In the early 1980s, when I was a sophomore in high school, my friends and I enrolled in Junior Achievement (JA). We traveled to a big conference center one night a week to meet with our business mentors and participate in a JA business venture.
Each JA group was involved in a business project, where we created and sold a product, all the while learning about how to run a business. Our group was tasked with making and selling hanging flower baskets. We stained pieces of wood, assembled them into a basket shape, and sold them to people who wanted to support our endeavors.
Early on, we all voted for a president of our little ensemble. I had no intention of running for any office. But my friends encouraged me to try. So, I raised my hand and said I would like to be in the running for president.
The boy I was running against won—and he should have. He had been involved in JA before and knew what he was doing. I was brand new, and all I could think to offer by way of business experience was that I helped out sometimes in my mom’s office. I hadn’t connected the dots to my entrepreneurial endeavors as a pet sitter and piano accompanist.
The newly elected president met with our business mentors, and together they chose the other officers. I was amazed that they gave me the second highest office, which was vice president of marketing. They said they chose me for that role because I had stepped out and run for president. It told them I had the courage to stick my neck out and take a risk.
What I enjoyed most about being on the office team was that we had additional meetings with our business mentors. I learned a lot. And I enjoyed the strategic thinking and projections I had to do in my role.
Although the officer team didn’t have to be involved in the production, I took some time to help out, so I could stay connected with and encourage the production team. That’s where I learned how to lead by example, something for which I was recognized later in my career.
My biggest takeaway was how it can be worth the risk to raise your hand and try for something that might seem out of reach. I didn’t imagine myself as president and wouldn’t have run without my friends’ encouragement. Even though I didn’t win, I had the opportunity for that incredible vice president role, simply because I had the courage to raise my hand.
That lesson has stayed with me and plays a role in the coaching and editing work I do. My authors are willing to be vulnerable and put their writing out in front of people. That takes courage. They might not end up on a bestseller list. But if even one reader benefits from their words, it’ll be worth everything they put into their writing project.
I encourage them to go for it and stick with it. I know that by having the courage to raise their hand as a writer, they will experience the joy that comes with sharing their work. I know when a person is willing to put themselves out there, good things will happen.
If you are just starting out in your career, be willing to go for things that make sense to you but may seem beyond your reach. Even if you don’t get those things at first, you get more good results than you expected. And you’ll learn a lot in the process. You’ll create a great foundation for your future.
Volunteer. Raise your hand. Try things out. Follow your dreams. Find great mentors. And just be yourself. Doors will open if you’re willing to walk through them and see what there is to experience and learn.
Janet Eriksson 