Ms. Gruhle, my high school English teacher, was an acquired taste among students. She didn’t suffer fools, and fools are abundant in the teenage set.
But she saw something in me. She was the first person to tell me that I was pretty good at writing.
That planted a seed that grows to this day. It’s formed the foundation for all of my work, as being a good writer means being curious, being able to connect dots, and learning empathy for your audience.
I owe Ms. Gruhle, and all of my supervisors and mentors (including my parents), a debt of gratitude.
Inspiration is Underrated
For communications professionals – and really any professionals in any industry – we can get so wrapped up in deadlines, strategies, and the constant push for innovation that we forget where our passion began.
We forget those early influences that made us who we are today. Yet remembering them is crucial.
It’s easy to dismiss these reflections as sentimental, but they serve a greater purpose. They keep us grounded and remind us of the values that first drove us: creativity, authenticity, and resilience.
Best of all, it reminds us to be an inspiration and a mentor to others. The more we can share what we’ve learned on our own journeys, the more we can help those coming up behind us to avoid the mistakes we’ve made.
So they can focus on facing the new challenges we never faced.
Who’s Your Inspiration?
I encourage you to take a moment and think about your own mentors, those who taught you more than just technical skills but gave you the confidence to grow.
Please share your stories in the comments. We’d all love to hear them.
And who knows? Your reflection might just become someone else’s inspiration.
If you’d like to learn more about what I do, set up a free, no-strings-attached discovery call.