The Three Habits That Help Me Shine at Work

I’ve been working since I was 15, well, technically since I was 12 if you count babysitting. One of my favorite summers ever was spent as a mother’s helper, helping a family with their little one while learning what it meant to show up, stay dependable, and work hard.

Throughout high school and college, I juggled all kinds of jobs. I was a server at a retirement home where I learned patience and connection. I rang up customers at Scotty’s (pre-Home Depot—does anyone else remember those?), worked as an afterschool counselor at the YMCA, and ran a register at Publix. I even changed oil at a garage near my college campus, yes, really.

After graduating with a degree in Management Information Systems, I started my career in consulting and later took on a full-time role at the same company where I’d temped during school breaks. Eventually, I made a huge pivot and became a high school teacher when my oldest was just nine months old. I spent 15 years teaching before transitioning back to the corporate world in 2018, and since then, I’ve moved up three levels and am still growing.

Looking back on all of these roles, from cashier to consultant, teacher to senior manager, the one question I’ve often been asked is: what has helped you succeed in so many different spaces?

Here are the three habits I believe have made all the difference.

I Anticipate What’s Next

This habit has followed me everywhere. I’m always looking a step, or ten, ahead. It’s not about knowing the future, it’s about thinking beyond the moment you’re in.

Let me give you a few examples:

• If I know my boss is buried in a project and I need an approval, I don’t just send an email and wait. I block 15 minutes on his calendar so I can get a quick live approval and keep things moving. It respects his time and gets the job done.

• If I’m developing a new training and hear there might be changes to our firm’s strategy in a few months, I build flexibility into the project timeline. I don’t want us scrambling later.

• Every week, I scan my calendar. If I have meetings coming up that need decisions made, I prep early. I send out the agenda, share pros and cons in advance, and even check in with key people beforehand. Yes, it might take an extra hour, but it saves way more time down the line.

Anticipating impact and being proactive has always helped me lead with confidence, and it’s a habit that’s earned me a reputation for being reliable and prepared.

I Stay Positive (Even When It’s Hard)

I don’t know if it’s all those years working with kids or just my personality, but I try to bring a sense of lightness and optimism to everything I do. Work can be tough. Projects pivot, deadlines move, plans get scrapped. If I let every little change ruin my day, I’d be exhausted and miserable.

Instead, I’ve trained myself to adjust, breathe, and shift into Plan B without skipping a beat. When something falls through, I don’t dwell, I move.

And I bring that energy to my team too. I smile during meetings. I clap for others when they succeed. I plan fun virtual activities like holiday gift exchanges or monthly challenges. I try to make people laugh, yes, even during the serious stuff. At first, I think some people are surprised by how upbeat I am, but it always helps build stronger, more connected teams.

Being positive doesn’t mean I ignore problems. It just means I don’t let them take over. I advocate for myself. I speak up when needed. But I also know that shining a light on someone else doesn’t dim my own.

I Adapt (Quickly and Often)

No matter the role, every job comes with deadlines, shifts, and surprise curveballs. And I’ve learned that being adaptable isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

Growing up, my grandfather taught me that if you’re going to do something, do it the best you can. But “doing your best” doesn’t always mean getting it perfect the first time. I’ve had my share of missteps and setbacks, but I’ve never let them stop me. I’ve learned to pivot fast and adjust as I go.

If a deadline gets pushed because of something outside of my control, I immediately adjust the plan. If a team member gets reassigned mid-project, I figure out what I can take on and who else can help. I don’t waste energy complaining unless I already have a solution to suggest.

This mindset has served me over and over again, and it’s one of the reasons I continue to grow in my career.

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These habits, anticipating, staying positive, and adapting, didn’t happen overnight. They were shaped over 30+ years of work, across jobs in every kind of environment. Am I perfect at them every day? No. But I’d say I follow them 95% of the time, and they’ve never let me down.

What about you? What are the habits that help you stand out at work? Drop them in the comments, you might just inspire someone else.