Lost In The Numbers
As you go through your daily routine of scanning the headlines and reviewing posts on the latest trending stories and motivational blogs, have you ever noticed how many articles these days seem to be lists of advice? It’s like ever since David Letterman retired everyone is trying to fill the void. Top ten things successful people do before 7:00 am. Top ten twitter accounts you should be following. Top ten things you should never eat before an interview. It may not always be a list of ten items but they are everywhere.
Well, I’m not one to buck a trend. Actually I am when the occasion calls for it but in this case I’m all in. Here are five things I have learned from my working experience over the years.
What to look for in a job – Find a job that generates energy. Not physical energy but personal and emotional energy. For some it could be making a customer’s day. For others it might involve creating a spreadsheet that calculates the airspeed velocity of an unladed swallow based on the bird’s country of origin. Whatever it takes to create that energy there should be enough to make you feel good about yourself, your work and the results you generate.
What to look for in the workplace – Find a workplace where solving a problem is more important than taking credit or placing blame. Sometimes things go wrong. It happens. The most important thing is to address the problem immediately. There will always be time later to review the process and understand how the problem came about in the first place. Being in a workplace where people are quick to place the blame and then point out how they had to step up and fix can be energy draining.
What to look for in a boss – You don’t have a lot of control over who your boss is. But if you did, you would want someone who challenges you but understands what you need to succeed. Being challenged to grow is a good thing; being challenged just to exert power is not. An understanding boss knows what drives you but also recognizes what you need to succeed. They give specific direction and coaching when needed but also know when to step back and let you figure things out as you go.
Best lesson learned from work – You never stop learning. And it doesn’t hurt to review some of the things you think you learned in the past. You may be surprised what you forgot.
Best thing to remember – Every person is unique. What may be the best advice and brilliant for some may be totally worthless for others. Which means there’s a good chance this list may be total crap for you. Sorry, but thanks for reading anyway.
