Seeing My Career Journey Through a Different Lens
Once upon a time there was a young girl (hint: it’s me!) sitting in her grandparents’ living room, flipping through the worn pages of her grandfather’s National Geographic magazines. Captivated by the colors, movement and stories behind each image, she decided then and there that taking on the world with a pen and a camera was what she was meant to do.
Years later, after countless night classes to complete my associate’s degree, I set my sights on photojournalism. I was accepted into two major universities, both with amazing journalism programs. It was everything I had hoped for.
So what happened? Well, as the old rhyme goes, “first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage.”
That’s exactly what happened.
Some might say I gave up my dream — and in a way, I did. But really, I just shifted my focus to be fully present during those important early years of my child’s life. I knew what I was giving up, but I also knew what I was gaining.
Still, my desire to bring focus and clarity to what is blurry or unseen never faded. That drive led me to pursue two degrees in organizational leadership, where I discovered how valuable it is to see both the bigger picture and the fine details — especially in the fast-moving world of tech.
Storytelling, I’ve learned, is essential no matter the career path. Thankfully, my role as a senior sales support specialist at RapidScale (part of the Cox family of businesses) gives me the ability to do just that. You’d be surprised how often a foundation in journalism helps when faced with complex challenges, whether it’s breaking down an issue into digestible parts, finding calm in the chaos or uncovering the diamond in the rough.
Here are a few of the practices I lean on every day:
1. Ask questions — and even question the answers.
Always dig deeper. Ask the questions others won’t. Never accept a single answer as the only truth. There’s always another side — a reason why a process was created or why a solution should evolve. Taking the time to investigate before deciding helps maintain the integrity of my work.
2. Lean on clarity and accuracy in storytelling.
Sharing information across an organization, where differing viewpoints often collide, can be a challenge. The ability to clearly communicate a new process or initiative, both verbally and visually, is essential to maintaining accurate reporting and keeping the company aligned.
We’ve all been in a situation where a project stalls or even gets cancelled because of poor communication. It wastes time, money and energy for everyone involved. But when the lines of communication (emails, meetings and presentations) are clear, accurate and easy to follow, everything stays on track and success follows.
3. Embrace creativity and flexibility.
Just like a journalist might wake up in California one morning and be walking the streets of Madrid the next, my work requires daily creativity and flexibility. I may not be a jetsetter in real life, but I’ve learned to pivot quickly as projects evolve or new needs emerge, always guided by the first two practices above.
I still have a deep love for photography, and I know one day I’ll have more time to nurture that creative side again. Sometimes, when one dream is put on pause, it makes space for another — one that’s even more fulfilling. A “dream job” does not always equal to a “dream life,” and that’s an important thing to remember with every career decision.
I’m grateful that my journey with RapidScale and Cox continues to fuel my passion for bringing clarity to complex situations. And even more grateful to do this work at a company with an incredible culture that supports both a rewarding career and my life at home.
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