Forget everything you learned in kindergarten!

On May 22, I attended a Step Up Women’s Network Power Breakfast. I was very impressed with the organization and how many successful females in various professions are dedicating their time to help underprivileged girls overcome their hardships and attend college (http://www.suwn.org/mission.aspx). Attending this event made me realize how lucky I am to be receiving a college education and working as an intern so that I could work towards a successful career.

After learning about the organization, Anne Pramaggiore, President and CEO of ComEd, gave an inspiring presentation on how to be successful.  While there are books out there that claim you learned everything you need to know in kindergarten, Ms. Pramaggiore says forget about all that stuff! She shared six very helpful tips that shine a new light on ways to become successful:

Don’t be afraid to color outside the lines.

  • What looks like failure can be an opportunity, so don’t be afraid to take risks!

The teacher isn’t always right.

  • Arrogance is out of fashion in the executive suite. Creativity and teamwork reign.

Sometimes you have to interrupt to be heard.

  • Get in there and make your point. Don’t be afraid to have your voice heard. Take a stand for something and show your passion.

Spend some time in the hallways without a hall pass.

  • Put your time in the field and immerse yourself in all aspects of the organization. In order to fully understand your company you have to know how everything (and everyone) works together.

Failure is good for grades.

  • Even if you have failed, you learned a lesson. Learn from your mistakes and find ways to make improvements.

Big girls DO cry.

  • It’s okay to lead with (some) emotion and to be personally invested in your teams.

One tip from kindergarten still applies in the working world: if you fall down get back up.

  • Everyone comes across difficult situations and problems. You can differentiate yourself by exuding resilience. Get up, dust yourself off, and get back out there. Everyone encounters difficult situations, but you can differentiate yourself with the way you handle the situation.

 

Visit our website (http://www.jbtrainingsolutions.com/trainpages/articles) for even more amazing career and workplace advice!

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Monika Dobrowolski is the Social Media and Learning and Development Coordinator at JB Training Solutions. JB Training Solutions provides training workshops on the “soft” business skills including working across generations the generations, managing millennials, making the transition from college to work, and more. Monika works closely with the “Millennials Mean Business” (@JBTSMillennials) initiative. She is a senior studying Advertising and Spanish at the University of Illinois. Monika is the Professional Development Coordinator for the UIUC Chapter of the American Advertising Federation. She is also a College of Media Peer Mentor and is involved in the National Student Advertising Competition.
Megan Emme

Megan Emme is the New Media Coordinator at Mobilize.org and runs their blogging program, The Millennial Report. Megan is a Junior at San Francisco State University and also works as the SF Regional Coordinator for the Revolution Hunger Campaign. She hopes to pursue a career empowering young people to advocate for themselves as well as make a difference in their communities.