| In high school, I discovered my passion in a Business Law class. I was captivated and instantly wanted to go to law school.
To strengthen this interest, my dad suggested that I open the phone book and write a letter to every law firm in town asking for a summer job.
So I did.
Unsurprisingly, I received a lot of rejection letters – what law firm wants to hire a 16-year-old high school student with no education or experience?
Boylan & Neptune did. They created an office assistant position for me for two summers before I left for college, and I loved it!
Cambridge Dictionary defines “gumption” as:
the ability to decide what is the best thing to do in a particular situation, and to do it with energy and determination
My parents believed that formula could be taught, wrought, and caught.
They fostered a culture of achievement in our house – they encouraged us to get ahead by standing out. They applauded guts, ambition, and action. They expected gumption! No wonder I didn’t even question mailing letters to law firms as a teenager…
Equally important, I grew up watching their courage and initiative:
- Without a college degree, my dad advanced from salesman to VP to owner of the company.
- Without a college degree, my mom shifted her secretarial path to real estate (earning Illinois Realtor of the Year!) and then became a managing broker.
And it worked. When I graduated from law school, I landed an interview at a firm. Instinctively, I called the other firms on my list to let them know. I suggested that they might want to interview me too. So they did. And my parents beamed with pride…
As bosses and mentors, what are you doing to inspire and embolden your people to rise to new challenges? |
