Me! Who'd have dreamed it? I became the 1,000th Salesforce Architect when I earned my Application Architect certification this month. My inspiration for getting here all started one fateful night in a pub in December '14. I had recently become an “Accidental Admin” and felt like I was drowning a little trying to teach myself about the platform. I desperately needed some guidance on where to start. While scouring the Trailblazer Community, I found out that Dallas–Fort Worth had a local Women in Tech group and thought:

“What better way to jump right in than to join my first Women in Tech meeting!”

Walking in that night, I was a bit intimidated by the thought of what I might be getting myself into. I had been interested in learning about the technology in the past, but had always been deterred by the daunting technical guides or by feeling like an imposter because I had no idea what the people around me were talking about. I was hoping this time I could “fake it until I could make it” because I really needed some help. I took a deep breath and opened the door...

...Minutes later, I realized I had nothing to be worried about. I was so impressed by these women! They were describing enhancing business processes and delivering solutions I didn't think were even possible. Not only were these women brilliant, but they were beautiful and funny (and they even picked up the bar tab). They busted every stereotype and made being in technology sound so cool. I so badly wanted to be one of them, but they had years of experience that I could not make up for.

Getting certified seemed an attainable way of building my credibility.

I signed up for every webinar I could find, always had Dreamforce videos playing in the background while I worked, and read nearly every page in the Help & Training site. Before I knew it, I could do magic with clicks, not code. Consulting provided me with the opportunity to rapidly gain a wide range of experience with the platform in multiple industries and business models. Now, three years later, I'm 11x certified and well on my way to the coveted Certified Technical Architect (CTA) status.

For me, my certifications are not just another line item on my social profile, or a piece of paper framed on the wall. Instead, they mean that I am credible. I have been one of the (if not the) youngest employees at every company I have worked for. Salesforce certifications provide the ultimate level playing field for all ages, races, genders, and walks of life.

And unlike most technical training material, Salesforce provides what we need to learn for FREE!

Trailhead has become a learning epicenter, tailored for all roles and levels of expertise. You even get a development org, which is the best way to get hands-on experience and practice what you learn. Salesforce MVPs and fellow fanatics write blogs of all related topics in their spare time. Designer exam guides are chock-full of the best resources for the given certification.

I believe gaining these certifications is becoming increasingly important. Demand for Salesforce professionals is through the roof. People can easily say they have experience and expertise, but being certified is hard evidence. Certifications are also a way to differentiate yourself from other potential candidates. It requires a lot of time and hard work to truly understand the platform and best practices, but the dividends are life-changing.

Ultimately, the only thing standing between you and a more-certified you, IS YOU!

Having said that, success is also about the people you surround yourself with. Some of the people I met at that first Women in Tech meeting have now become pivotal in my career.

• Kelly Wood allowed me to break into consulting by joining her Salesforce practice. She quickly became my role model and mentor by being the calm in the storm, leading by example, coaching instead of giving answers, and having infectious encouragement.
• Rebecca Lammers (now a Salesforce MVP) and I kept a dry-erase board full of ridiculously complex problems we’d come across. We spent countless hours learning new things while trying to solve them in our spare time.

They celebrate my wins, remind me to learn from the lows, and can geek out or happy hour to solve any problem. Find your cheerleaders! They may be fellow Salesforce Trailblazers or in a completely unrelated field, but do not go through your career in a vacuum.

The best advice I could give other Trailblazers on a similar journey:

1. Give back.

   One of the biggest things that makes Salesforce so much different than other platforms is the #SalesforceOhana. I've had the opportunity to give back through being a Women in Tech user group co-leader and to share my experience through Admin coaching. We’ve seen people bored with their career and looking for something exciting in Salesforce; unemployed single moms looking for a way to support their families; the list goes on and on. These people were able to get training and support for free, get certified, and find jobs that exceeded all their expectations.

2. Be a Trailblazer.

   It might take you a few minutes to explain a formula, decode an error message, or send links to relevant blogs. The person you’re helping though might be under a tight deadline at work or have already spent hours trying to solve it themselves. So be sure to carve out time to give back!
   
   Be someone else’s cheerleader, answer questions in the Trailblazer Community, participate in a local user group, or help a coworker. There are countless opportunities to share your expertise with others and learn from their experiences. This is what being a Trailblazer is all about!

3. Tap into the power of the #SalesforceOhana.
   

   I studied at Texas A&M for my undergrad and they had this phrase, “From the outside looking in, you can't understand it. From the inside looking out, you can't explain it.” Not all non-Salesforce people understand how much work goes into what we do or why we're so passionate about Salesforce.
   
   But there is real power within the #SalesforceOhana. You're not left trying to reinvent the wheel, as you have such easy access to learn from the expertise of others. Having this level of support on my side is invaluable as I tackle my career and pursue my passions.
   

4. Set your bar high.
   

   And my current career passion? To be the youngest female Certified Technical Architect (CTA). By the end of the year, I've set the goal of earning the remaining two designer certifications to become a System Architect. I will then start the final part of my #JourneyToCTA by getting in all the experience I can in preparation for the infamous CTA Review Board (not an easy feat, I can assure you!).

Frankly, thinking back to my first days as an accidental admin, I never would have dreamed I could achieve all this. I knew I wanted something better, but it took a lot of incremental goals to know what “better” looked like. As the saying goes, “Not all who wander are lost.” If you want it, this could just as easily be you!

My final piece of advice—put a timeline on your goals.

Write them down and find someone to help keep you accountable. After you achieve them, celebrate like the rockstar you are and then set a new one. You will face plenty of setbacks, but push through them. Keep on trailblazing—believe me, it’s so worth it!

Jordan has worked with small businesses up to Fortune 500 enterprises to strategically align their business initiatives with their Salesforce experience. She co-leads the DFW Women in Tech user group and coaches people for their admin certification. Jordan earned her BBA from Texas A&M and MBA from West Texas A&M. When not fueling her Salesforce addiction, she loves to travel with her husband and spend time with their two handsome puppies. Jordan is thrilled to be attending her first Dreamforce this year!