Have you ever wondered how some of the world‘s most successful CEOs got their start? It may surprise you to learn that many of them started in entry-level positions. Doug McMillon, the CEO of Wal-Mart, began his career by loading trucks at a distribution center. Chris Rondeau, the CEO of Planet Fitness, started as a front desk receptionist. Mary T. Barra, CEO of General Motors, has worked the assembly line before she was a co-op student.
Their stories are testaments that success does not always start from the top. It is about building a journey one step at a time. For these business leaders, it wasn‘t about working their way to the top of the company; it was about learning and growing-in, showing up every day to work hard and put in an honest effort.
Every Role Counts
Where you start doesn’t matter because each role assumed in life becomes very important during one’s growth, both in personal and professional aspects. As Doug McMillon loaded trucks, he wasn‘t just completing a task; he was gathering valuable insight into the inner machinations of a global retail powerhouse. The time which Chris Rondeau spent working as a front desk receptionist let him understand the very core of customer service that later became the cornerstone of success for Planet Fitness. Mary T. Barra’s experience on the assembly line gave her a unique perspective on manufacturing, which helped her become a more informed and effective leader at General Motors.
The key takeaway here is that every experience counts. Whether you’re answering phones, managing a team, or performing manual tasks, each position builds the foundation for your future growth.
Stay Committed
Success is rarely a straight line; it‘s filled with detours, setbacks, and moments of doubt. But the most successful people in the world are the ones who remain committed to the process, regardless of what stage they are at on their journey.
Doug McMillon wasn’t born to be the CEO of Wal-Mart; he grew into the job, one job at a time. Adding these to his perseverance and dedication to learning and improvement, he rose to the top of the ladder to lead one of the biggest companies in the world. Chris Rondeau did not let a small role as a receptionist define what he could do but allowed it to help him understand how the business operated right from the ground to becoming the visionary leader for a healthy fitness industry. Mary T. Barra simply would not be satisfied with a beginning on the assembly line as the limitation of her perspective on success. She learned and grew until she became the first female CEO of any major automaker.
The lesson herein is pretty simple: one has to work hard, be resilient, and be willing to learn. Commit to the journey and allow every experience to mold you into a much stronger and capable leader.
Growth Is a Journey, Not a Race
It is easy to get disheartened if your career path doesn‘t take off on a straight line. You may see everybody else accelerating ahead of you, whereas you are stuck in some position that doesn‘t seemingly lead to any other position. But just remember, growth is a journey, not a race. Every step taken by you, no matter how smaller that seems, forms a part of the bigger picture in your career.
It also took time for Doug McMillon to assume the role of CEO at Wal-Mart. This involved experience, connection-building, and mastering the fine points of the company’s business. It didn’t simply happen that Chris Rondeau opened his eyes one morning as CEO of Planet Fitness; it required the effort of labor and the accumulation of experience he had acquired throughout the path he journeyed. Mary T. Barra also did not skip rungs up to the top on General Motors. She put many years into perfecting her trade.
Trust the journey, even when your career doesn‘t unfold in a straight line, knowing that every role, every trial, and every chance to learn is an opportunity that will lead you where you need to be.
Love the Journey
Keep in mind as you continue in your career that the best leaders usually started out no different than you. Many of them came from the ground up and learned from their experiences. Hard work and perseverance are really what it’s all about to succeed.
So enjoy the process; come every day prepared to give it your best and to learn. And whatever your starting point may be, with the right attitude and frame of mind, it can take you to places you never thought possible.
Your career is about growing, and the best is yet to come.