The Gift of Meaningful Work: What I’m Most Grateful For in My Career
As the year winds down, I’ve been reflecting on what meaningful work really looks like. After spending years in corporate, transitioning into instructional design, becoming an entrepreneur, and later a small business owner, one thing has become clear:
Work is more than tasks.
It’s contribution, clarity, and growth.
And I’m incredibly grateful that my career has allowed me to support teams, build systems, and make people’s work easier in so many different ways.
What I’ve Learned From Wearing Many Hats
I started my career at Nordstrom, worked my way up, and saw firsthand how exceptional training directly impacts performance. That experience led me into Instructional Design, where I learned how to turn complex processes into clear, actionable steps and build documentation that actually helps people do their best work.
Later, becoming an entrepreneur and small business owner expanded my skillset even more. I learned urgency, ownership, and how to protect a business like it’s my own (because it was). I learned that clarity and structure reduce nearly every operational problem, and that people thrive when expectations are consistent and communication is honest.
Each chapter taught me something valuable:
From Instructional Design:
How to simplify complexity
How to build strong training and SOPs
How to create learning experiences that drive real performance
From Entrepreneurship:
Operational thinking and problem-solving
Customer-first decisions
The value of well-built systems
From leading my own team:
Leadership is more about connection than authority
People respond to strong processes
Training is the foundation of a healthy workplace
These experiences aren’t separate. These experiences shape the way I work today.
Why I’m Excited for New Opportunities
I’m entering a season where I’m open to bringing this blend of experience into a new environment — through:
✓ Part-time roles
✓ Contract instructional design work
✓ SOP and documentation projects
✓ Process improvement
✓ Web design and digital support
What I bring with me is simple:
I make complex things feel simple. I build clarity where there’s confusion. I help teams perform better through structure, training, and communication.
And I care deeply — because I’ve been the person responsible for every moving part.
Gratitude for the Journey
This season, I’m grateful for:
Every mentor who took a chance on me
Every team member I’ve trained, coached, or supported
Every client who trusted me with their business
Every challenge that made me better
Every opportunity that helped me grow
And I’m excited for what’s next.
If you’re building your team, improving your internal processes, or need support with instructional design, documentation, or systems, I’d love to connect.
