Abstract
Family members, teachers, and colleagues are all influential in our socialization as professionals and nurse scientists. This article discusses lessons learned from mentors and facilitators during the various stages in my career, including clinical practice, graduate education, and academia. The value of postdoctoral experiences, whether formal or informal, in the pursuit of excellence is also discussed. Finally, the need to maintain a balanced quality of life is stressed in all phases of a career trajectory to facilitate attainment of our goals and the ability to maintain a standard of excellence.