Learning, Growing, and Figuring It Out Along the Way: 5 Intangibles that Drive Success

Not to date myself, but when I started my career, digital communications wasn’t even a thing. Social media? Barely a blip on the radar. (Confession: Facebook launched when I was in college, and I proudly REFUSED to join. Oh, how times have changed!)

Fast forward to today, and social media and digital communications are everything—for marketing, business development, relationship-building—you name it. Looking back, my foundation in public relations and writing has always been my anchor, but the rest? It’s been a continual exercise in learning as I go.

Adapting to the Digital Communications Evolution

Like many of us, my career didn’t start with a roadmap for navigating the world of marketing. I started in sales at Nordstrom—which served me well through a collection of fancy clothing (no complaints there) and, more importantly, a solid understanding of building customer trust. For every job, I’ve had to learn the industry and organization particulars, adapt to new tools, and embrace opportunities as they came my way.

Fast forward a few years, I found myself at the Y—a new mom, in a new town, and desperately trying to make a name for myself. I started out providing freelance support, helping with social media and other communication needs—any way to get in the door, basically. The executive director saw potential in my work and asked me to take on more responsibilities. That eventually led to my promotion to Director.

Social media was still fairly new at the time. I vividly remember the executive director calling me into her office one day and asking me to explain how Facebook worked. By then, I’d been out of school for 4-5 years and had realized social media wasn’t a passing fad. If I wanted to stay relevant, I had to adapt—and fast.

With limited resources available for building a brand on social media, I figured it out one post, one campaign at a time. The Y is well known for its strong branding, and one of the great learning opportunities of my career came from working with that organization. I dove into the brand guide, familiarized myself with logo placement, captions, titles, and the voice and tone, making it my mission to know the brand inside and out.

While nothing was perfect in those early days, I learned the value of being brave enough to try and figuring things out as I went—a phrase I’d hear often from leaders throughout my career.

The Intangibles That Drive Success

Over the years, I’ve added branding, project management, executive communications, video production, and now platforms like HubSpot to my toolbox. The tools and tech have been invaluable, but my biggest (and proudest) learning curve has been about the intangibles—lessons I’ve learned from the leaders, organizations, and mentors who have shaped me along the way. These lessons haven’t just helped drive career growth and success:, they’ve shaped the person I am today:

1️⃣ Trust your instincts. The more I’ve leaned into trusting myself and the people around me, the better we’ve performed—together. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from a mentor was, “Erin, just be Erin.” Having mentors who trust your capabilities and don’t hinder your progress teaches you more than any micromanager ever could. That trust reminded me to invest in myself and my unique approach, too.

2️⃣ Keep learning. The digital marketing world isn’t slowing down. Stay curious, stay agile, and you’ll thrive while others fade into the background. From figuring out Facebook in those early days to navigating platforms like HubSpot and Canva now, the willingness to learn has kept me grounded and growing.

3️⃣ Relationships are everything. Prioritize your people, and watch the magic unfold. Whether it’s a team, a client, or a mentor, relationships are the foundation of every meaningful success I’ve experienced.

4️⃣ Know when to listen. I once had a CEO tell me I talked too much. That feedback stuck with me—and not just because it was blunt. It taught me the power of pausing. Whether after a question or a thought, leaving space for others to speak is invaluable. I’ve especially noticed this when hosting interviews: the best answers often come in the silence after the initial response.

5️⃣ Fall back on action. When all else fails, rely on your ability to GET STUFF DONE. As my team and I like to say, GSD—progress beats perfection every time.

Paying It Forward

What I love most now is the opportunity to share what I’ve learned with others. Whether it’s building toolkits for clients, helping teams refine project management practices, or providing guidance on testimonials, it’s incredibly rewarding to give back to the industry that has shaped me and given me so much.

And speaking of learning, I’m diving into an entirely new world—publishing! Finalizing my book (launching in 2025) has been one of the most exciting (and nerve-wrecking) chapters of my journey yet.

Embracing the Journey

This career has taught me that the tools and tech will always change, but the intangibles—trust, relationships, and an openness to learn—are the constants that truly drive progress. In fact, when my daughters start a new program and find themselves in that uncomfortable space of the unknown, we talk about how that’s where growth happens. I remind them that figuring it out is part of discovering what they love. Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable—the better you are at it, the more successful you’ll be.

What’s the biggest skill you’ve learned on the fly during your career? Let’s celebrate the messy, beautiful process of figuring it out as we go.