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10 Lessons I Learned Hosting a Global Career Event for Professional Success

Jan 02, 2025
A graphic showcasing 10 unexpected lessons learned from hosting the 12 Days of Career Goals for professional success.

This event was supposed to help others—it transformed me instead.

What Hosting the 12 Days of Career Goals Taught Me About Vision, Action, Impact, and professional success.

When I first dreamed up the idea for 12 Days of Career Goals, I had no idea how much it would teach me—not just about organizing a large-scale event, but about leadership, collaboration, and the power of bold ideas. What started as a spark of inspiration turned into an incredible journey that brought together 21 expert speakers, hundreds of attendees, and countless aha moments that I’ll carry with me forever.
In this blog, I’m sharing the 10 biggest lessons I learned while hosting 12 Days of Career Goals. Whether you’re building your own vision, navigating your career, or looking for ways to create impact, I hope these lessons inspire and empower you to take the next step.

Lessons Beyond the Global Stage

This event wasn’t just about helping others—it was about growth, clarity, and transformation for myself, too. Along the way, I learned lessons that stretched far beyond the event itself—lessons that apply to careers, dreams, and the way we show up in the world.

From trusting my gut and taking action to embracing the power of gratitude, these insights shaped the success of the event and deepened my understanding of what it takes to create something truly meaningful.

How Do You Define Success Professionally?

Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept. For some, it’s climbing the corporate ladder. For others, it’s simply waking up excited about the work they do.

The truth is, professional success is personal—it’s about aligning your career with what matters most to you. Maybe it’s about impact, balance, or feeling valued. But if your day-to-day feels disconnected from your definition, it’s worth asking: What would success look like instead?

Hosting the 12 Days of Career Goals taught me that success isn’t just about hitting milestones. It’s about creating moments that matter—moments that inspire, empower, and bring clarity.

So, how do you define success? And what’s one small step you can take today to get closer to it?

10 Lessons I Learned About Professional Success From Hosting a Global Event

Hosting the 12 Days of Career Goals wasn’t just an event—it was a transformation. What began as a spark of inspiration became a crash course in leadership, action, and resilience.

I learned to trust my gut, embrace collaboration, and create impact by leading with purpose. This wasn’t just about logistics—it was about daring to dream big and follow through, even when the road felt uncertain.

These lessons didn’t just shape the event’s success—they reshaped my understanding of what professional success really means.

Here are the 10 insights I uncovered along the way. May they inspire you to take bold action and create something extraordinary in your own journey.

1. Don't Overthink, Just Do It—Trust Your Gut and Take Action.

Here’s the thing: overthinking is a dream killer. It’s a paralyzing spiral where brilliant ideas go to die. If I’d let myself get bogged down by “what ifs” or endless debates about the pros and cons, 12 Days of Career Goals would still be a sticky note on my desk instead of a game-changing event.

When inspiration strikes and your gut says, “YES, this is it!”—you act. You don’t waste time wondering if it’s the “right” idea or if it makes sense for your schedule. Those questions? They’re distractions. I knew in my bones that 12 Days of Career Goals needed to exist, so instead of second-guessing or waiting for the “perfect” moment, I asked myself one simple question: how do I make it happen?

Sure, was it smart to pour six weeks into planning and executing this event? Maybe, maybe not. But here’s the truth: logic alone doesn’t create magic. Your gut knows what your head won’t always admit. And when you trust that instinct, you can move mountains.

Most People Spend Too Much Time in Analysis Paralysis.

They think, rethink, and then think some more—and before they know it, that initial spark of excitement fizzles out. You know what moves the needle? Taking action. Messy, imperfect, unpolished action.

Because here’s the secret: there’s no such thing as a perfect start. The only thing that matters is starting. The moment you go from thinking to doing, you’ve already won.

So stop questioning yourself. Trust your gut, lean in, and take action at the highest level you can muster. You’ll figure out the rest along the way.

2. The Sum of The Parts is Greater Than The Whole—Collaboration Creates Exponential Impact for Professional Success

There’s a magic that happens when the right people come together. It’s not just addition—it’s multiplication. One plus one doesn’t equal two. In the case of 12 Days of Career Goals, one plus one equaled something closer to a million.

Why? Because none of us can be an expert in everything. And guess what? That’s okay. The true power lies in recognizing where your strengths end and being brave enough to lean on others for theirs. I wasn’t the expert in all 21 topics we covered during the event, and I didn’t need to be. I surrounded myself with people who brought their own unique wisdom, and that collaboration is what made this event extraordinary.

Every single expert added a layer of insight I could never have created on my own. Their perspectives, their stories, and yes, even the times they challenged my views, elevated this event to something I couldn’t have imagined. If I had tried to go it alone, sure, I could’ve shared 12 solid sessions on topics I know well—but it wouldn’t have made the same impact.

Collaboration Isn’t Just About Sharing The Workload. It’s About Amplifyng The Result.

Some speakers resonated deeply with one group of people, while others connected with a completely different audience. That’s the beauty of diverse voices. Together, we reached and transformed lives in ways none of us could have done individually.

The lesson here? Surround yourself with the right people—those who challenge, complement, and elevate you. The result won’t just be bigger; it’ll be better than anything you could have built on your own.

3. Own Your Value and The Unique Impact of Your Work.

For so long, I downplayed the value of what I do. I’d let my work speak for itself, hiding behind the scenes and shying away from the spotlight. Advocating for myself? Showcasing my results? Forget about it. But that mindset wasn’t serving me—or anyone else.

It all started to shift when I attended Diana’s Mastermind in Cancun earlier this year. Surrounded by a group of brilliant, driven people who saw my value before I could see it myself, I was encouraged—no, pushed—to finally own the brilliance of my work. That nudge gave me the clarity to step into my identity as a career clarity expert, and from there, everything changed.

This realization didn’t come with fireworks. It came through moments of proof. During 12 Days of Career Goals, I invited three brave volunteers to join me for a live coaching demonstration. In one hour, all three had massive career clarity breakthroughs—on camera, in real-time. Watching that unfold was like a lightning bolt: This is what I do. This is what I’m brilliant at.

There's No One Else in The World Who Delivers Career Clarity the Way I Do.

Career clarity can sound vague or abstract, but those demonstrations captured it perfectly. It’s not just talk—it’s tangible, transformational change that happens quickly and consistently. And here’s the truth I had to embrace: there’s no one else in the world who delivers career clarity the way I do.

This was a breakthrough for me. Owning my value didn’t just mean recognizing my gifts; it meant speaking about them confidently. It meant showcasing my impact so others could see the results. It meant no longer waiting for permission to claim the space I’ve earned.

And here’s what I learned: owning your value isn’t about arrogance—it’s about truth. When you fully step into the power of what you do, you open the door to your next level.
So, if you’ve been holding back, waiting for someone to validate your brilliance, stop. Don’t shrink. Don’t hide. Your work is unique. Your impact is unmatched. Own it—and watch what happens next.

4. Be Led by a Larger Mission to Create Lasting Change.

The driving force behind 12 Days of Career Goals wasn’t just about hosting a successful event. It was about something far bigger: challenging the broken status quo of how we work. Because here’s the harsh truth—too many people are wasting their lives in jobs that drain them, bore them, or leave them feeling hollow.

Forty-plus hours a week in a job that sucks? That’s not just an individual tragedy. It’s a lose-lose for everyone. The employee is unhappy, unfulfilled, and not living up to their potential. And the employer? They’re not getting the best from their people, either. It’s a system that’s broken, and yet we’ve been conditioned to accept it as “just how life is.”

But it’s not okay.

Why Loving Your Work Matters for Professional Success

Our time on this planet is far too short and precious to spend it doing work that doesn’t light us up. Yes, I understand that financial realities and life circumstances can make this feel impossible at times. But the truth is, we have to stop treating unfulfilling work as the norm. The ripple effects of this unhappiness seep into every aspect of our lives. It affects our relationships, our communities, and our collective well-being. And that’s why I do what I do.

I’m just one person. I can’t fix the world’s biggest social, political, or environmental issues on my own. But here’s what I can do: help people find work that makes them come alive. Because when people feel joy, purpose, and fulfillment in their work, it changes everything.

I believe the world would be a fundamentally better place if fewer people spent their days in misery or mediocrity. Imagine a world where more people woke up excited to contribute, to innovate, to give their best. That’s the vision driving me forward, not just for this event but for everything I do.

This mission is bigger than me. Bigger than any single event or program. It’s about shifting the narrative that it’s acceptable to spend most of your waking hours doing something that doesn’t make you happy. It’s about empowering people to refuse to settle for “good enough” and helping them find the tools and courage to discover work that fulfills them.

Because when people find joy and meaning in their careers, the ripple effects are extraordinary. And that’s how we begin to change the world.

5. Career Clarity Is The Foundation Of All Success.

Before launching 12 Days of Career Goals, I had a crystal-clear vision of what I wanted to achieve: an event that wasn’t just another webinar series but a transformational experience. My goal was to deliver actionable, life-changing tools attendees could immediately use to make real progress in their careers. That clarity shaped everything.

Once I knew what I wanted, I could map out the steps to make it happen. From securing top-tier speakers to designing a Slack community for attendees to connect, every single action was intentional and rooted in that vision. Even last-minute ideas, like creating a guidebook for attendees to capture takeaways and action steps, were driven by my commitment to realizing this vision.

And here’s what I learned:

When You Have Clarity, You Can Take Bold, Purposeful Action.

The same is true in your career and achieving professional success. Without clarity, you’re wandering aimlessly, hoping to stumble upon success. But when you get clear on what you want—your dream role, your ideal work environment, the impact you want to make—you can work backward, identifying the specific steps to get there.

Clarity isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the foundation. It’s what allows you to focus your energy, prioritize your efforts, and confidently move forward. When you have career clarity, everything else falls into place.

6. Make Bold Asks And Don't Let Fear Stop You.

One of the most surreal moments of 12 Days of Career Goals was securing Jonathan Fields as a speaker. He’s someone I deeply admire—the creator of the Sparketype® assessment that changed my life and the lives of so many of my clients. To me, he’s a true thought leader, and I never in a billion years thought he’d agree to be part of this event.

But then someone said, “Why don’t you just ask?”

And so, with shaky hands and a hopeful heart, I did. I shared my vision for the event, why it mattered so deeply to me, and how I believed his perspective could inspire attendees. And guess what? He said yes.

This moment wasn’t just a pinch-me highlight of the event—it was a powerful lesson: the opportunities you think are impossible might not be if you simply ask.

The same applied to other incredible speakers and supporters who shared the event with their networks. People want to help. They want to be part of something meaningful. But you have to let them in by making that bold ask and sharing your vision.

Fear Will Always Try To Stop You

What if they say no? What if I’m not important enough to get their time? Here’s the truth: So what if they say no? A no doesn’t cost you anything, but a yes? A yes can change everything.
Whether it’s landing your dream speaker, asking for a promotion, or pitching a big idea, bold moves create bold opportunities. Take the leap. Make the ask. You might be surprised by the doors that open.

7. Make Your Vision Big And Bold To Generate Buy-In.

This event was never about playing small. From the very beginning, I set an audacious goal: to impact 25,000 people. Did we hit that number? Not even close. But that wasn’t the point. The point was to dream big enough to ignite excitement—in myself, in the speakers, and in the attendees.

A small vision wouldn’t have done that. If I’d said, “I’m hosting a simple three-day event with a handful of speakers,” people might have nodded politely, but they wouldn’t have been inspired to join, contribute, or share. A small vision doesn’t move people. A big vision? It sparks curiosity, enthusiasm, and buy-in.

And that’s exactly what happened. People believed in the vision because it was bold. They saw the potential for impact and wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Here’s the lesson: when you create a big, bold vision, even if you fall short of the goal, you’ll achieve more than you ever would by playing it safe.

This applies to your career, too. Don’t hold back with small, “safe” goals. Be bold in what you want to achieve. Share that vision confidently. You’ll attract the right people, resources, and momentum to bring it to life.

Big dreams inspire big action. Dream boldly—and watch what happens.

8. Lead the Way With Your Vision And Inspire Others To Follow.

When it comes to your vision, you have to go first. No one is going to champion it for you—at least not until you show them how it’s done. That’s exactly what I had to do with 12 Days of Career Goals.

As the event’s host, I couldn’t sit back and hope others would spread the word. I had to be bold. I had to flood LinkedIn and other platforms with excitement, posting everywhere I could, sharing the vision loud and proud. It was nerve-wracking, putting myself out there so visibly without any guarantee that it would work. But here’s the thing: if you’re not willing to lead the way, how can you expect anyone else to follow?

The Ripple Effect

And lead I did. Every day, I poured my energy into promoting the event, even when doubts crept in. The result? My bold actions created a ripple effect. People started talking about the event, sharing posts, and tagging their networks. Momentum built. One speaker even DM’d me to say her entire LinkedIn feed was filled with 12 Days of Career Goals. That’s when I knew we’d done something special.

This happened because I went first. I didn’t wait for permission or validation—I took action and created the buzz I wanted to see.

The same principle applies in your career. If you have a bold idea or a vision, don’t wait for someone else to validate it. Lead with confidence, promote your ideas boldly, and take the first steps yourself.

That energy is contagious. When you lead the way, others will rally around you—and that’s how big things happen.

9. Perfection Pays Off When You Hold Yourself To High Standards.

Let’s be real: perfectionism often gets a bad rap. And, sure, it can sometimes be more of a hurdle than a help. But when it came to 12 Days of Career Goals, my perfectionist tendencies became my superpower.

Every single detail of the event—every website page, every guidebook, every session—was meticulously planned and executed. The community platform? Flawless. The conversations? Elevated. Nothing was left to chance. That level of precision created an incredible experience, not just for the attendees but also for the speakers and team.

Here’s what I learned: when you hold yourself to high standards, it inspires everyone around you to rise to that same level.

My team knew the vision I had and the quality I expected. My virtual assistant handled behind-the-scenes logistics with perfection. I brought on two additional VAs for video editing and was crystal clear about the excellence I wanted in their work. And guess what? They delivered. The speakers saw the level we were operating at and showed up with their absolute A-game. By setting the bar high, everyone followed suit—and that made all the difference.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Striving for perfection requires effort. I worked seven days a week, 12-hour days, for six weeks to make this event the success it was. But here’s the thing: if I hadn’t put in that level of effort, the event might still have been good—but it wouldn’t have been great.

In your career, excellence works the same way. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about holding yourself to a standard that elevates your work and inspires others to meet you there. That’s how you create something extraordinary.

Gratitude Deepens Relationships And Builds Loyalty.

Gratitude is powerful. It’s the thread that weaves connections tighter, builds trust, and inspires loyalty. And for 12 Days of Career Goals, showing gratitude wasn’t just a nice-to-have—it was a must.

After the event, I made it a priority to personally thank everyone who played a role in its success. I sent personalized video messages to every speaker, letting them know how much their contributions meant to me. I reached out to my virtual assistant, social media specialist, business coach, and even my clients who helped spread the word. Every single person who touched this event in any way heard how deeply I appreciated their efforts.

Feel Seen, Valued, And Recognized.

Why? Because I wanted them to feel seen, valued, and recognized. Whether it was a speaker dedicating their time and expertise, attendees showing up day after day to learn and take action, or someone sending a kind message about how the event impacted them—they mattered.

Gratitude has this amazing ripple effect. By expressing it, I strengthened relationships and planted the seeds for future collaboration. When people feel valued, they’re more likely to show up again, to support the vision, and to want to be part of something bigger.

This isn’t just true for events—it’s true for life and career. When you take the time to thank people and let them know they matter, you’re not just building goodwill—you’re building relationships that last.

To everyone who contributed to the event in any way: you made this possible, and for that, I am forever grateful.

About The Author - Theresa White

Theresa White, Career Clarity Expert, 5x Certified Career Coach, and the Founder of Career Bloom, is known for her expertise in guiding people to get unstuck and find the direction they need to move forward in their careers—fast. In a time when so many people are re-evaluating their work, Theresa offers actionable insights that empower clients to identify their true strengths and pursue work that genuinely aligns with their goals.

Theresa’s clients often call her sessions “epiphanies” and “transformational.” She brings immediate clarity to career goals, helping people unlock a deep understanding of what makes work fulfilling for them. Past participants consistently describe her approach as “spot on” and an “answer to questions they’d been asking for weeks.”

Theresa’s approach is empathetic yet practical, and she’s known for empowering clients with a clear direction in as little as 30 days, guaranteeing results.

Connect with Theresa on LinkedIn, listen to the Career Clarity Unlocked Podcast, or schedule your free 30-minute career clarity consultation.

Book your free 30-minute career clarity consultation now and start turning your career dreams into reality

FAQs About How to Achieve Professional Success

How do you measure professional success?

Professional success is deeply personal, and there’s no universal formula for defining it. While traditional markers like job title and income are often used as benchmarks, true success lies in aligning your career with what you genuinely value. It’s about reflecting on whether your work brings you fulfillment, meaning, and the opportunity to make the impact you desire. Are you growing, learning, and achieving balance in a way that enhances your overall happiness and quality of life?

Success isn't just about climbing the corporate ladder; it’s about ensuring that every step resonates with your unique aspirations and priorities. By broadening your perspective beyond titles and paychecks, you can create a definition of success that truly feels right for you.

What is the definition of success in the workplace?

Success in the workplace is about more than just results; it’s about finding purpose, growth, and balance in your professional life. At its core, workplace success means meeting or exceeding expectations—delivering results that matter, whether it’s completing projects, hitting targets, or solving tough challenges.

But beyond productivity, it’s also about evolving professionally: Are you growing your skill set, tackling new challenges, and becoming a better version of yourself? Success is making a positive impact, feeling valued by others, and contributing to something greater than yourself. It’s about aligning your work with your personal values and finding fulfillment in what you do, all while maintaining a healthy balance with your personal life.

True workplace success empowers you, inspires you, and leaves you—and those around you—better off than before.

How can I stay motivated to reach my professional goals?

Staying motivated to reach your professional goals is less about obsessing over the destination and more about finding joy in the journey. It starts with having a clear vision of what you want your career and life to look like—clarity is the foundation of motivation. With that vision in mind, break it into smaller, manageable milestones and celebrate every win, no matter how small. Progress is powerful, and reflecting on how far you’ve come can be more energizing than worrying about how far you still have to go.

Surround yourself with a strong support system of friends, family, mentors, or a community who encourage and uplift you through both challenges and triumphs. Finally, create a schedule that allows for rest and self-care, ensuring you stay energized and avoid burnout. Motivation thrives when you find balance, celebrate growth, and embrace the journey every step of the way.

Bold Steps, Big Impact

The journey of hosting The 12 Days of Career Goals was so much more than just organizing an event. It was a deep dive into the power of vision, collaboration, and leading with purpose. From trusting my gut and making bold asks to holding myself to high standards and expressing gratitude, every step taught me something invaluable—not only about hosting a successful event but about creating meaningful impact.

If there’s one overarching takeaway, it’s this: when you commit to something bigger than yourself, lead with courage, and bring others along for the journey, incredible things happen.

Whether you’re working toward a personal goal or striving to make a difference in the world, let these lessons guide you. Dream big, act boldly, and never underestimate the power of a clear vision and a grateful heart. That’s how change happens—one bold step at a time.

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