In college, I folded endless arrays of panties at a certain lingerie chain and cleaned toilets at a hardware store. It was pretty monotonous, unrewarding work.

After graduation, I was hoping it would get better. I temped in various corporate settings. It was a whole new world, and due to a mix of fear and a lack of experience, I often found myself erring on the side of caution. I practically never, ever took initiative – I did what I was told.

I couldn’t quite find my footing. I felt unfulfilled, but I couldn’t articulate why. I felt frustrated – but that, too, was hard to pinpoint.

It was awful. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

By chance, I took a random, full-time job in marketing at an IT rental company.

My manager, Anthony, had a fierce demeanor, a booming voice, a kind heart – and an open door policy. One day, I timidly mentioned a brand new idea, and his response shocked me. It was genuine. And laced with pure enthusiasm. “Go! Do! Try!”

I was utterly taken aback. I had never heard that sort of reaction from a manager before. I’d finally found a boss who supported me – and it changed everything.

Apparently, it was okay to try new things and not follow the rule book. I wouldn’t even get fired for it! It was okay to reach out to strangers with sales pitches — the worst that could happen is they’d hang up on me or not reply. This led to an exploration of Twitter and LinkedIn as new platforms for sales – and to tablets and iPads joining our official product roster.

Most importantly, it led to job satisfaction. I learned I like to try new things — and need creativity and agility in order to thrive.

I went. I did. I tried. And while I didn’t always succeed, Anthony’s support opened my eyes to the possibilities of what can happen when fear and inhibition are abandoned. Years later, I left his employ, driven away from Manhattan by the excessive cost of living. But the lesson was learned.

In Raleighwood, I found a fresh beginning. Never again was I afraid to make a connection, pick up a phone, or get on stage. And that fearlessness has paid back its dividends ten times over.

This story was shared live, at Cisco’s Women of Impact Conference in 2014.