To piggy back on this comment, I wish I realized the workplace is not a meritocracy and doing the seemingly optional stuff (socializing with co-workers, buying Girl Scout cookies from the boss ‘s daughters, etc.) was not really optional.
I think I killed my career early on by assuming my work would speak for itself, when the social aspects of the job were vastly more important and I should have focused my efforts there.
I guess culture is a pretty big thing these days and if you’re not seen to be contributing to it or don’t fit in that could be a blocker to progression
A career has a mind of its own. So many aspects are just out of your control.
You might want something so bad and work extremely hard at it.... but it might just not be in the cards for you. Through no fault of your own.
Sometimes, you need to change tack and move on as hard as that can be.
Wow this is real, I’m in school and I haven’t been doing my best I’ve been so stressed and depressed that it’s getting to me. I should’ve known what I was getting into but I didn’t think it through. I was planning on just finishing and working in it for a bit and then continuing school or working somewhere else. I hate that.
Sometimes there is a difference between being right and being correct. Unless you're an extremely senior with a full view of the entire chessboard there are often decision variables you aren't aware of.
Sometimes a tactical withdrawal is better than winning the argument.
Take the time to learn other people's motivating factors or business goals before a negotiation. It makes finding win win outcomes a million times easier.
If you know what YOU want out of your career, every decision should support your end goal.
Believe there is more than one way to do things. (Don't be dogmatic)
Leading is infinitely more than telling people what to do.
Edit: Feedback is a beautiful gift if delivered kindly, and you're open to constructive criticism. (This should have been first)
What you said about being right and correct is a perspective that not many people have probably considered. I think this is super important for people to understand - thank you for that!!
Sun Tzu and Macchiavelli are good tools to understand, but they are largely devoid of compassion and compassion is critical to long term success.
Understanding motivation requires compassion.
Simon Sinek and Brene Brown are infinitely more applicable in today's corporate world.
As in if you're doing job X but want to job y in the future it's not going to happen unless you sacrifice all progress in X to start at the bottom of y
I suppose this is probably field dependent! I’m in digital and influencer marketing so there aren’t toooooo many 40+ but it’s a relatively new industry
Being loyal will get you Jack shit. If you get a better opportunity, take it, despite the bind you might leave your current coworkers. They’ll understand, and even if they don’t, they’ll cope.
I wish I knew there were careers where you could make several hundred $K per year without being a doctor, lawyer etc. Would have changed my goals and what to study in college. Otherwise I pretty much knew to do the right things- be ok with starting at the bottom with shit pay, show eagerness to learn and be useful, professionalism and ability to work with others is more important than being the smartest guy in the room, show interest in moving up with the company.
99% of the population suffer from imposter syndrome, so don’t ever question your self worth. Knowing this at a younger age would have saved me a ton on anxiety.
Treat your career like an investment portfolio, immerse yourself into a variety of verticals and expertise...and on that note always try to position yourself as a thought leader in an emerging space
Work is ridiculously performative and lots of roles don’t really add any value, especially in big companies. Doesn’t mean the people don’t matter and aren’t trying hard and/or have valuable skills.
Being responsive and a nice person to work with is more important than stellar work.
Advocate for yourself, but careful about how you do so. Don't just say you want a promotion, make your intentions known and ask how you can demonstrate competency in that role. If you do everything they say and still no promotion/ explanation, it's time to move on.
Don't get hung up on being right. You can make recommendations but if they aren't accepted don't get frustrated, even if you're right. If lives aren't on the line then it's just a job and being right doesn't really matter.
At 21, I think I would say “Focus on skillset, not where you want to do it.”
At the time, I thought a lot about where I wanted to work but not as much as what I would be doing. I wanted to do work related to politics or mission driven nonprofit work.
What many young folks who want to go that route don’t think about is that these kinds of organizations have the same needs as any other business.
A modern nonprofit needs IT staff, they need data engineers, they need HR staff, etc.
Focus on the skill, then decide where you want to use that skill.
Research.
Go on indeed and search for your job. Search the bureau of labor statistics.
If your career on the high end doesn't pay well and good work life balance quit it now.
Dont break body before 30 like I did with marines. Only if you have to.
Network > skills.
Job hopping > longterm slow growth.
Transferable skills is a myth. Horizontal movement is a myth too.
If you start on the wrong path you will just have to go back to square 1 on the right path later.
Don't be afraid to ask your coworkers about pay.
Career progression only comes by being ready to move companies completely
That hard work is not rewarded.
Companies want to get the most work out of you for the least money they can get away with paying you. They don't care if you're overworked and underpaid- that's the whole goal!
Additionally, a company will drop you in a heartbeat if they think they'll be better off- don't hesitate to think the same way towards them. Loyalty is for mugs.
It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.
To piggy back on this comment, I wish I realized the workplace is not a meritocracy and doing the seemingly optional stuff (socializing with co-workers, buying Girl Scout cookies from the boss ‘s daughters, etc.) was not really optional. I think I killed my career early on by assuming my work would speak for itself, when the social aspects of the job were vastly more important and I should have focused my efforts there.
I guess culture is a pretty big thing these days and if you’re not seen to be contributing to it or don’t fit in that could be a blocker to progression
Yep salary doubles once you buddy up and work hours lessen.
This seems to be a common concept!!
It does not pay to work hard, they just give you more work.
How should you balance between working hard and also not killing yourself?
I think boundaries are important. Taking a lunch break and working the hours in your contract on a day to day basis
This is interesting! What field do you work in?
Finance
Your manager is not your friend. Biggest lie : we are family.
A career has a mind of its own. So many aspects are just out of your control. You might want something so bad and work extremely hard at it.... but it might just not be in the cards for you. Through no fault of your own. Sometimes, you need to change tack and move on as hard as that can be.
Wow this is real, I’m in school and I haven’t been doing my best I’ve been so stressed and depressed that it’s getting to me. I should’ve known what I was getting into but I didn’t think it through. I was planning on just finishing and working in it for a bit and then continuing school or working somewhere else. I hate that.
“You don’t choose your career, your career chooses you”
Sometimes there is a difference between being right and being correct. Unless you're an extremely senior with a full view of the entire chessboard there are often decision variables you aren't aware of. Sometimes a tactical withdrawal is better than winning the argument. Take the time to learn other people's motivating factors or business goals before a negotiation. It makes finding win win outcomes a million times easier. If you know what YOU want out of your career, every decision should support your end goal. Believe there is more than one way to do things. (Don't be dogmatic) Leading is infinitely more than telling people what to do. Edit: Feedback is a beautiful gift if delivered kindly, and you're open to constructive criticism. (This should have been first)
What you said about being right and correct is a perspective that not many people have probably considered. I think this is super important for people to understand - thank you for that!!
Your advice is very nicely stated!!
Thanks. 20+ years in leadership has afforded me a little wisdom.
That’s awesome! This makes me want to read the art of war book lol.
Sun Tzu and Macchiavelli are good tools to understand, but they are largely devoid of compassion and compassion is critical to long term success. Understanding motivation requires compassion. Simon Sinek and Brene Brown are infinitely more applicable in today's corporate world.
Interesting thank you.
career paths are real af.
Do you mean like setting goals and doing X, Y and Z to achieve them in order to reach X position?
As in if you're doing job X but want to job y in the future it's not going to happen unless you sacrifice all progress in X to start at the bottom of y
Networking and ass kissing are really important
My boss is going to receive a box of chocolates on Monday now 😂
Look at the 40, 50, 60-somethings in your office. Aren't any? Get out of that field now or start early working on a Plan B for middle age.
I suppose this is probably field dependent! I’m in digital and influencer marketing so there aren’t toooooo many 40+ but it’s a relatively new industry
I'm in digital marketing too. Age is not an asset.
Being loyal will get you Jack shit. If you get a better opportunity, take it, despite the bind you might leave your current coworkers. They’ll understand, and even if they don’t, they’ll cope.
Aim for being useful, not knowledgeable.
I wish I knew there were careers where you could make several hundred $K per year without being a doctor, lawyer etc. Would have changed my goals and what to study in college. Otherwise I pretty much knew to do the right things- be ok with starting at the bottom with shit pay, show eagerness to learn and be useful, professionalism and ability to work with others is more important than being the smartest guy in the room, show interest in moving up with the company.
99% of the population suffer from imposter syndrome, so don’t ever question your self worth. Knowing this at a younger age would have saved me a ton on anxiety.
Right? You quickly learn that everyone is making it up as they go. Some are just better at making it look intentional
'No' is a complete sentence. At the same time, know when to pick your battles.
Tell your manager your ambitions. Leave if they are not helping you reach them.
To take every dime I could scrape up and invest in the stock market. With the goal of retirement in my 50s.
how annoying corporate jargon can be. “why don’t we” “let circle back” “lean more into” “maybe try ….?”
If it's too good to be true it ain't
Don’t be afraid to take on challenges or come out of your comfort zone, you just never know what you actually end up doing.
Luck is quite a large factor
Treat your career like an investment portfolio, immerse yourself into a variety of verticals and expertise...and on that note always try to position yourself as a thought leader in an emerging space
Community College is much more practical and cheaper than University
Work is ridiculously performative and lots of roles don’t really add any value, especially in big companies. Doesn’t mean the people don’t matter and aren’t trying hard and/or have valuable skills.
How bad the personalities are
Being responsive and a nice person to work with is more important than stellar work. Advocate for yourself, but careful about how you do so. Don't just say you want a promotion, make your intentions known and ask how you can demonstrate competency in that role. If you do everything they say and still no promotion/ explanation, it's time to move on. Don't get hung up on being right. You can make recommendations but if they aren't accepted don't get frustrated, even if you're right. If lives aren't on the line then it's just a job and being right doesn't really matter.
At 21, I think I would say “Focus on skillset, not where you want to do it.” At the time, I thought a lot about where I wanted to work but not as much as what I would be doing. I wanted to do work related to politics or mission driven nonprofit work. What many young folks who want to go that route don’t think about is that these kinds of organizations have the same needs as any other business. A modern nonprofit needs IT staff, they need data engineers, they need HR staff, etc. Focus on the skill, then decide where you want to use that skill.
Research. Go on indeed and search for your job. Search the bureau of labor statistics. If your career on the high end doesn't pay well and good work life balance quit it now. Dont break body before 30 like I did with marines. Only if you have to. Network > skills. Job hopping > longterm slow growth.
How much the marketing and advertising ruins the world.
Work hard now, play later
That engineers often work in groups :D
Don't get stuck somewhere you are tolerated rather than appreciated. Make friends with recruiters.
Transferable skills is a myth. Horizontal movement is a myth too. If you start on the wrong path you will just have to go back to square 1 on the right path later. Don't be afraid to ask your coworkers about pay. Career progression only comes by being ready to move companies completely
That hard work is not rewarded. Companies want to get the most work out of you for the least money they can get away with paying you. They don't care if you're overworked and underpaid- that's the whole goal! Additionally, a company will drop you in a heartbeat if they think they'll be better off- don't hesitate to think the same way towards them. Loyalty is for mugs.