What integral values have shaped Emily Baillie’s career path? She has a journey that weaves from senior-level positions to entrepreneurial and academic roles. We were curious to learn that she’s pinpointed her career growth down to these simple three values: that’s right, three. She’s taken all her knowledge from over the years and wants to share it so that you can pave your way to career success.
Although this may seem obvious, it’s a key professional value that Emily emphasizes needs constant practice. “I work hard to maintain a positive attitude because I feel it is important to the success of my career but also because I believe that it makes life a much richer experience. It’s not always easy, but if young professionals can approach their work with a “can-do” attitude, stay open to constructive feedback, show respect to their colleagues and ignore the naysayers, they’re halfway there. Adopting a growth mindset, which is essentially the self-belief that one’s most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, is essential for great accomplishment.”
Behind every motivational saying, there’s some takeaway and Emily confirms this sentiment: “the saying ‘there is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs’ is very true. When building your career, you have to follow the process and put in the work. Doing it with a smile on your face is not only going to make it more enjoyable, it may also help you to reach your goals faster. Try it!” Remember bringing a positive attitude to your professional life is just like putting on your coat.
Whether it’s a perfect day out, or a windy one, either way, you come prepared and ready to face the unexpectedness. Everyone appreciates someone like that.
When it comes to your everyday professional life, a problem or two is part of the norm no matter which industry you end up in. For a marketer like Emily, she’s found that “snags and hitches are bound to arise when we are busy innovating and incorporating new technologies. The industry is in a constant state of flux - that’s what makes it exciting!”
Taking the initiative to try to find solutions, rather than shutting down and waiting for someone else to come fix things for you, is very important in the workplace.
— Emily Baillie
That means facing the problem dead on will get you the right kind of attention from your peers. Plus, it’ll make it easier for you each time a new problem arises. Becoming comfortable with problem-solving especially in the early days of your career will only increase the speed of your professional growth. Emily points out that young professionals “who are starting out, you must remember that most people who work in marketing [or another industry] are quite busy. Try to be a help to those around you, not be a hindrance.”
Don’t become the person who brings up all the problems. Become the person who solves them!
No matter what your personality type is, being able to interact with others is key for any young professional. Here’s how Emily perceives interpersonal skills in the workplace: “People skills are extremely important. Teamwork, collaboration, networking, engaging with others genuinely and respectfully…. all of these “soft” skills are keys to success. Why? I think that it boils down to something like this: People prefer to work with people that they enjoy being around.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, and it’s true. Imagine having a colleague who doesn’t engage with you except for strictly business talk. Sounds like a robot, right? That’s not you at all! We know it, and you know it. Make sure to find a way that’s natural to you to connect with coworkers. After all, they’re the ones you’ll be spending most of your time with!
Curious about learning the whole story of Emily’s marketing journey, and how she discovered these great tidbits of advice? Read her full story now!
