“My daughter is an extremely hard worker,” Denise Uzzelle of Lancaster, TX told msnbc before competing as a finalist in Philadelphia’s Grow Your Value contest. “But I want her to know what it is like to love what you do and work for yourself without having to struggle like we did when I was raising her as a single parent. My goal is to build a company that I can leave to her that is not just a financial success, but also a social endeavor that delivers positive change for others.”
The founder of a human resources company and spouse of a U.S. Army veteran with disabilities, Uzzelle is leading social change by improving the lives of veterans who have entered the civilian workforce. She is preparing to launch Operation Vet Works—a company initiative providing organizations with retention programs focused on long-term employment outcomes for veterans.In April, she was selected as a Grow Your Value finalist as part of the Know Your Value event series led by Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski to empower women in the workplace.
After Know Your Value:
We left Philadelphia’s Know Your Value conference with a renewed sense of self, our value and a little bit of an attitude. We recognized that we needed to sit up straighter, be more confident, be able to communicate our value and ask for what we were worth. We laughed. We cried. We learned. We celebrated. Then we came home.
The hardest thing about coming home after such an inspiring event is the risk of losing the momentum. On good days I’m standing in my superwoman pose ready to take on the world. On bad days I’d rather hide under the covers than face the world. The truth of the matter is that the journey is filled with highs and lows and that’s okay. Most days I’m somewhere in the middle, working hard to turn every opportunity into a win. Here are my tips to help you keep your momentum in your professional life.
Break old habits:
The first thing I did when I came home was watch my pitch from the competition. The second thing I did was block out the little voice that told me I didn’t win because I did this wrong, said that wrong and so on. Not only do you have to know your value, but you must also remind yourself of it – often. Break the old habit of being your own worst critic by not letting negative thoughts sing solo to background music of your life.
Find value partners:
I’m passionate about empowering organizations that hire veterans to retain them long term, but failed to communicate why I was the one to lead the charge. Take a step back to evaluate where you may be missing opportunities to share your value. I suggest finding a ‘value partner’ or mentor. It may be a corporate partner or your co-worker – someone who sees your strongest assets and will help you communicate your strengths. Whether it is your online bio, your resume or a product that your company is launching, take an objective look and make sure that the value you bring is loud and clear. Finding someone who believes in you will give you that extra boost.
Fuel your mission:









