Entrepreneurship Lessons for Success (Collection)

12. Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

—Isisara Bey (Sony BMG Music Entertainment)

It's probably one of the oldest proverbs around, and it's so true: Walking a mile in someone else's shoes—being empathetic—is important for a happy and successful life. That's right. Empathy isn't just some nice frosting on the cake; it's a very powerful trait—in your career and in the workplace. I'm convinced of this after speaking with Isisara Bey about her 20-plus-year career in the media and entertainment industry. She found that seeing other people's points of view—whether it's her boss, her colleagues, or members of Congress—earned her respect and the powerful position of vice president of corporate affairs at Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

Now, we usually think of ...