35 things I’ve learned in 35 years (and counting...)

A birthday post from a professional in transition, a storyteller at heart, and a lifelong learner still very much under construction.

Today I turn 35.

No fancy titles to share. No career update to announce. No corner office view. Just a bunch of boxes filled with memories and papers, a lot of WiFi-reliant dreams, and, above all, a heart housing equal amounts of gratitude and anxiety in the middle of my “Plot Twist” chapter. 

This year for my birthday, I find myself between stories. Fresh after 12+ years working for the U.S. Government on public diplomacy, strategy, project management, and impact campaigns I believed in with all my soul. The world’s premiere development agency may be gone (a scary reality), but what I learned there? Indelible.

In honor of the path forged, and the one still panning out, I’m sharing 35 lessons life and work have taught me so far. I am by no means a life guru or all-around expert, but I enjoyed this exercise in nostalgia, introspection, and synthesis. Raking my brain for this post has lifted my spirits and spruced up my week. 

Some of these lessons came subtly. Others hit like an 11 o’clock number (fellow musical theater nerds, unite!)– But all of them made me who I am at this juncture. Here it goes:

1. Talent will open a door. Discipline is the wedge that keeps it from slamming shut.

2. Kindness isn’t a soft skill. It’s the mightiest superpower.

3. Good public speaking is the 101 course. Good listening is the masterclass.

4. Check your WiFi and camera/audio settings twice (or thrice!) before any remote session or job interview. Trust me!

5. “Wishes come true, not free”. Sometimes the “dream job" comes with a chipped desk. That’s okay.

6. You can learn strategy from Ivy League schools. But resilience? Life will teach you that for free.

7. No one is too senior to say “I don’t know” or too junior to find the solution.

8. Don’t wait to have “leader” in the job title to act like one.

9. “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells your Story”-it matters. Tell your own and do it well.

10. Being underestimated is double-edged: so exhausting, but oh so motivating!

11. The best campaign you’ll ever run is the one for your own self-worth.

12. Good mentors are gold. Be one for others any chance you get.

13. You can come from the margins and still leave a mark at the center.

14. People remember how you made them feel, especially in a crisis. Be mindful.

15. Learn to take feedback without losing yourself.

16. Humor = strategy. Use it wisely.

17. Early success is great. Steady, continuous purpose? Even better.

18. Be the person who sends the thank-you note.

19. UP UP UP: Learn to manage up, speak up, and know when to shut up.

20. You don’t need to be loud to be heard.

21. Growth isn’t vertical. Sometimes it’s lateral, messy, but always beautiful.

22. Don’t confuse busyness with impact.

23. Integrity is what you do when no one’s watching AKA when the Wi-Fi goes down.

24. Representation matters, in every sphere.

25. The best communicator is not just good with words. You must be good with people.

26. Rest is revolution. Burnout helps not a soul. Breathe, sleep, disconnect.

27. The best outfit you’ll ever wear is confidence.

28. Success isn’t just measured in metrics, but also in meaning. Find it and treasure it.

29. You can be both the brand and the builder.

30. Your origin story isn’t a weakness. It’s your edge. Never deny or hide it.

31. Take up space, but leave room for others.

32. Ask for what you need. Silence helps no one.

33. The best ideas are born in community, never in echo chambers.

34. Who will you learn a lot from? People who disagree with you.

35. Even in uncertainty, CELEBRATE. Life doesn’t wait for the perfect moment.

So here I am: 35 years old, unemployed but not uninspired. A little bruised, but still loving this crazy, meaningful, unpredictable career I’ve built from the ground up.

If you’ve read this far, thank you! I’d love to hear what lessons you’re learning lately too.

And if you’re hiring someone who knows how to turn stories into strategy, adversity into action, and PowerPoints into tangible impact, don’t hesitate to message the birthday boy 🙂

#BirthdayReflections #StillLearning #Gratitude #StorytellerInTransition #StrategicCommunications #OpenToWork #CareerGrowth