As kids, we’re natural builders. We pick up what’s around us - sticks, rocks, cardboard boxes - and we make something out of it. We don’t worry about having the perfect tools or the latest gadgets. We just start.
Growing up in rural Oklahoma, we didn’t have the newest gadgets to play with. Instead, long, hot summer days turned into creative projects:
🌳 Sticks, dirt, and leaves became cities on a hill.
🪵 Leftover lumber and torn bedsheets became treehouses.
💦 Old rolls of plastic and cinder blocks became makeshift water parks.
We built from what we had, not from what we wished for. That mindset has carried forward in my career.
I started at a new company and was tasked with establishing a marketing function from the ground up. From the outside, it looked like “nothing” existed - but that wasn't quite true.
The company had content. They had materials. They had people with ideas. They needed structure, leadership, and some energetic flair (something I had in abundance).
I started by asking questions, listening, and learning what people wanted to accomplish. From there, I could create the structure and the plan. Over time, that foundation led to rebranding the organization, launching new product, and building a marketing team that pursued excellence.
That same pattern repeated when I was asked to lead a business unit that hadn’t existed before. We had talented team members and a good product, but it wasn’t enough. We neede to bring those strengths together with structure and empower them with focus and momentum (two things I love building into a team). By leaning on what was already there (the people, the product, the potential) and layering on process, strategy, and structure, we grew the unit into something that delivered real impact.
Looking back, this has been a recurring theme across my career. Sometimes the work is about tweaking what already exists. Many times it’s about creating something new ... but rarely from nothing. More often, it’s repurposing what’s already in front of you and shaping it into a framework that fuels growth.
When you’re faced with the challenge of building something new, try starting here:
🔹 What past experiences required a similar thought process?
🔹 What personality traits can I lean into?
🔹 What expertise do those around me bring to the table?
🔹 Where can I find a small, quick win?
Sometimes, the foundation is already under your feet—you just have to stand on it. 👣
👉 What’s something you’ve built from scratch in your career?