second on my list of things that matter is success at work. what i consider “work” isn’t always a job that provided a w-2.

i completed a viral challenge to list “10 jobs you’ve had but one is fake” and without really thinking about it [in true robin-fashion] i listed 20 jobs. [i couldn’t stop at 10. i’ve had some good and random work.]

i didn’t list creative director [that was too obvious] so here’s an illustration of my main “career-related work” [before my current role.]

but anyway, here’s my viral “job” list with a little more detail:

1. house painter —> i joined my dad on one, single interior painting job and opted to find other work [my sister’s both spent entire summers working with my dad but despite being the likely candidate to follow in his footsteps, ironically it wasn’t for me]
   
   
2. bartender / cocktail waitress —> i mixed manhattan’s and old fashions long enough to be comfortable with a martini shaker. the grasshoppers and brandy alexanders were muscle-building ice cream drinks that I still dream about
   
   
3. medical records data entry —> a dear college friend of mine helped me get the strangest, most unlikely job on this list and it quite literally got me back on my feet after depleting my savings studying abroad
   
   
4. hostel cleaning staff —> this is the third job i picked up after returning back from studying in italy and was dead broke – in debt to credit cards and my wonderful sister who’s always been more responsible with $ than me and the first time i had to rely on her parachute cord. turned out washing laundry in the basement of house in madison, wi [in 90 degree summer heat without air conditioning] wasn’t my hostel experience studying abroad but it sure gave me some perspective on how cheap lodging is accomplished and allows the less fortunate to travel more freely.
   
   
5. sandwich artist —> i interviewed for my first job the day i turned 15 because i could not wait to start supporting myself. of course, when the subway store owner decided to that it was only necessary for one person to close the store at night, my dad would come sit with his 15-year-old daughter to keep her safe during the final hours of her shift. [insert the first instance of a decision of someone with blind privilege impacting the lives of those less privileged. would my dad have had to worry if i had been a 15yo boy? would he have had to unconsciously teach me why i needed to worry and plant that seed of doubt about others intentions in those scenarios? what about my 15yo best friend who had to go on closing the store on her own?]
   
   i digress ... back to the work …
   
   
6. steakhouse hostess —> my senior year of high school i worked nearly full-time while juggling an insane “susie-high-school” class and extracurricular schedule. i also always volunteered for the lunch shifts because it meant it meant a free meal. [one of the perks i learned to enjoy when my older sister would bring home sandwiches after her subway shifts when i was in middle school. yep, i did follow in her footsteps for that job and funny enough, she worked at this same steakhouse years later and followed in mine.] i interviewed for this job on the day of my 16th birthday [aka as soon as i “knew” i would have the ability to drive vs. walking down the block to subway.] of course, i didn’t know that i would almost fail my driver’s test [literally one point away] and headed to the interview completely frazzled. got the job anyway and started that night!
   
   
7. freelance illustrator —> was paid to illustrate a couple projects through a company in chicago and have never been more willing to draw until my hand cramped but when the next opportunity arose, i froze… why is that? don’t worry, i fully intend to explore that more.
   
   
8. lawn mower —> the summer i totaled my mom’s car in an accident with my best friend [on my parents wedding anniversary], i spent most afternoon’s mowing the lawn for Harv out at the stone house and the surrounding 20ish acres …
   
   are ya’ll starting to see why the stone house holds a special place in my heart?
   one of healing and sanctuary during an incredibly painful period that left me debating dropping out of college in order to pay my mom back …

let’s stop there.

unless you want to hear more …
or you want to know which is fake …
then you’ll have to tell me.

otherwise, here’s the other 12 jobs real quick:

• hand lettering sign painter
• barista
• art history slide organizer
• babysitter
• seafood restaurant hostess
• basketball camp coach
• refreshment stand worker
• invitations designer
• photographer
• gala event planner
• wedding coordinator
• coffee shop supervisor

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as for the “success” … that’s easy.

it’s the people.

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that’s why i work for a “people company” [aka a company focused on understanding people through the application and experimentation of behavioral science. if it sounds nerdy + awesome – that’s because it is.] i’m working there to not only understand what that means [beyond that it’s complicated], but also to help shape what that means and WHY it matters.

i can show you what it means with pictures from this week. here’s the encouragement and support i received from a group of co-workers going through potentially their hardest days. more than anything, this challenging time has shown me how much we need to be present, humble and authentic – but ultimately – we need to support each other all around us. 

the relationships i make at work have always been more important to me than anything else. being recognized is nice but being respected and valued in less obvious ways is what drives me. even in their darkest hour, my teammates sought to build me up. THAT is incredible. i am doing everything i can to assure they know that. they are incredible.

helping all those around me be better [a.k.a. personal branding], do better and make their work better [and easier] is what motivates me. [i fully admit this gets me in trouble sometimes. not everyone wants help or sees the help as genuine.]

connecting people to their passion and to each other comes next… that connection spurs the above.

and then… assuring others understand how branding, strategy, user experience and design can drive success is merely the icing on the cake.

it took me a while to understand this about myself and my work … in fact, it took writing this blog post for me to articulate it.

#tldr = let’s alllllllll be successful.

that’s the ultimate success.