She had no experience, & got the job!

Kathy had an empty nest for the first time.

Her husband started traveling more for work.

Her priority had always been her kids and her husband.

She had a successful part-time job as an executive administrator, but she was ready for a change. Now that her kids were contributing to society and out of the house, she wanted to pursue a new full time career.

She was 50. She applied for her first sales job. She went to the interview.

They scanned her resume.

They said: “You don’t have any sales experience, why should we hire you?”

She said: “For the last 20 years I’ve raised 4 kids, 1 midwestern husband, have gotten them up, fed and out the door by 8 am every day. If that isn’t sales, I don’t know what is”

She was hired on the spot.

She started a brand-new career at 50 without any experience in that specific field.

Over the next 12 years she went on to become a top sales performer in that region.

She was fulfilled. She made an impact. She inspired her coworkers. She had fun.

She made money for herself and the company. She did all this before retiring at 62.

Kathy is my mom.

 Here’s what I learned from watching my mom reinvent herself at age 50:

YOU KNOW MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU DO: Your skills are transferable.

Her skills of being organized, rallying the troops, multi-tasking, staying positive and being an eternal cheerleader made her uniquely suited to be a strong salesperson.

Take a minute to ask yourself: “What do I know? And how can this be helpful in other areas?” You might have a new career on your hands. You might have a new revenue stream ready to be developed.

REINVENTION CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME: If you’re ready for a change in your personal or professional life, you can reinvent yourself-just like Kathy did. I got to witness firsthand my mom building business relationships and experiencing joy in ways just for herself that I’d never seen in her before. As an observer, it was beautiful to see. I can only imagine how magical it felt to her. Reinvention does not have to be a big transition. Reinvention can be one small step you take, just for you. These can be a series of micro-changes that eventually become a bold transformation.

GO FOR WHAT YOU WANT AND FIGURE THE REST OUT LATER:

Studies show that men apply for jobs and promotions that they are completely under qualified for, and they get them. Studies show that women wait until we’re deeply qualified and sometimes overqualified and we still don’t go for what we want, why?

STOP IT. Yes, I am yelling.

My very first hotel job I applied for I had no experience. I worked as a marketing manager for a stand-alone venue in Cleveland Ohio. San Diego California Hotels were not ready for me. I was barely ready for them. I applied anyway. They didn’t hire me for the experience. They hired me because of my attitude and energy. The onboarding and my first year were a bit rocky due to my lack of experience but it eventually all clicked for me and then I was off to the races. If I would have waited until I had “just a little more experience” or for someone to tap me on the shoulder to “invite” me to apply, my entire life trajectory would have been different. Don’t wait to go for what you want.

OBSERVE YOUR PARENTS OR THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE & ASK QUESTIONS:

I’ve learned so much over the years by having my antennae up and paying attention. I’ve learned even more by being curious and asking the most obvious and literal questions even if it made me feel stupid. Even if I didn’t understand the observation or answer at the time, eventually the lesson came into focus. Eventually the message was applicable to my current life situation. Your inner sphere is so powerful but sometimes we overlook it because it is so familiar. Look at the people in your home, your back yard and your circle for inspiration. Tap them for help. Ask them questions and observe them. You never know when you might find your next “Kathy” to inspire you to take a leap.

These lessons don’t have to apply to job searches or career growth.

I’ve considered this experience when coaching salespeople and suggesting they try a new technique, expand their business in a way they hadn’t considered or attempt to go after that big account they never believed they could wrangle.

I’ve seen leaders use this experience to take a chance on a rookie that was reliable and grow their team.

I’ve seen people never believe they can write their first book, start their own business or speak in public consider this experience and be wildly successful with all three.

I invite you to consider how you can be a “Kathy” without any experience

and go for what you want.

The world awaits.

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