I remember years ago, my first well paying job. I was in a complicated space as a PM and I had a dilemma. I went to my boss asking what I should do. His answer was “what do you want to do?.” I said, “I don't know, that’s why I’m coming to you”. I proceeded to get scolded pretty hard. He expected me to come to him with solutions and a recommendation, not just dump problems on his plate. Even if those solutions were wrong, it would show I was trying to own, solve and really know my space before coming to him. He could also see my decision making skills and area knowledge when we talked it through, to gain confidence in his ability to empower me more. And it forced me to learn my space better. In the end I learned much of the time when I was extra diligent before coming to him I solved it myself. But it’s a lesson I never forgot both as an employee and manager. Any good ones out there?
You just said it, keep ones mouth shut, try to embrace accomplishing what one can without dumping on others, and be patient.
Leave your religion and politics at home. It’s not all about you. If you’re working hard there is no time to run your mo.
True story, through a number of promotions between us I still report to that guy. He has directs that have been with him as long as 20 years now. I like my job, but if he left I might not be far behind.
My mentor through high school and college had this advice as I was heading out after graduation from UF. “Don’t buy into the myth of company loyalty. To them you’re just a business decision. Give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.” That advice served me very well.
These are pieces of advice that have helped me in my career: 1. Assume positive intent - not everyone is out to get you. 2. Go prepared to meetings, read pre-reads, have an elevator pitch for your key messages 3. You are in charge of your career development. Your management can only facilitate it but you need to drive it. 4. Time is not a criteria for promotion. You need to be already performing at the next level to get promoted. 5. There are stupid questions. Think before you ask. 6. Take notes. A short pencil is better than a long memory 7. Follow up. If you say you will get back to someone, do so. 8. Disagree respectfully. Team player does not mean agreement with everything. 9. Keep updating your skills or you will get outdated 10. My favorite - it’s only a job. The company will find your replacement in a heartbeat. I read this somewhere - 25 years later, the only people who will remember you worked late nights and weekends are your family. Don’t miss out on them for work.
Show up, do your job, go home. If you leave, it will be like you were never there in a very short time. Good bosses are hard to find.
I say something similar to my employees. "I pay you money to make my life easier. As soon as you start making my life harder, I don't have much use for you anymore" It's harsh but the truth, from an owner perspective. As for the best I've received I just think about what the #1 life regret is from people on their deathbed. Spend less time working, more time with family. You don't get that time back.
I was told by my sales director to save my nickles and dimes, you're only as good as your last sale. He was so right. Management changed so many times and the company I thought I would retire from became a place I ran from.
Be yourself. Learn from your mentors, and learn from your adversaries. Absorb every possible ounce of information. But always do your job in your own skin, not someone else’s.
Even a steer can try. It was my great good fortune to work closely with someone who was absolutely the best in the world at what he did. Just Excellent. I saw what it took to achieve that excellence. He used that phrase on occasion when I lagged after a 14 hour day in the rain, the heat, and mosquitoes. If you be ‘dere de day dey be ‘dere dat be de day to be dere. I heard those words of wisdom from an old man as I chatted with him about the best days to fish but it spoke to me about the need for relentless effort each and every day.
I disagree strongly with this one. I've seen way too many screw ups by people not asking "dumb" questions
When juggling your priorities and setting your agenda for the day, prioritize your activities based on what will bring the most to the bottom line.
I must take a bit of an exception. Mentors - Agree Emotionally attached. I stuggle with this one, but am doing much better than in the past. I do want to kick the buyers in the nuts when I hear "Nothing Personal" - That statement while it may be true in many cases often does not reflect the actual story. When a client purposely breaks a spec and feeds your number to a competitor........ It's personal.
Report bad news immediately. Be sure to give others credit when due/acknowledge the contributions of others. Be clear and precise in your speech/communications.
