Lessons Learned…

Waitressing - Ok, for those of us who have worked in restaurants (myself included), waiting tables  often seems like a thankless job — on a good day.  But, looking back, Dani swears that the skills she learned from waitressing continue to benefit her career today.  For starters, she says that dealing with the public as much as she had to as a waitress was helpful not just for developing material, but also for learning how to deal with large groups of strangers at one time.  You have to always think on your feet (literally) and mutli-task like nobody’s business.  Although Dani couldn’t have predicted it then, it has also turned out that most of her ‘Afterbirth’ shows today take place in restaurants or clubs.  Her waitressing experience allowed her to become completely comfortable in these environments – she could basically hostess, waitress and perform all in one night if she had to!

Administrative Assistant – Her tenure as an administrative assistant probably seemed anything but creative – at the time.  But as any of us who have held assistant positions know, you learn a ton about hustle, dealing with people and how a business works when you are the boss’ right hand lady.  In this case, Dani’s may have been ‘just’ an assistant, but it was to a theater director in NYC.   Lesson number one – even if it is an entry level job, it can only help to work – in any capacity – in a field you are actually interested in! She paid attention and learned first hand how a concept develops from the idea stage, into production – and straight on through to opening night.  She uses that experience EVERYDAY as a performer & producer!

Paralegal – How did Dani’s paralegal training at a big NYC law firm pay off – without having to go to law school?   When Dani was awaiting publication of the ‘Afterbirth’ book, she and her husband finally decided to take their first vacation- in basically forever.  Ecstatic to be in Hawaii, and just beginning to relax and celebrate the upcoming publication, Dani’s phone rang. There was a MAJOR glitch when the publisher received the manuscript! The pages were somehow still filled with all sorts of proofreading symbols - it was looking like Dani’s luau was about to be interrupted to go back home and sort out the squiggles – after all, it was crucial that the content of the book was correct!   What to do?

Luckily (and before booking a new airplane ticket), Dani realized that thanks to her paralegal skills, SHE could actually translate the confounding proofreading symbols – and even do it over the phone just by hearing the sybols described to her. Why?  Because of the proofreading skills she had honed working the graveyard shift as a paralegal at a corporate law firm –  thank you, Skadden Arps!

Listening to Dani’s stories reminded me of my first post-college job in NYC.  I was working as a receptionist for a music video director – who was a bit intimidating, to say the least.  I remember sitting there at the reception desk while various music industry execs barked their orders at me, and I wondered how exactly my Political Science degree played into all of this?  Like Dani, I was preoccupied with paying the bills and did the best job I could.  And, with no financial cushion, I was absolutely petrified of being fired.

A few years later, when I began working in the financial world as an institutional stockbroker,  I spent large portions of my day on the phone being barked at by clients – MORE intimidating men.  Yay.  On the bright side, I do remember thinking: how crazy that my long-ago receptionista gig actually taught me how to deal with difficult personalities and big egos – the crucial edge I needed be successful in my finance career!

Pursuing your passion takes more than talent – it takes guts, stamina and the right attitude!  So, as you embark down your own career path, don’t fret that your Psychology degree only landed you a job that relies far more on coffee making skills than anything you learned in school…  Stay focused on your goal, learn as much as you can in the moment and do everything with a smile.  What you think is beneath you just may be the foundation you need for what’s to come!

**Dani Klein Modisett is the creator/producer/director of the live show “Afterbirth…stories you won’t read in a parenting magazine”. She also is the editor of the ‘Afterbirth’ book, published by St. Martin’s Press.  She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.  For more information on her upcoming shows, including one at MBAR in Los Angeles THIS SATURDAY June 26, please check out www.afterbirthstories.com!

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