Never burn bridges, and other life lessons

I have been a member of the State Chamber of Commerce for the last nine years. In May of 2016, I will be assuming the Chair of the State Chamber – the first person ever from a non-profit organization and the second woman to serve. Deep breath. 

Every year the organization rents an Amtrak train, yes an entire train, where business leaders and elected officials travel to Washington, DC together and then attend a huge dinner.  It’s kind of a to-do in New Jersey politics and business leaders. 

Myself with Governor Chris Christie

The entire function is a chance for me to get face time with elected officials and for business people a chance to network. There are usually about 1,000 people at the dinner and at least 700 people on the train.

Beth Anne Dobosh (Dir. of Corporate Foundation Relations, Foundation) joined me this year for her first trip. I am very proud (and impressed) of her for walking all 13 cars of the train to introduce herself and talk about the amazing work we do at Children’s Specialized Hospital and the Foundation. As I made my way through the train, everyone kept saying to me “I just met your colleague.” It was great that she was working so hard to make the most out of the trip.

One funny thing Beth Anne said to me was, “I had no idea that so many people outside of your Children’s Specialized world feel the same way we do about you.” It is funny right – you are only seen in the world that people know or knew you.

The people you grow up with from a young child will always see you as that kid or teenager. The people you worked with early in your career still see you as a young staffer.

I always say that since I worked for Governor James Florio at the age of 20, he stills see me as the 20-year-old who worked for him in Washington, DC.

You may no longer be at those points in your life, but it is your entire life that brings you to where you are today – good, bad, or indifferent. Who you are today is a compilation of your experiences. They may not define you, but you will continue to take lessons from every experience you’ve had and change ever so slightly.

On the train trip I did a TV interview. Steve Adubato asked me about the lessons I learned throughout my career. 

Myself and Steve Adubato on the train.

I told him, “Never burn a bridge – you never know when your path will cross that individual again.” And it’s true; you just never know when you will need to have that relationship.

So what about you – are there lessons you learned from you work experience at Children’s Specialized or other places that you worked that you bring with you?