“Desperate times require desperate measures.” I’ve quoted that repeatedly when asked how I started my career.

Luckily I wasn’t truly desperate, but my 17-year-old self certainly felt that way. I desperately wanted to explore the world, not stay trapped in small-town Iowa. And I didn’t have the time or the patience to go to college … yet. In my quest to escape conventional expectations for young women, I found myself in a military recruiting station, wide-eyed and excited about the great adventures promised. But even at 17, I knew recruiters were paid to make things sound good, so I urged my best friend to meet me at a local hang-out. “Talk me out of signing up!” I begged, confident she could serve as the voice of reason. That friend joined the Air Force a week later.

Having evaluated the various branches of service, I soon enlisted in the Army to be a journalist and go to Germany. I’d been editor of my high school paper so it seemed a reasonable career choice. And since I wanted to travel the world, why not start in Germany? I never anticipated that first four-year enlistment would turn into a career that spanned active duty Army, the National Guard, and a Navy Reserve Commission where I would complete 25 years of service and retire as a Navy Reserve Public Affairs Officer!

Those first months of military life still seem like yesterday. Fearfully boarding the bus to head for basic training; receiving my first ID card with an expiration date four years later — convinced that four years would never pass; doing so many push-ups the ground moved; and learning lessons I never could have guessed would so profoundly affect my outlook — and success — for years to come. Out of many lessons, four stand out; they have truly shaped my civilian career — and, specifically, my ability to be a great recruiter.