Portia Mount’s career journey is hardly a straight line. What she has learned now is that it all makes sense. Each of her career moves is related to each other, grounded in her ability to be flexible, embracing new experiences and letting opportunities find her. The result: A very rich life that includes life as a senior corporate executive, author, speaker, and Mom.
“People think you have to pick one career and stick to it,” says Mount, Vice President of Marketing for Trane Technologies, a global climate technology company, “but what I’ve learned it’s not someone targeting a job, but a series of experiences. In my case, not just a series of experiences, but with each experience I was learning more … and working with people who I was learning from.”
Too often we think about our careers having to have a linear path, when instead of holding onto your plan too tightly, hold onto it lightly, leaving room for serendipity and new opportunities, Mount says.
What Mount credits part of success is her commitment to building relationships. She takes time to write handwritten notes and cards to recognize people’s birthdays or anniversaries. She also spends an hour a week on LinkedIn, commenting on posts, sharing articles, and sending notes to people she hasn’t talked to. “I love putting out positive energy,” Mount adds.
One of the defining moments of her career was when she found herself confronting The Impostor’s Syndrome. Working in Shanghai as part one of two Americans, she found herself questioning her abilities. It took her a while to overcome her fears. What she learned is that you must admit that you need help and that you have to ask for help, particularly when you’re early in your career.” Give yourself some grace,” she says.
Another secret to her success is getting a good night’s sleep. She believes to perform more effectively; everyone should get 7 to 10 hours a night. Her daily routine includes winding her kids down, reading stories to them then following a similar routine for herself. Those nights she wakes up in the middle of the night, she’ll listen to the sound of waves or quickly jot down her thoughts in a journal to clear her mind. Mount adds, “We all need more sleep, more rest.”