What I’ve Learned

It’s been a year since I started interning at Dashfire. I went in to my first day thinking I knew a lot about startups and entrepreneurship, but when Rick Desai started talking about A/B testing, SaaS and the real difference between b2b and b2c, I nodded my head, went back to my desk, and Googled..

I soon found out that Rick wasn’t expecting me to know everything, and I quickly let go of my fear of feeling stupid. I learned: it’s better to ask a question, no matter how dumb you think you sound, than to pretend you know what you’re talking about.

Literally days after I got hired, Rick and I started discussing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn’t know at the time, but Rick’s dedication to my future and constant mentorship over the past year helped me explore different career options. I’ve learned how effective getting ahead of the game is, especially when looking for a job. (p.s. Rick is nominated for BIC’s Mentor of The Year Moxie Award!)

I’ve developed a love for startups. I’ve always been an “idea person”, so I was immediately attracted to startups, but over the past year I’ve learned that having a great idea is only the first step. You’ve got to be willing to execute the idea. You’ve got to have a great product. You’ve got to be an incredible networker. You have to have the ability to build a team. And, above all: you have to have heart. “We like to glamorize the ramen diet, couch surfing lifestyle, but do you really want to lose your salary, health benefits, free time, and sanity? You will run into brick walls every day.  If you can’t find a way to run through, around, or over them – this is not the career for you.” 

I’ve come to appreciate networking, and learned that being friendly, making connections, and maintaining solid relationships is a top priority. Attending events and Dashfire meetings, working with entrepreneurs and taking all events as opportunities (rather than just an open bar) to learn and meet people has been beneficial to my professional and personal growth.

I’ve learned that this quote is totally true: “You can achieve anything, if you don’t care about who gets the credit.” The startup space has taught me to promote people and things I love. You shouldn’t do everything for the sole purpose of making money or getting recognized, but simply because you genuinely care about them. I’ve written blogs about LiquidSpace, Kangu, Dev Bootcamp, SideCar, Cheeky Chicago, Grainstack and more, not because I was hoping to get a job or because I was getting paid to do so, but simply because I think they are great companies that deserve to be heard about.

I’ve written, a lot. I’ve learned that blogging is crucial to creating a unique brand image. Since day one, Rick has encouraged me to write. I’ve tried to develop a unique tone, and now have a portfolio of writing samples, which is an added bonus to my resume. Writing weekly blogs has taught me the importance of research in order to stay relevant. I’ve learned that it’s not just about posting great content, but posting great content at the right time in order to engage and entertain your target.

I’ve learned that I work best in environments where people are constantly encouraging each other. All companies should strive to create and maintain a supportive culture. This allows people to take risks, which is key to being a successful entrepreneur. Dashfire prides itself on meeting with and providing guidance to anyone and everyone. While this could be considered a huge waste of time, it’s their investment in Chicago and the growing tech community.

I was challenged.. and I liked it. Interning in such a fast-paced, constantly changing industry was a little difficult to get used to, but becomes addictive after a while. I learned that I like learning and want to continue to learn. I never want a job where I’ll be doing the same, repetitive, unchallenging thing every day.

I’ve learned to have fun (at work). My internship experiences have the bar for my first job out of college. I want to love my job, and loving your job means two things: you’re passionate about the work you’re doing, and passionate about the people you’re doing it with.

Best year ever.