IGNITE March 2021

Advice I wish I was told as a young professional

As a younger person, I felt the societal pressures of certain expectations, such as going to a four-year college right after high school — studying abroad, finding your dream job — you name it.

Most of us have experienced those dreadful thoughts of, “what am I doing with my life or where am I going? How can I accomplish my goals?”

As a younger person, I felt the societal pressures of certain expectations, such as going to a four-year college right after high school — studying abroad, finding your dream job — you name it. It created a very chaotic mess in my brain because I was not living up to these expectations. It took me YEARS to earn my associate’s degree because I had no idea what I was interested in. Financially, I was on my own, which was also a struggle.

I received quite a bit of advice from various leaders and other young professionals that helped guide me along the way.

Comparison is the Thief of Joy. Stop Doing It

After years of comparing myself to those I went to school with, I realized that comparison really is the thief of joy. I was so focused on being “behind” that I forgot to look at the opportunities that were in front of me.

Once I realized that, new opportunities and doors started opening for me, and I felt like everything was falling into place. It felt good that I found my passion in marketing and wanting to help small businesses and local organizations. It is still a daily struggle, but now that I am getting on track, I find myself feeling prouder of the work I have done and what I will continue to do.

Find Your Passion

It seems cliché, believe me, I know! Once I started pushing myself towards my passion, I felt so much happier. It ignited something in me that I didn’t know I had. When I discovered my love for marketing and wedding coordinating, it made life feel so much brighter!

It really is true when they say if you love what you do, you won’t have to work a day in your life. Of course, not everything we are passionate in can pay the bills, but it is a step toward gaining experience and finding happiness in life and in our work.

Invest in Yourself

If you want to advance yourself in any career, you need to invest in yourself. Whether you want to get into trades or another career alternative, it is so important to educate yourself and invest in the building blocks that lay the foundation of your career. Go to seminars or conferences. Take classes or attend workshops. Buy books and gain insight from them.

Depending on where you are in your career, or if you work for a bigger corporation, you may be able to attend free trainings or have those costs covered. Another option is LinkedIn Learning if your company offers it, or you can subscribe free for a month.

Get a Mentor

Find someone within your field of interest with experience to guide you and answer questions. A mentor is useful and can offer insight and knowledge in the career field of your choosing. Most mentors are incredibly useful when you need someone to vouch for you. Finding a mentor can help you build professional relationships that turn into long lasting and meaningful relationships.

Recently, I have found my mentor, Danica, who is a big reason why I am here at IGNITE and on my journey to becoming a wedding coordinator.

Learn How to Network and Maintain Your Network

As young professionals, we spend a lot of time building our network, but it’s important to learn how to maintain and build those relationships to be long lasting and beneficial to all involved. Make time to schedule coffee, lunches or drinks after work with current colleagues. Of course, with the current state of things, Zoom and other technology make it easier to connect with our peers.

Brianna Crosser is marketing director of IGNITE Rockford, wedding coordinator intern for Weddings by Danica and an operations technician at Woodward, Inc.

The views expressed are those of Crosser’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.