Great read, seriously. Made me think of my own career path. I’m from the States, and I graduated right after the 2008 recession and couldn't find a job in my field, so I ended up as a cashier at a grocery chain called HEB. First in my immigrant family to get a degree, and there I was doing the exact kind of work my parents pushed me toward college to avoid, my dad was a welder, hands-on work was supposed to be the thing the degree got me out of. Funny how that job ended up being the door in, though. Got into HEB's retail leadership program through it, and ended up co-managing my own stores. There were days I was hyperventilating in my car before a shift, that's how demanding it got. But looking back at the scar tissue from those years, I wouldn't trade a single bit of it away. Honestly, I don't think I'd be the leader I am today without it. Feels like that's the real thread under your whole essay, the leaders who end up solid are usually the ones who had to build their own scaffolding before anyone built it for them. A big lesson for all leaders and aspiring leaders. Can't wait to read more, Elli. Subscribed!

Quy