My first project as a Project Manager was the absolutely hardest thing I've ever done. I had no project management experience. I had 6 years as an electrician and 1 year as a Junior Estimator. My first project was for the base building electrical for a new 60 story high rise with a contract value of $12 million. This was 18 years ago. I didn't have any support. There was no one to "show me the ropes". I literally had to figure out what the responsibilities of being a project manager were as I was doing them. I was tremendously underpaid to start. (No worries - I doubled my salary by the time I finished.) Nearly every day, I was doing something for the first time. I completely lost myself during that project. Here is the beautiful part, I also ultimately found myself. I was able to prove to myself that I am capable of way more than I ever thought possible. I learned to: Stand up for myself. To set boundaries. To get paid what I'm worth. I also had a strong feeling as I was finishing that project, that my experiences and lessons learned were preparing me for something else, something bigger. With every conversation I have with one of my coaching clients, I have absolutely realized that is true. #womeninconstruction #projectmanagement #projectmanager #careercoach #constructioncoach
Thank you for sharing your journey! You not only rose to the challenge, but you surpassed it! I have been so incredibly lucky in my career to have sat in rooms with folks who taught me patiently, respectfully, and lovingly. A lot of what I know today are tools I’ve picked up along the way from some amazing individuals and I couldn’t be more thankful to and for them 🩵 now I teach patiently, respectfully, and lovingly.
Been there. After the first, it gets easier.
Yes! So impressed with your story and the way you are inspiring others to jump WAY out of their comfort zones!
Very cool that you rose to the challenge!
Girl Power!!!
Being the person I needed when I was younger . Design-Build Remodeler . Licensed Building Contractor . Expert Architectural Designer . Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler
2moIrene Walsh Garcia With exception of the commercial and electrical aspects, I literally could have written this same story about myself. This one hits home in a big way! On another particularly challenging project earlier this year, I found myself sinking into a defeated state of mind. One thing after another after another after another. One morning about 2/3 of the way through the project, I woke up so sick and tired of listening to my own poo-poo dialog. It jolted me with a swift kick in the pants. “This is not who you are. This is not how you move through the world. These are all lessons you need to learn because there’s something really big and and awesome around the corner. Learn the lessons and go kick some a$$.” We get better with every bump in the road. But we have to keep going in order to put the lessons to use.