At this year's Esri User Conference, I had the opportunity to participate in an Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) panel discussion titled The Power of Saying Yes to the Right Opportunities.
Alongside an incredible group of panelists, we explored how career growth is often shaped by the opportunities we choose to pursue and the lessons we learn along the way.
While saying yes can open doors, one of the most important lessons I have learned throughout my career is that growth is not about saying yes to everything. It is about being intentional with the opportunities you take on and following through on the commitments you make.
My name is Jon Rizo, and I am a Team Lead in Project Management within Esri's Digital Experience organization, where I support a team of project managers as they deliver digital event experiences, solve complex challenges, and create meaningful experiences for Esri's users. Over the course of my career, I have learned that some opportunities can accelerate growth while others simply add noise.
In this post, I will share how learning the difference between meaningful opportunities and distractions, being honest about capacity, and following through on commitments has shaped both my career and my leadership philosophy.
One “Yes” Can Shape Your Growth & Career
When I look back on my career, some of the biggest chapters started with a yes. Saying yes to serving in the United States Army, pursuing a career in project management, and taking on opportunities at Esri that pushed me outside my comfort zone all had a lasting impact on who I am today. None of those opportunities came with certainty, and I certainly didn't feel fully prepared for all of them.
One opportunity that significantly shaped my career was saying yes to the event project management space at Esri. The work challenged me in ways I hadn't experienced before. There were competing priorities, changing requirements, and highly visible projects that required me to learn quickly and adapt constantly. While it wasn't always comfortable, it helped me build confidence, strengthen relationships across the organization, and ultimately grow into leadership opportunities.
The opportunities that shaped my career weren't the ones I felt ready for. They were the ones I was willing to grow into.
Take the Driver Seat in Opening Doors
One of the themes that emerged during our discussion was the importance of taking ownership of your growth. Opportunities don't always arrive at the perfect time, and they don't always come with clear instructions. Sometimes you have to take the first step before you know exactly where the path will lead.
Throughout my career, I've learned that growth often begins with action. Whether it's volunteering for a project, raising your hand to help solve a problem, speaking at an event, or building a new skill, those choices can create opportunities you never expected.
A few ways to take a more active role in opening doors:
- Be willing to step outside your comfort zone.
- Look for opportunities that align with your interests and goals.
- Build relationships and learn from people around you.
- Focus on progress over perfection, no one is infallible and everyone makes mistakes.
- Be dependable and follow through on your commitments.
Many opportunities don't look life-changing in the moment. Their impact is often revealed over time.
Opportunity vs. Distraction
Early in my career, I wasn't very good at telling the difference. If an opportunity came my way, I usually said yes because I thought that's what ambitious people did. Over time, I realized that opportunities create growth while distractions create activity.
Today, I ask myself three things when an opportunity presents itself:
- Does this align with where I want to grow?
- Do I have the capacity to do it well?
- What am I saying no to if I say yes?
Every commitment comes with a tradeoff, so I would encourage you to ask yourself those questions to discern what opportunities are worth pursuing.
Addressing Feelings of Being Underqualified or ‘Not Ready’
Many people hesitate to pursue opportunities because they don't feel “ready.” They worry they don't have enough experience, enough knowledge, or enough confidence. The truth is that very few meaningful opportunities arrive when you feel completely prepared.
During the panel, I shared an analogy that resonated with many attendees: if you waited for every traffic signal between your house and work to turn green before leaving in the morning, you would never leave the driveway. Career growth works much the same way.
Waiting until you feel completely ready often means missing opportunities that could help you grow. Instead of asking yourself, "Am I ready?" consider asking a different question: "Am I willing to learn?"
If the opportunity aligns with your goals, stretches your abilities, and you have the capacity to commit to it, don't let uncertainty stop you. Confidence isn't something you always have before the opportunity. Often, it's something you build by accepting the challenge and learning along the way.
One of my biggest takeaways from both the panel and my own career journey is that growth doesn't come from saying yes to everything. It comes from choosing the right opportunities, being intentional with your commitments, and executing well.
I also believe that some of the most important lessons come from the opportunities that don't go perfectly. Early in my career, overcommitment taught me the value of prioritization, capacity management, and honest conversations about what I could realistically take on. Those lessons continue to shape how I approach opportunities today.
Thank you to the Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN), Marcus Seepersad, Rosemary Boone, my fellow panelists, and everyone who attended the session and contributed to the discussion. The thoughtful questions and conversations were a great reminder that these challenges are not limited to any one career stage. They are lessons we continue to learn and apply throughout our professional lives.
I'd love to continue the conversation. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and share your own experiences with opportunities that shaped your career. Sometimes one thoughtful "yes" can change everything.
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