My Career Story & Working Within Your Passions

This post was sponsored by Kronos and Find Your Influence.

As a child, I wanted to be a famous actress. I did community theater and thrived when I performed. But my parents told me that if I wanted their financial support in college, I needed to major in something besides (or in addition to) theater. I ended up double majoring in theater and journalism, with an emphasis in strategic communications.

In was in my journalism courses that I found my true calling. Developing strategic campaigns invigorated me — and I was good at it. Ideation was a gift and I thrived in the classroom.

Three weeks after I graduated from the University of Wisconsin (go Badgers!) I commenced work at one of Nashville’s top boutique PR firms. In that small office of ten women, I quickly found my place. I was promoted from Assistant Account Executive to Account Executive in just six months, the quickest promotion in the firm’s 20 year history. It was evident that I was in my sweet spot.

While I was “green,” I was eager to learn, and having supervisors who believed in me helped me flourish. I was given increased responsibility and was soon speaking into brand campaigns, directing photo shoots and traveling around the country on business trips.

After seven years, I made the transition from the 24/7 lifestyle of working for an agency to a non-profit academic healthcare setting. At first, I struggled. The company had more than 20,000 employees and my department was four times the size of the agency. People didn’t really know my skills. I had to prove myself. On top of it, I started there nearly 7 months pregnant with Adeline and wasn’t at my best.

Slowly, but surely, I again thrived. I was given new projects and tasks where I could use my skills. Four years later, I am so incredibly happy. I work with a team I genuinely love and do work that matters.

Doing work that I love make such a difference in my day to day. I recently saw a quote that doing what you hate is work, doing what you love is passion. I am fortunate to work within my passions daily.

I am also thankful to be a working mother. My life is demonstrating to my kids that it is good to use your talents. Through my work, I am also able to serve my family financially as well. During the day, while my husband and I work, my kids go to great schools and are thriving.

My work story is just one of millions. When I saw the latest Kronos 1 in one hundred million video about truck driver Shannon Nessmith, it made me smile. The work that Shannon does is VERY different than the work that I do, but we have one big thing in common – we love what we do. Check out her video and be inspired. While you are there, subscribe to the video series. I love that Kronos, a workforce management solution company, is telling these stories.