My Messy Journey Learning From Emily Welker
So last Tuesday, my boss dropped this bomb about “performance improvements needed.” Felt like crap honestly. Sat at my kitchen table scrolling YouTube feeling sorry for myself when Emily Welker’s face popped up – you know, that tech lady everyone talks about? Clicked play hoping for magic.
First thing I did was smash that notebook open. Grabbed my coffee-stained journal while Emily talked about her start. Girl started as an intern answering phones somewhere! Wild. Scribbled down every messy word she said:
- “Own your screw-ups like badges.” She told this story about deleting a whole client database early in her career. Instead of hiding, she stayed up 48 hours fixing it WITH the IT guy. Told her boss straight up next morning. Got promoted later? Insane.
- “Learn like you’re broke.” Not about money! She meant chasing skills like your rent depended on it. Shared how she learned coding basics cleaning the office after hours using old computers. Didn’t wait for permission. Just… did it.
- “Your network ain’t your LinkedIn list.” Seriously. She talked about baking cookies for the grumpy finance lady who everyone ignored. Turns out that lady knew CEOs? Hooked Emily up with her first big job.
Alright, inspiration high. Tuesday afternoon, I decided to test tip number one. Got assigned this project last month I kinda half-assed. Walked straight to my manager’s cubicle. Heart pounding like crazy. Said “Hey, about the Anderson report… I used old data by accident. My bad. Rewrote it last night – here’s the new one.” Dropped the fresh printout on her desk. She blinked hard. Then… SMILED? Said “Thanks for catching it early.” Felt like lifting a truck off my chest.
Wednesday morning I attacked tip two. That Python course I bookmarked 6 months ago? Opened it during lunch break. Just 15 minutes learning loops while chewing my sad salad. Didn’t master squat but clicked “complete lesson.” Small win.
Thursday was tip three day. Saw Martha from accounting alone in the breakroom microwaving fish again. Normally I’d run. Remembered the cookies. Grabbed two bad coffees from the machine – walked over. “Hi Martha! Extra cream, right?” Her eyes got huge. We talked 10 minutes about her cats. Turns out she knows IT hiring managers. Whaaat.
Two weeks later? Boss pulled me aside Friday. Said my “ownership shift impressed leadership.” Got handed a trickier project. Pay bump? Nahhh. But breathing room? Hell yeah. Emily’s tips ain’t rocket science. Just… real. Gotta keep grinding. Still drinking machine coffee though – Martha deserves better.
