Three Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20’s: Mary Page Platerink

Mary Page grew up in a small town in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, where opportunities were few.

She had to figure out how to create the life she wanted. After receiving her MBA from Cambridge University in England, she worked in the corporate world at companies, such as, Fujitsu (in London, England) and The Coca-Cola Company (in Atlanta, GA). But at one point, she realized it was time to start her dream company.

Having moved to San Francisco in 2010, Mary Page became interested in the rapidly growing market for healthy consumer products. She realized that the over-the-counter (OTC) medicine market hadn’t seen much growth or innovation recently.

To change this, she wanted to find a way to treat common ailments, like upset stomachs and headaches, in a faster, more efficient way. Thus, First Aid Shot Therapy (F.A.S.T.) was created. These FDA-compliant, single-dose, liquid medications get into the blood stream quicker, which means they can start working faster than pills . Super cool stuff.

Mary has had a pretty exciting journey from the Appalachians to now changing the consumer medical space. She has a lot of great insight to share:

Achieving “Overnight Success” takes time:  Patience was never my greatest virtue, and in my 20s I was convinced that if I could just get a little lucky success would be easy and instant.   I was constantly looking for the next opportunity, the next promotion, anything that would put me in a position to be an overnight success.  Today, I realize that achieving an “overnight success” may require years of persistence and perseverance – but from what I understand, looking back on the hard work will make the reward all the more rewarding if you ever do achieve the kind of success that to others seems effortless.

Knowing how to sell is absolutely critical:  No matter what path your career takes you will almost certainly need to know how to sell.  Even if you never imagine yourself selling a product or a service, you will likely find yourself having to sell your ideas or your background or experience.   When I thought about sales in my 20s, I imagined guys golfing and going out for drinks to seal a big deal.  I never thought about how important building trust was in the sales process.  Being the kind of person who delivers on their promises and goes the extra mile to meet deadlines and supports a customer or colleague when they need it will go a long way to help ensure people want to buy your product, use you consulting services, work with you to deliver your big project or even invest in your company.

Success in your personal life can make you better in your career:  During my 20s, I dated all the wrong guys.  My constant worry about my personal life distracted my focus from work.  I have seen this over and over again in young women who have worked for me.  A bad breakup can shake their confidence and cause their work to suffer.  Confidence goes a long way in the workplace so focus on building a personal life that makes you feel confident.   It will radiate in everything you do.