Bernadette Quist

As the oldest of 5 kids, when my parents were very busy, I basically just had to figure a lot of things out on my own. I've hit a lot of career potholes, and the thing that has helped me the most is doing something, anything that makes you feel creative, happy, interested, even if it's completely unrelated to your career, when you're in a pothole or down phase. This will help you get out of that. For instance, I'm with my daughter who just got laid off around Thanksgiving, and it's been hard looking for a job. I bought her classes at Second City where she could do improv. She's not a comedian or actress, but it's really helped her with her interviewing. She sent me a text saying she got asked a question by a recruiter, and she happened to mention the fact that she is taking this improv class and it's teaching her to be present and not be afraid to fail, and they loved her answer. I did the same thing when I was looking for a job and the economy in Michigan was terrible. I went out for a play because I had to do something fun. There's a book called Big Magic that talks about that. Just do something creative and fun to get you into a good space, and then things will start happening.

I think just knowing yourself is important. Respecting yourself, having boundaries, speaking up, but watch your timing. I was the first woman district sales manager when I sold paper, and I was the youngest sales manager. Back in that day, the salesman who made their quota would get this Super Bowl ring, which is kind of dumb, but anyway, they would get a ring. I made my quota and didn't even think anything about that until the next year at a sales meeting, a guy who was hired after me had this ring on. I went to my boss and said, hey, how come I didn't get anything? I made my quota. And he said, well, we didn't have anything for women back then, and I said, well, I should get something, and I did. But you have to speak up and have confidence and respect for yourself.

Info overload. There's just so much information and keeping it organized. I try to keep everything organized because I think order engenders freedom and creativity. There's just so much in an academic environment and a bureaucratic one, with good reason, but there's just a lot of information. And then plus everything that's online and the news. You just need to take some time for yourself. I find being outside or just working out a little bit really helps me a lot.

To love and respect myself. Because if you don't have a full cup, you can't give anything to anybody else.