Skills

Reading from “So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur,” by the Acton Foundation was very enlightening for me.  One of the main points that it brought up in the end of the paper is that you need to use each position that you have as a stepping stone and use each experience to learn more skills that you help you reach your goals.  It also said, “Always keep your ultimate goal in mind.”  I’ve looked back on my experiences and am evaluating how I’ve used those experiences and opportunities to help me reach my goals.

My ultimate goal for a career would be to have my own business designing residential landscapes.  Before I had my family, I was able to study landscaping and work in the nursery and landscape industry to familiarize myself with plant and hardscape materials.  After I had a few children, I still was able to freelance and design on the side.  However, as my family grew, I wasn’t able to be in the professional field and hone my skills.  How have I progressed and what I have learned in the realm of family life that has helped me to become a better designer?

One of the most valuable skills I have learned with my family is being a self-starter and learning to manage my time appropriately.  I’ve learned to prioritize my tasks so that I can get what’s most important done and not have it interfere with the things my children need.  Being with children, I have had to learn to observe without judgement.  I’ve learned to observe behavior, recognize what may be an issue in the future and plan appropriate action.  I’ve also learned how to take brutally honest feedback, not get offended and move towards improvement.  I’ve learned to listen to others and be compassionate.  Many of these skills will be very useful if I am to work with others and understand the needs they have.  They will help me create better designs because I will understand my clients better. I’m new to the area that I live and something that I still need to work on before I’m ready to move forward is to make local connections with those that I would work with in the industry.  This may require me to work for someone else for a determined amount of time to help me better understand the dynamics of the area that I live in.  This may also help me cultivate a better knowledge of the area’s  plant material and growing zone.