01
Just start helping.
I have spent my career centered around the idea that you can learn so much by offering to help figure something out for someone. Most of the contracts I worked on - I had no idea what I was going into, and I was working with founders who had no idea how to solve the solution. The Difference? I had the time to figure out a solution for them, they didn't have the bandwidth. It is okay to ask for help, but it is also okay to come in and offer the help of "I don't know how to fix this, but let me find out for you" (It's also a great way to learn a lot of different skills very early in your career. It does however require a lot of 'volunteering' while you learn these pieces)
02
Don't seek money.
Don't let it be your guiding principle. By doing that you are forced to not support people you would have otherwise, you let yourself get a little corrupted. Follow what feeds your soul and the money will follow that. I've really been a big proponent of just offering help regardless of the resources someone has to compensate for it. I've done countless hours of free advising, support and just straight up work for companies. I honestly wouldn't trade a moment of it for some cushy high paying job. Because it meant that I got to learn so much about how to support founders that I get to turn around and tailor for the women in Athena Collective. I get to take all these pieces and build a product that works alongside you, and the money follows now but it was and is not the reason I do anything. It's just a bonus that feeds an already full heart.
03
Motivation is a Choice.
It is an active decision every moment of every day. Willing to tackle something you don't want to do is critical for success, but it's never going to just magically happen. You have to choose, and it's okay to say "I'm not choosing to tackle more than I believe I can handle", but know that at the end of the day it's a choice you made. There are many days that I choose to allocate my energy.
