By Jessica Neal – Orem News
Researching at her kitchen table at 12:45 a.m., LaNae Millett realized what it takes to be on city council.
“That’s what hard work is, you know, spending time with your family during the family time, but then also putting in the time for the residents during your other hours, either early in the morning or late at night,” Millett said.
Luckily, she said she finds balance between these long hours and the rest of her life by relying heavily on 10-minute power naps. “They leave me refreshed and ready to go, and help me accomplish what I need to while taking care of myself. I can definitely give them a glowing testimonial!”
Work ethic isn’t something Millett learned recently. As the third of seven kids, she said growing up she was taught to work hard. When her family built their own home, she learned skills like pouring cement and hanging sheet rock with her siblings.
“I was taught to never accept a no from someone who wasn’t empowered to give you a yes in the first place and to keep advocating for good causes. If you’re passionate about something, find a way to make it work,” Millett said.
She used those principles as she paid her way through her education. She worked three jobs the summer before she started, waking up at 5 a.m. to change sprinklers, working for a bookkeeper from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then working as a waitress at the Homestead before changing the sprinklers again at 10 p.m..
She said she was able to sprinkle in fun during those long days, taking some time to be with her friends and play softball. Brigham Young University offered her a spot on their softball team as a walk-on, but she rejected the offer because they couldn’t give her a scholarship. She said she loves softball, and that was a difficult decision for her to make.
“Really, the work ethic my mom and dad taught me, I think is what helped me get through that. It was just one of those things where you have to make choices,” Millett said. She ended up working what she called an incredible part-time job on campus alongside accounting professors.
Millett started at BYU as an elementary education major, but after spending some time in the classroom, she decided that wasn’t for her. She transitioned to business finance, and she and a roommate planned to work on Wall Street together. Millett’s plans changed when she met her husband the year before she graduated and they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area together. There, Millett started working in insurance on the storm team where she would visit disaster sites and help people put their lives back together.
“I actually feel like that experience prepared me to be on city council,” Millett said, regarding working with people who are facing difficulties and need to be listened to.
Years later, when her family moved to Orem, Millett got involved in the community through her kids’ sports teams, helping on the PTA and serving on several commissions, all at the same time.
Despite her life path setting her up to be a qualified candidate for city council, she said she never would have predicted this for herself. Millett didn’t think she would be great for politics because she calls herself very black-and-white. She said no several times when asked to run, before a push to take over the Scera encouraged her to officially run.
Joining the council, Millett marks the fourth generation in her family to be a part of local government. She said her main issues on the council have been protecting neighborhoods from higher-density housing and school safety because of her previous life experiences and desire to listen to residents and serve the public.
Millett said her life has taught her how important it is to be flexible and she’s found passion in public service. “Don’t be afraid to take something different and pursue a different path because you never know where it’s going to lead,” she said.
When she finds some free time, Millett enjoys going to the movies, but only if they have a happy ending. “I have a pet peeve, and that is bad endings,” she said. She also used to enjoy golfing, and would love to find the time to get back to it.
Millett has two favorite sayings that describe her lifestyle. The first from Yoda in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back: “Do, or do not. There is no try.” The second is a quote from Cinderella: “Have courage and be kind.”
If she could pass on wisdom from her life experiences, Millett would say those two things. “What have I learned? It would be just that, you need to approach life with courage and do what you think is right at the moment. Keep moving forward and be kind along the way.”