When I first started out, I was not exactly sure what I was going to do or how to even talk about it. Well-meaning business folks told me, “You need to get really specific. Pick one thing. You cannot do it all.”
I understood that advice, and I know it works for some. But it has never been my style. I am a lifelong learner. I crave challenge, variety, and growth. I get bored easily, and yet, in all the years I have been working for myself, I have not been bored once.
Over time, I have worn a lot of titles: researcher, systems analyst, strategist, community engagement lead, evaluator, outreach partner, grant writer, facilitator, and project manager. Some days it is one hat, other days it is all of them at once. Each role stretches me in a new way and teaches me something I did not know I needed to learn.
And because I grew up on Letterman’s Top 10 lists… here is mine:
1. Start by centering the people closest to the issue.
Real change happens when the voices of those most impacted are at the center. That does not mean leaving out CEOs, professionals, or other stakeholders. It means taking the time to hear everyone, and pairing lived wisdom with professional expertise to create solutions that last.
2. Every project is its own adventure.
On paper, projects may look the same. In practice, the people, stakeholders, and communities make them completely unique.
3. The best solutions are co-created, not revealed.
Some expect a big “reveal” at the end. That is not my style. Building solutions with people creates ownership and ensures they stick.
4. The more I know, the more I see how much I do not.
Experience grows, but so does humility. Each project opens new possibilities I had not considered.
5. Good work is hard work.
The projects that stretch me the most are often the ones that leave the biggest impact.
6. Deep listening beats quick answers.
It is tempting to jump to solutions, especially when people are looking for direction. But slowing down to listen creates space for people to name what matters most. Often, what they share reshapes the work entirely. Listening builds trust, while quick answers rarely last.
7. People sometimes forget they are the experts.
Systems often keep us focused on what is broken. It is easier, and safer, to name problems than to imagine solutions. When the conversation shifts toward change, people can get quiet or even defensive. And like it or not, there is often a pull toward the status quo. My role is to help interrogate that tension and remind people of the wisdom they already carry. When they reclaim that expertise, conversations open and solutions emerge that are creative, authentic, and grounded in lived experience.
8. Trust moves at the speed of relationships.
I do deep discovery through reading, interviewing, and listening closely. Still, it is often months later when someone shares the most critical insight. At first, I wondered why they did not tell me at the beginning. The truth is they did not know me yet, and I had not earned their trust. Relationships take time, and the best work happens when that trust is real.
9. Generosity matters.
If people give me their time, stories, or challenges, I give back — with resources, referrals, stipends, or tools. The best work is never one-sided.
10. Flexibility opens doors you do not plan for.
People told me to narrow my focus. Instead, staying open to variety has led to opportunities I never could have predicted.
Working for myself has been humbling, energizing, and rewarding, often all at once. I may never have the perfect one-line answer to “what do you do?” But I know this: the real challenge, and the gift, is that I never stop learning. Every project, every relationship, and every community reshapes me in some way. The work is not about certainty. It is about growing alongside the people I serve and creating something that lasts.