When I was in my mid-20’s I took a job as a Flight Attendant for American Airlines. I had already had opportunities to manage two model and talent agencies, but I was restless and wanting to explore the world so when a colleague in management with AA suggested I give it a shot, I said yes. I spent 10 years in that role.
Have you ever had a job you appreciated and yet you were a little embarrassed by it? While flying, I was also quietly building a communications consultancy. My clients were corporate executives, and I feared that admitting I served drinks at 35,000 feet would undermine my credibility. I wasn’t far off: most people thought flight attendants were essentially waitstaff in the air, unaware of our intense safety and evacuation training—or of the Association of Flight Attendants’ landmark civil-rights work in the 1950s and ’60s and their victories in the ’70s over unfair marriage and pregnancy policies, and ensuring equal pay for female flight attendants.
Lately I’ve realized how little I acknowledged those sky-high years. I learned so much, saw so many places, and that steady income gave me the freedom to grow my practice at my own pace. Have you ever downplayed a past job—only to realize, maybe after hearing friends confess stints as telemarketers, mascots, janitors, or cheerleaders—that those so called, “cringe-worthy” gigs taught you priceless lessons?
What did I learn from my years as a flight attendant?
- Respect for the personal power of customer service
- I experienced first-hand how my personal engagement could make or break someone’s experience.
- Gained empathy
- In any customer service job, you will get complaints and hear other’s frustrations, but I discovered the power of an empathetic ear and that sometimes, all someone needs is to be seen and heard.
- Capacity for multi-tasking
- I learned how to make good use of time beyond my work hours – with a lot of time spent in hotels and on the road – I studied, honed my speaking craft, read, and learned.
- Communicate more intentionally
- When you travel a lot, you lose valuable in-person time with friends and family, so I learned I needed to be more intentional with my communication (before smart phones!!) and making a deliberate effort to call and visit when in town.
- Expanded my world view
- It’s a cliché and a true one. Travel broadens you and when you discover other people’s culture, lives, and perspective, you’ll never be the same again…in a good way.
- Build a strong foundation first
- Rather than quitting everything to launch a business, I kept my airline job to cover expenses while steadily growing my consultancy.
Why reflect on that job you felt conflicted about? Regardless of how modest it may have been, every position influences your work ethic, values, and personal journey. I once kept my flight-attendant experience under wraps, but now I appreciate those years and the valuable lessons they imparted. Every job deserves respect and they are often a steppingstone to something better. As a friend used to say, if you’re going to clean toilets for a living, strive to be the best toilet cleaner possible. It’s not the job that counts, but how you perform in that role. Just last week, while working at a manufacturing site, I took a quick lunch break and was about to dispose of my leftovers. As I walked down the hall with my brown bag, a woman noticed me and offered, “Need to throw that away? That’s my job. I’ll take care of it. Everybody here knows me.” As she finished speaking, another person passing by chimed in, “Absolutely, everyone knows Janice. She’s the best!”
I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the countless experiences (and jobs!) I’ve encountered. Appreciate the journey you’ve taken. Embrace the highs and lows, the unexpected paths, the worst positions, and the best ones – they have all brought you to this point in your life.
