Missing Ingredients for Business Success: My experience

Reflecting on my life, I’ve realized that one of the biggest challenges I faced in trying to build a successful career before my forties was a lack of self-confidence. Of course, that’s not the only thing that holds people back—many factors influence when and how we begin our careers.

Some of these factors are beyond our control, but what truly matters is recognizing the right moment to build a career that feels meaningful.

Some people find their path in their twenties, others in their thirties, and some—like me—in their forties. The truth is, you can create a fulfilling career at any age: in your twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, or beyond. 😊

Realizing this inspires me to help others overcome their struggles and chase their dreams, no matter their age.

Even though we all have the same 24 hours in a day, our lives look very different. Why is it that some people manage to achieve so much more than others? I often wonder what their secret to success might be. There’s no simple answer, since so many factors can influence a career.

My experience

I’m hardworking, persistent, eager to learn new things, enthusiastic, full of ideas, and creative. But I’m also in my forties, and career success has always seemed just out of reach.

When I say “lack of success,” I mean career success.

In my personal life, especially with my family, I feel fulfilled. But maybe it isn’t possible to have both equally. If we all have the same 24 hours, we must choose priorities. For me, family has always come first. That might be part of the answer: different people set different priorities, which shapes their success.

Does success simply depend on what you choose to focus on?

I’m not entirely sure.

Back when I was fully focused on my journalism career—before I had a family—something still felt missing.

But what exactly?

Maybe better social skills. Maybe luck. I’ll come back to that 🤓, but first, a few words about my professional journey 🤣.

My Professional Journey

My career path has been quite diverse. During my studies, I worked different jobs—at a bakery, a currency exchange, a café, and even briefly as a traveling salesman. Of course, these were just student jobs, not long-term career options.

The first job that truly aligned with my interests was working as a real estate agent. I’m not sure why it didn’t work out—maybe I lacked experience, or maybe it just wasn’t the right time. I was young, and my studies took priority.

So the missing ingredient could be - it wasn't the right time for that job.

After completing my degree in political science, I moved into journalism, where I stayed for quite a while. I believed my studies had prepared me for a fulfilling career in the field.

But here’s the truth: you can’t become a “journalism star” without strong social skills.

Let's elaborate on this missing ingredient: lack of social skills.🤓

The Missing Ingredient: Social Skills

I do have some social skills. I’m a good listener and a loyal friend, but I’ve never really been into the whole “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” kind of friendship.

You remember Aristotle, right? He spoke about three types of friendship.

So why bring up Aristotle’s classification of friendship when talking about relationships with colleagues?

In my opinion, journalism is a profession where having the right social skills is essential.

The first type is the friendship of utility. These friendships are based on what someone can do for you—or what you can do for them. This kind of friendship has never been my cup of tea. And maybe that’s part of the answer: one social skill I never learned.

I was always afraid that if someone did me a favor, they’d expect one in return, and I wouldn’t be able to reciprocate.

The second type is the friendship of pleasure, built on enjoying a shared activity. For example, it could be someone you go out for drinks with or share a hobby with. While this kind of friendship is enjoyable and relaxing, I’ve never really found it in my life, even though I wanted to. Why? Maybe because I’ve never been good at small talk. I could manage some chitchat, but I always felt a bit insecure, worried I’d say something silly.

Two magic ingredients were missing: stronger social skills and self-confidence.

And then there’s the third kind of friendship—the one I really value—the friendship of virtue: people you like simply for who they are. In my work as a journalist, I was lucky enough to find such a friend—my godmother. 😊

Do you need social skills for all three types of friendship in order to handle relationships in the journalism profession? Maybe...

Without self-confidence and strong social skills, there can be no career growth. And without career growth, there’s no financial stability.

The financial strain played a significant role in my decision to explore other career options.

Still, no matter what, I loved journalism and looked forward to every article I wrote.

Changing Directions

I began another challenging journey through various professions. I worked as a secretary and later as a salesperson in a bookstore. But those jobs all had one thing in common: low salaries. As a result, I needed to find a better-paying position.

To achieve this, I completed a brokerage course, since brokers at the time earned high salaries. I eventually secured a job as a broker and worked happily until most brokerage firms in my country went out of business. Unfortunately, the firm I worked for also closed its doors. This upheaval came during the collapse of the entire banking sector in 2009.

Lucky me. 😞

Another missing ingredient for business success is certainly luck!

After that, I returned to working as a secretary.

Although I haven’t had a “successful” career in the traditional sense, my journey through various professions has given me a diverse skill set and a wealth of experience.

In my ongoing search for a better-paying job, I also completed several courses at different stages of my professional path:

• A basic Spanish language course

• Mediation training

• Specialized mediation training for labor disputes

Even though I never applied this knowledge directly at work, it doesn’t matter.

This professional and life odyssey has ultimately brought me something valuable: experience.

With experience, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, adaptability, analytical skills, persistence, creativity, and curiosity, I can at least try to focus on what depends on me. I am ready to take control of my career and minimize “luck” or external factors as much as possible. 😊

Blogging could be that job. I don’t need to shift my main focus from family to career, and I don’t need quick success. I’ve been preparing my blog for years, and I enjoy working on it at a slow pace.

What about you—what’s your experience?