A major turning point in my career came when I was given the opportunity to lean on mentors for help. Initially, I was afraid to ask for their guidance, but being curious by nature, I knew that bringing others in would make the project better.
I had the opportunity to lead a large-scale project that impacted learning and development opportunities for Fisher employees globally. At first, I was unsure where to get started, as I had never tackled a project of this size or scope before. I struggled to brainstorm, second-guessed myself, and wasn’t making the progress I knew I needed to complete it on time.
I realized I had to change my approach and decided to share honestly with a trusted mentor. She encouraged me to take initiative, and our conversations led to an insightful mindset shift.
Through research, feedback, and support from my team and leadership, I learned it was okay to make mistakes and experiment when tackling new problems! My confidence grew as I became more experienced and practiced applying what I learned in new and uncomfortable settings.
The project was a success, and we rolled out the first-of-its-kind online learning and development opportunities in multiple languages for all Fisher employees!
Like the 70/20/10 learning philosophy, which emphasizes learning through doing and social interactions, I grew (and continue to!) from doing even if it’s not done perfectly. I also discovered a new sense of self-efficacy and confidence in tackling the unknown, with a strong support system.
For others dealing with uncertainty:
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Get started somewhere! Take the first step to get your momentum going.
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Lean on others. Ask for help when you need it. Collaboration creates better outcomes.
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Have courage. Nothing will go perfectly, and what’s more important is how you handle issues along the way.
—Marisa N., Corporate Learning & Development Program Manager, Fisher Investments
