Key Takeaways from a Successful Career

I just wrapped up a thirty-seven-year career, comprised of thirteen very different roles, with a truly exceptional Fortune 500 company.

I had jobs that I didn’t really want or enjoy, jobs that I questioned my ability to do, and jobs that I loved. As I reflect on the different experiences, there are learnings that helped me to succeed in each role, and I’ve found that most of them can apply to other areas of life as well.

• You are responsible for your career. Your supervisor and/or HR can help you create a career plan, but you must recognize that it will change. Be intentional about the experiences you seek out and be mindful of the learnings that you get out of each experience. Understand the requirements of any future jobs that you are interested in and find ways to get the experience or skills necessary to be a viable candidate. Let your leadership team know what you’re interested in so that they can help guide and support you through the process.
• Don’t fear the difficult experiences that will challenge you. You will learn and grow the most from the hard stuff. Be open to new opportunities outside of your comfort zone. For many, it’s easy to build your skill set in one functional area and move up the chain, but this can also lead to stagnation and complacency. By trying something new, you may discover an entirely different functional area of work that you want to pursue, or at the very least, you will know what you don’t want to do in future roles.
• To stand out, intentionally work, dress, and communicate at the next level. You should do everything that is asked of you in your job, and then ask for more. Seek out projects that cross-functional areas and work teams to increase visibility and networking opportunities. Study and emulate someone that you admire for their leadership style and results; ask for advice or mentoring from them.
• Look for the win-win solution. I’m a black-and-white rule follower, and it took me a while to embrace the gray, particularly in supervisory situations. Understand what you need to get out of a situation and understand what the other person (or business) needs; there is usually a compromise that will satisfy both of you and strengthen your relationship in the long run.
• Get to know your supervisor, coworkers, and subordinates. Understand what their strengths are and what drives them. A key piece of advice came from a very wise woman who taught a class to first-level supervisors many years ago; Mildred Ramsey told us, “You can’t effectively supervise someone that you don’t know.” I recommend her book, The Super Supervisor. One of the most rewarding things for a supervisor is to help a struggling employee by giving them work that plays to their strengths; it can be transformative.
• Find the right work/life balance and stick to it. Prioritize your mental and physical health and well-being. Build a well-rounded, skilled team. Delegate tasks to them and trust them to get the work done. Results will determine your success, not how many hours it took you to get there; develop habits and processes to be efficient and effective in your work. Consider getting involved in the community. The reward usually outweighs the work when you’re helping others.
• Stay true to yourself and your values. The company that I worked for has very well-defined and communicated values that define relationships with employees, customers, and the community. I embraced those values early on, and they formed the foundation for my work and personal life. Treat people with respect and consistency, be honest, and strive to do the right thing; you will never regret taking the high road.

I can truly say that I have never regretted a job that I’ve had, including the ones that weren’t exactly fun, because I’ve learned so much from each one.

I’m thankful for all of the experiences, challenges, skills, and learnings I have picked up over my long, varied career, and now I’m looking forward to continued growth and learning in my new role of retiree! W

Donna Esteves recently retired from Corning Incorporated after thirty-seven years working in engineering, production management, and supply chain management positions, managing departments with up to 625 personnel. She is a member of WILMA’s Women to Watch Advisory Board, WILMA’s mentoring program, and is on the board of directors for Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.

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