Week Thirteen Reflection: A Journey of Gratitude

This week has been all about diving into gratitude, entrepreneurship, and figuring out my career path. It felt like a mix of learning new stuff and doing some personal reflection, which really helped ground me. The W13 Study: A Journey of Gratitude, along with some videos from Ted Zoller, Stan Christensen, and Larry North, really drove home how personal and professional growth is rarely a straight line.

One of the biggest things I took away was from Ted Zoller’s thoughts on entrepreneurship. He pointed out that people often think you have to start a company to be an entrepreneur, but a lot of successful dealmakers actually climb the corporate ladder to reach C-suite roles first. That got me thinking about the traditional path to entrepreneurship and made me see the value in gaining corporate experience, especially if it’s positioned correctly later on.

Stan Christensen’s talk, "Avoid the Wrong Job," really resonated with me too. He emphasized the importance of not making career decisions based on what others expect, which hit home. It’s so tempting to chase after validation instead of following what I’m truly interested in. His perspective on being okay with exploring different jobs early in my career really lifted the pressure off me to find the “perfect” job right away.

Then there was Larry North's "Acton Hero" story, which added a more personal touch. His journey from a tough background to where he is today, combined with his honesty about his failures and strong self-belief, reminded me how crucial resilience and mindset are. Gratitude isn’t just about celebrating the wins but also about appreciating the challenges, mentors, and setbacks that help us grow.

Looking ahead, I’m pumped to make career choices that align with my values and interests while embracing more gratitude, not just for the good times but also for the tough moments that shape who I am.