The need or desire to change your career can feel like a failure. We are taught to never say die, to persevere, persist and never stop swinging for the fences…but not every route we take is destined for success. Sometimes, the only way to find a true career fit or personal fulfillment is to experience setbacks or failure first. Today, I am a professional communicator for University of Utah Health, but this wasn’t always my path.
In 2017, I left a family business that I had dedicated fifteen years of my life to. Before then, I had not been without a job since I was 16 years old. I found myself lost and ashamed of the time I had wasted. Eventually, I landed an interview with a tech and product development company. A recruiter guided the interview process, and I had reached the final stage of hiring, which consisted of a video call from their Utah office with the CEO, who was based in the Bay Area. Despite my nerves, I was feeling good as the interview wound down. Then came the closing question. “Rank these skills in order of your competency: creativity, strategy, planning/process, tenacity/determination, relationships.” At that time, I thought I had poor judgment, I had been internally berating myself for wasting my potential, and I was generally feeling like a disappointment. With all that running through my mind, I answered the question, identifying strategy as my least competent skill. How could I claim to be strategic when I found my career in this position?
As I walked out with the recruiter, she gave me a sad look, saying, “Unfortunately, this CEO is big on strategy as a core competency. That last answer may have hurt you.” My negative thinking about what I perceived as a career failure had hampered my career opportunities.
I later realized I was viewing my previous 15 years of work pessimistically; I had developed many skills and leadership experiences, but I was focused on my perceived failure. While I had stayed longer than I should have, it was far from a wasted journey.
My career growth philosophy now centers on developing transferable skills and engaging in continuous learning, taking deliberate steps to advance myself with a positive mindset. Self-compassion is a learned skill; many of us must cultivate it through mindful practice. I know from experience that compassion and resilience can be grown and cultivated. When I lose confidence or feel the weight of failure, I know I can overcome it and set myself back on the path through a few steps:
- Acknowledge and sit in the feelings – share with friends or family.
- Analyze the failure – determine what I can take responsibility for and what was beyond my control.
- Learn from the experience and develop a plan.
For myself, the following steps are the most essential to move forward:
- Practice self-compassion – setbacks are opportunities to grow.
- Cultivate and nurture resilience – build confidence to face the future.
- Change my narrative or perspective – see the failure or change of path as an opportunity.
Looking back, I am proud of what I have learned from my setbacks. However, my journey is not yet over. Technological advancements and changing demands necessitate my continued growth and evolution. Through resilience, we can all navigate the storms every career eventually faces. We don’t need to fear the future.
About Maren Anderson, Marketing and Communications Manager, University of Utah Health
Maren Anderson is a Marketing and Communications Manager for University of Utah Health. Her primary role is supporting Network Development and Telehealth, which is responsible for strategic outreach to physicians, partners, and affiliate hospitals. Since graduating from the University of South Carolina, she has opened satellite offices and retail locations for small businesses on both coasts and closer to home in Utah and Idaho.
Maren has a passion for continuous improvement, choosing to obtain a Master of Strategic Communication later in her career from Westminster College. She loves working with the healthcare teams that care for our community; they connect her to U of U Health’s mission and values. She also thrives on the energy of teams and colleagues, taking every opportunity to share what she has learned over 20+ years in business development.
*Any reference obtained from this blog to a specific initiative, issue or topic does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Salt Lake Chamber. The views and opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of the Salt Lake Chamber.
