“Your current safe boundaries were once unknown frontiers.” – Unknown via MJ, one of this blog’s readers
MJ, a reader of this blog and constant source of inspiration and ideas for me, sent through this quote in a recent comment on my post about negotiating the balance between fear and boredom as we take on new projects. New beginnings can be frightening; many times we must let go of old conceptions of ourselves, our lives, and the world around us so that we can try something new. This release is a death of sorts that allows for new life.
A few years ago I was recounting the story of my NBC job interview to my friend, Brooke. Many of the people I interviewed with were horrified that I didn’t have any TV experience. I was feeling pretty down about the interview until Brooke said to me, “Well have they known about TV since birth? We all start out not knowing anything!” That idea pops into my head every time I start a new project and have any moments of self-doubt.
We all start somewhere. At some point, everything we now know was uncharted territory. Your new beginnings today are no less scary and no more certain that those you experienced yesterday. Just begin. Life is a lottery – you’ve got to be in it to win it so do the things that light you up!
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
6 thoughts on “Beginning: Finding Comfort Outside Your Comfort Zone”
I love all our posts – I remember doing MBA Recruiting at Duke many years ago with another Amex colleague and I was feeling REALLY insecure – ya see, not only do I NOT have and MBA, I don’t have a degree, period. My friend said to me “these guys would love to have had the experiences you’ve had and be in YOUR job. You got here in a non-traditional way, but you got here”. And that’s what pops in MY head every time I start a new project and have moments of self-doubt!
Unfortunately, some people demonstrate a holier-than-thou attitude, as if they are all that and giving you, the intervieew, the sermon on the mount.
The fact is, they were in your shoes once too. These panelists did not know a darn thing about the news and entertainment/media sectors. They also had to learn, step by step, and gain confidence over time.
As long as you are in the learning mode, well, that’s what matters. Just because some fancy pants said “you are not good enough” counts for zilch. The willingness to learn is what separates you from the rest.
After all, a lot of CEOs started out without a degree and in the company’s mail-room or dockyard. Over time, they worked their way up the corporate ladder because they were willing and able to learn about the business.
Learning from scratch is how we started our career: nursery school.
Step by step, we learn the tricks of the trade. Interviewers should not be horrified by your lack of experience. That only means you have a lot to learn and most of the learning happens on the job anyway. Cheers.
I love this post! So important to take chances even if they are scary. I’m doing that today (hopefully if Mail Chimp works ok) in combining my very public blog with my more private and local yoga teaching site. I’ve been nervous to do it for a year but it feels like time. So I’m jumping in!!!
Christa Avampato 
I love all our posts – I remember doing MBA Recruiting at Duke many years ago with another Amex colleague and I was feeling REALLY insecure – ya see, not only do I NOT have and MBA, I don’t have a degree, period. My friend said to me “these guys would love to have had the experiences you’ve had and be in YOUR job. You got here in a non-traditional way, but you got here”. And that’s what pops in MY head every time I start a new project and have moments of self-doubt!
🙂
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Urs, I love that story! How awesome. I know that I learn from you every single day! 🙂
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Christa,
Unfortunately, some people demonstrate a holier-than-thou attitude, as if they are all that and giving you, the intervieew, the sermon on the mount.
The fact is, they were in your shoes once too. These panelists did not know a darn thing about the news and entertainment/media sectors. They also had to learn, step by step, and gain confidence over time.
As long as you are in the learning mode, well, that’s what matters. Just because some fancy pants said “you are not good enough” counts for zilch. The willingness to learn is what separates you from the rest.
After all, a lot of CEOs started out without a degree and in the company’s mail-room or dockyard. Over time, they worked their way up the corporate ladder because they were willing and able to learn about the business.
Learning from scratch is how we started our career: nursery school.
Step by step, we learn the tricks of the trade. Interviewers should not be horrified by your lack of experience. That only means you have a lot to learn and most of the learning happens on the job anyway. Cheers.
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So true, Archan. We all start from zero and build our way up. It’s important to never lose that insight on our way to accomplishment!
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I love this post! So important to take chances even if they are scary. I’m doing that today (hopefully if Mail Chimp works ok) in combining my very public blog with my more private and local yoga teaching site. I’ve been nervous to do it for a year but it feels like time. So I’m jumping in!!!
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So exciting!!! How did it go with Mail Chimp? Can’t wait to see the two sites combined!
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