to a higher level and provided the guidance for me to improve, when I did not get it right. I would not be in the position I am in today without their support.
What has been your best accomplishment or the proudest moment throughout your career?
There are a couple of accomplishments throughout my career. One was becoming a Shift Manager when I was 19 and working my way up to become a Quality Branch Manager. The other achievement was starting with J&B Medical part-time and working my way up within the company to become a Customer Service Manager. I am so thankful for all the people who support and guide me.
What is a mistake that you made professionally and how did you overcome it and/or learn from it?
There have been many mistakes I have made throughout my professional career, and I will probably make more. But mistakes are sometimes a good thing. They can be an excellent opportunity to learn and grow. Reflection is key, mapping out the situation and figuring out how to improve it and overcome it. The moment I stop learning is the moment I stop growing. A line in a Christian song sums it up for me “It’s not about the falling down; it’s about the getting up.”
As a busy professional, how do you take care of yourself and maintain good mental health?
We all need our “me” time, and to help get that time, I turn my phone on do not disturb at night and do not take it off of do not disturb until the following morning. This gives me time to unwind with my family at night without interruption. Then, it gives me time in the morning for working out, running, and listening to Christian music before I start my work day.
What advice would you have given yourself ten years ago?
That is a difficult question to answer because my experiences have made me the person I am today. One piece of advice I would have given myself is not to let others control you, put you down, or make you feel inferior. We are all beautiful creatures with unique talents; we can make something beautiful when we come together.