This post is in paid partnership with Not Your Mother’s Haircare.

How many times have you peered voyeuristically into the lives of people you admire via social media, video, or published interviews and wondered what it must be like to do their job? We’ve all been down that research rabbit hole on our quest to create and cultivate the career of our dreams but often we’re still left pondering about the realities of their day-to-day—so, what is it really like? Well in this series, I Want Your Job we uncover the truth by getting down to the nitty-gritty on what it’s actually like to work in your quote-unquote “dream job” and if the reality stacks up to the expectation.

Gone are the days when you’d stay at one job until you retire and receive a gold watch. Today, career paths are non-linear, they duck, weave and sidestep from one industry to another, building your experience at every opportunity. When Sarah Kieny graduated from her journalism degree in 2010 there wasn’t a lot of work going around but instead of holding her head in her hands, she took charge of her life and applied for over 80 positions eventually landing a role as a writer for a global data company.

Her career has taken many turns since then and now she is the senior director of marketing at popular haircare line, Not Your Mother’s Haircare. We took a deep dive into her work history to find out how she landed this esteemed role, what she learned along the way and how she gets it done—prepare for some major work hacks.

CREATE & CULTIVATE: Describe your career journey—how did you get your foot in the door and land where you are today?

SARAH KIENY: “I graduated in 2010 and the job market was bleak. My degree in journalism was not in high demand. It seemed like every entry-level role required three-plus years of professional experience. I just found my binder I had kept from that time, I applied to over 80 positions and only had two interviews. Eventually, I took a part-time job as a writer for a global data company resolving to go above and beyond daily, make connections and take on any available opportunity to learn. Within six months, I had a full-time salaried position.”

What did you study in school? How has that prepared you for your job now?

“My formal education experience is in journalism, specializing in editing, and business management. Those two backgrounds paired together have helped me find solutions to business challenges and then communicate the needs effectively. It’s uncommon, but the curriculum actually creates really well-rounded abilities.”

Did you intern before getting the job? If yes, where? And how did that prepare you? Would you recommend it to others coming up behind you?

“I worked through college in various roles from retail to secretarial positions. The most important lesson those positions taught me was to be in service to others always. The best question you can ask during an interview is ‘what can I do in this role to make your job easier?’. It really reframes the conversation and informs your future boss that you’re there to help them, not yourself.”

What does your day-to-day look like? Does the reality of the job stack up to your expectations? We want specifics!

“My day begins the night before. Prior to leaving work each day, I write my to-do list for the next day so there are no questions when I get into the office about what I need to prioritize. The next morning, my day begins at 6:30 am. I go to pilates four days a week before work. The energy and mental clarity I gain from breaking a sweat first thing in the morning really sustains and focuses me all day.

“I get ready in my car or my work’s bathroom (glamorous, I know) and begin working at 8:30 am. I DO NOT CHECK E-MAILS. I do the hardest thing on my to-do list first. It’s one of the most important things I’ve picked up in my career. The day goes much smoother if you face your biggest challenge head-on. Only after I complete that task do I grab a coffee (Nespresso Fortado with Oatly) and open my e-mail. I spend about an hour reading and replying to e-mails before tackling the rest of my to-do list. We usually have a couple of meetings a day.

“One of my most critical responsibilities is ensuring constant alignment among product development, sales, and marketing. We all have to work in sync to be successful, so communication is key. I subscribe to a few industry newsletters, so I catch up on those while eating lunch, and check our mentions and posts on social media. The afternoons always go by so quickly. We always have a lot of irons in the fire to stay competitive in the haircare category so we’re constantly working months in advance to execute larger initiatives, product launches, partnerships, and brand activations.”

You have what many would consider a dream job. What are some of the common misconceptions people get wrong about your role? Why?

“Nothing is above or below anyone or any role. When we have all-hands-on-deck situations often where we’ll all pitch in and help. No task is unworthy of my time if it needs to be done. Our whole team will pitch in to prepare for an event, packing boxes, assemble gift bags. We are able to have a great sense of camaraderie and respect because of this mentality.”

What advice would you give to young professionals trying to break into your industry? How hard is it? What key traits and characteristics does it take to work at your company/in your industry?

“Be a professional enthusiast. If you share your excitement for the industry and stay current on trends and developments, people know that enthusiasm will carry through to your role.”

Can you share one woman who paved the way for you to be where you are today? How are you paying it forward and helping other women who are coming up behind you?

“In my first role, I aligned myself with a manager who I felt motivated by and saw that I could learn from. When she received ultimately received a promotion, she told me she was building a team and wanted me to apply. She took a chance on me and I wanted to do nothing more than impress her. She really propelled my career and I am so grateful for her willingness to give me that boost. One of the most rewarding parts of my current role is the ability to mentor my team. I want them to know that I see each of them as an investment. If they need training or want to develop their skills, it’s worth it. When people feel valued and heard, there’s no limit to their potential.”

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make professionally? And how did you solve it/turn it into an opportunity?

“The hardest decision I’ve ever had to make professionally is to realize a dynamic just was not right for me. I tried tirelessly to align with my manager, have her see my skills and all the ways I was propelling our team forward, but she only ever found fault with me. I kept adjusting and changing the way I interacted with her hoping for a different result. It was a daily challenge to rethink my every move to try to meet her desires. In her eyes, I always came up short. Even though it was a role I absolutely loved for a company I still wholeheartedly respect, I knew I couldn’t excel in my career with this massive roadblock in my way. I had to chart a new path forward. It was incredibly hard to leave, but it was the only way I could continue to thrive personally and professionally.”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? How have you applied that to your career?

“Ask for the crazy money. Always ask for more than you think you need and then add some more upfront. Never share your current salary, but pull competitive salaries and don’t just limit it to your market—share this number when asked. It is way easier to be happy with your salary from the start then accept something less than you want in hopes of getting an incremental raise one day. And always negotiate your time off. Even if boosting your base salary isn’t in their budget, vacation days don’t cost a thing and requesting more vacation days is a great trade-off.”

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you were first starting out?

“The path is neither straight nor narrow and sometimes you have to take a step back to truly move forward. In my first role out of college, I thought I was going to stay with that company until I retired. As I learned and grew in my career, I became intrigued by the world of possibilities out there. I took a few sidesteps along the way in terms of pay and I’m so happy I did not limit myself to once environment, it’s allowed me to mold my skills and really own the trajectory I’ve chosen for myself.“

What keeps you motivated and inspired to keep going, even on your most challenging days?

“I genuinely love the brand I work for. I’m constantly inspired by our customers their suggestions and engagement with our brand. Also, I am so fortunate to work with an amazing team. We all have such a great rapport with each other. There’s always someone to bounce ideas off of when I’m feeling stuck and I’m so fortunate to have a team that’s equally excited about what we do.”

What is your best work hack/productivity tip? How do you get it all done?

“As Mark Twain said ‘eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day,’ so do the hardest thing first and the rest of your day will flow much smoother.”