We recently connected with William Mieling and have shared our conversation below.
William, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience has come from my parents. They arrived in the USA as expats, working for a European company, and ended up following other opportunities in this country. They both worked tirelessly to ensure that the life I had was rooted with authenticity, consistency and growth.
As an entrepreneur, my father built a company from ground up, defying all expectations and is now sitting as the leading manufacturer in its industry. When I was 11 years old, as a family, we moved from Massachusetts all the way to California to make his dream come true. His entrepreneurial story is what we define as the American Dream.
Just like my father, my mother has found success in her own retrospective. She has made a name for herself in Sonoma Valley in the non-profit space, providing leadership as a board member for multiple organizations. She has continuously exceeded expectations when raising awareness and organizing events.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2018 with a bachelor of science degree in Economics. After graduating, I spent almost four years in the entertainment industry where I found success managing and leading a variety of campaigns in the streaming space. During my time at Paramount, I was part of the M&A between CBS and Viacom as well as spearheading new initiatives during the global rebranding of Paramount+. I worked across some of the biggest originals in streaming history as well as a variety of sports leagues including, NFL, MLS and Europa/Champions League.
In 2022, I was approached by a close friend of mine to take on the position as a co board member for a non-profit he had started. While this opportunity & industry were new to me, I accepted the invitation with an open mind and willingness to expand its efforts. This past July, I helped organize and facilitate our first ever annual Fundraiser Gala in Los Angeles. With its proven success, it has set a foundation for The Smile Foundation while raising awareness on an annual basis.
When asked about what excites me, the answer is never clear for me. I have found pockets of excitement with any opportunity I have taken on, but the perspective has always remained the same. Excitement for me, is being able to work with people (internally & externally) while engaging in a manner that exploits collaboration and a sense of community.
With the Smile Foundation, I had found that excitement that I was longing for, by bringing friends, colleagues, vendors and family together for an unforgettable night.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
When I look back in my journey, there were three qualities that I have found to be the most impactful.
1) Be open-minded. This can be applied to any opportunity small or large. It can allow you to separate yourself from your peers as you embrace challenges and navigate new environments. I have found that by continuously being open-minded, you allow yourself to absorb knowledge from areas outside of your comfort zone. Growth comes from allowing yourself in a situation that has no comfortable escape.
2) Be your authentic self. This may seem like a repetitive response, but most people embrace the idea but rarely practice it. I have learned that regardless of status, pay, or reputation, I would never want to put myself in an environment where I can’t be my true self. Primarily, never settle for a job or opportunity where you’re only able to be a portion of you. Be patient and the time will come where you’ll find mutual success by being 100% you.
3) Be patient. Be patient when you’re onboarding. Be patient when you’re navigating a new challenge. Be patient when you’re switching careers. Be patient when you’re looking for a new job. Be patient when you you’re feeling low. I have learned that life moves too quickly when you’re in a rush. You start to anticipate the future to a point where you’re forgetting about the present. Core growth comes from allowing yourself to be present and practicing it on a daily basis.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
In April, I was unfortunately part of the nation wide layoffs which effected the trajectory of my career. In the beginning, I was angry and lost, trying to find closure for something that was meant to be. For six months, I have been unemployed and for six months I have been constantly questioning my strengths and casting doubt over my success.
It took me some time to realize that the last six months have been a blessing in disguise. I have indirectly grown in ways that will position myself for success for the rest of my life. I have re-defined what growth means to me and how it can be applied in my next opportunity.
For the longest time I was afraid of the future because I believed there was none for me. I’ve learned that real growth is not a result of what we are used to, but rather the complete contrary. Real growth happens when you least expect it to and when you might feel the most lost. Because there is disguised beauty when you are navigating the toughest parts of your life.
Growth is not defined by anyone but yourself. By allowing yourself to grow, you’ll find new connections to the world that you would have never allowed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @wmieling
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-mieling-863516b4/
