As our 20th Anniversary Year came to an end, we asked the Creative Circle team to share out the biggest lessons they’ve learned over the 20 years. From lessons in life, work, and family, hear about the team’s best advice from over 20 Years of us & cheers to another 20 more!
Ron Erdmann
- Good news is easy but knowing how to approach a more problematic issue and get the results you need without complicating or damaging the relationship is a true communication skill. I learned it here and it has served me well both on the job and off.”
Melissa Sanchez
- Log off at a normal hour. Respect your co-workers’ work hours/ time zones.
- Say thank you. Recognizing people when they do even a small thing, it goes a long way.
Lyla Weiss
- I’ve learned that working collaboratively whether it’s dealing with a difficult situation, finding the right candidate for a role, etc. typically makes for the most successful outcomes.
- I’ve learned how to make one very good-looking cheese plate. Pic attached for evidence, although this is a veggie platter still counts.
- I’ve learned that your opinions and ideas matter and speaking up is one of the best ways to be true to yourself.
- I’ve learned that you can’t make everyone happy but as long as you are living with integrity that’s all that counts.
Katie Welker
- Sometimes slowing down is the best way to speed up (in work and in life).
- Take your lunch break.
Chloe Dionisio
- ‘How we spend our days, is how we spend our lives.’ Invest time into roles and places that make you feel supported and connected.
Liz Perry
- From posing for a holiday picture with Santa and the Seattle team to dinner at Eataly in Chicago during leadership training to late-night dance parties at COE in Mexico to karaoke at a dive bar in LA, one of the biggest lessons Creative Circle has taught me is that it’s easy to do my best work, be myself, and show up authentically when the people I surround myself are doing that too. Creative Circlers are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and that isn’t by chance, it’s by design. I’m lucky to have made so many great memories through Creative Circle with coworkers who have become my friends for life.
Tonya Ames
- Because of Covid, I’ve really had to teach myself the art of work-life balance. Without a commute, I feel like I cannot step away from my computer as easily as when I was in the office. It’s easy to make one more phone call, have one more meeting or send out one more email due to the accessibility of my office at home. Setting digital boundaries has been critical for me (although I don’t always adhere to them). It’s a start for me and it’s a muscle I can continue to strengthen.
Shannon Robinson
- What I’ve learned is that it’s not a sprint it’s a marathon and that the rankings aren’t a reflection of my efforts or successes. This mindset is what helps balance work and life – give 100% attention and effort to each – how you ask? Time blocking!! It’s a skill I’ve mastered after 15+ years in the seat and one I’ve applied to my everyday life!
Jenna Miller
- Always being open to new tactics and recommendations + open to trying something new. If it works, excellent! If it doesn’t, toss it – or better yet, try it again in the future!
- Asking questions is so important, as is being humble, and knowing that is it OKAY to not know everything. Always keep evolving and growing!
- Build connections. Whether it’s with a professional colleague, friend, or family member, each relationship you build with another person adds another beam of support to what you’re building for yourself.
- Look on the bright side. Every day isn’t going to be the best day and some days can be downright challenging. However, if you can remember to look on the bright side, the difficult days can be just another way to grow.
- Power in failure. Not everything you do will be successful. But don’t stress about these failures. Every failure gives you the chance to grow both personally and professionally. There is no better way to know what works than knowing what doesn’t.
Michelle Murcia
- Being a mom has made me a better employee/ leader/communicator than any coursework I’ve ever completed!
Emily Detroy
- Fail fast and fail forward.
