2 speaks volumes to me. If I were obsessed with titles and salaries, I wouldn’t be where I am today. People and positions are so much more than what is able to be translated to paper.
Know your morals and stick to them in the corporate world. Sometimes you have to lead from where you are and the organization will either get inspired by you or they may let you down. Either way, it tells you a lot about the company and how they value their employees. That in turn, will help you decide your next career move.
Mind if I add an 8th one? 8. Take the time to read and think about thoughtful pieces written by smart people -- they may change your life! Or give you something useful to think about -- we can always use more thinking.
It's 11:30 AM, I just got into the office after a hard 2-hour session at the gym, and I am procrastinating from grading Presentations from my summer 3-week Mini. You gave me a perfect framework for reactive rumination -- my favorite activity.
1. You can't find your passion without experimenting. I was the Information Officer in an Investment Bank in Bahrain, a consultant for UNDP, international sales manager for a small manufacturer of cooling equipment, ran my own international sales company for industrial equipment, and for the last 18 years have been teaching Economics at a Community College. In the last few years I have started to really love what I do. It happens.
2. Don't focus on the outcome, focus on the journey. My journey has been pretty fun and interesting. Go for fun and interesting -- lucrative, it turns out, can kill the soul.
3. Build in public, letting the world know your goals and the steps you're taking to achieve them. I am going to take this as meaning "make friends among colleagues. And others." I cannot recommend it more. It is not to brag -- all these people are potential collaborators and co-workers. And... making friends is so much better than not doing so... some of them are just good people -- and being friends with good people is a blessing.
4. Success and failure are both way overrated. Success because... well, if you define it by income, it can kill your soul -- not necessarily, because money can be used to make the world a better place. But focusing on making the world a better place is what makes the soul grow. And trying to make the world a better place is a Good Thing, even if you fail. Fail gloriously, attempting something Great. Or fail in a small way, because it didn't work out. But for Heaven's sake, try.
5. When starting a job, learn as much about the industry as possible. Podcasts, YouTube, and the internet make it easier than ever to do this. Ok -- those things. I read The Chronicle of Higher Education, which is pretty depressing these days. Probably the best way to learn about the industry is to attend conferences and fairs and talk to people. Lots of people. People you don't agree with. Listen deeply. You never know -- honestly, and in my personal experience YOU NEVER KNOW where a good idea, or a snippet of a good idea, or a stray word that sparks a train of thought that leads to a good idea will come from -- talking to bright thoughtful people who know the industry well is a great place to get it. Not just CEOs -- that is a mistake. Many of the brightest and most thoughtful took a different path for their own reasons. If you find one of these, cultivate them and talk about everything with them -- it is very well worth it.
6. Always buy the book. Of course. Science fiction is really good for this -- quite a lot of Econ folks are closet sci-fi fans, but why in the closet? Asimov is of course super good. Heinlein is uneven but sometimes great. Ian Banks is super. Ursula LeGuin is wonderful. But ALWAYS read, to understand our modern age, Franz Kafka -- no one understood it better. Not comforting, but very enlightening.
7. Some people will disappoint you, but more will inspire you. I dunno about more... but many -- you just ignore the rest. And in our line of work, there are seriously inspiring people. It's the main reason I left business. And not only professors, mind you -- I am quite literally frequently inspired by students.
Thank you for an enjoyable half hour! Back to grading...
Excellent advice!!! All 7 tips are timeless. I have found that when I get the job titles I want they still feel hollow. True change comes from using these tips and leveraging the cards into a fulfilling life
2 speaks volumes to me. If I were obsessed with titles and salaries, I wouldn’t be where I am today. People and positions are so much more than what is able to be translated to paper.
The path you are on is a great example of the importance of the journey. Do you have a tip to add?
Know your morals and stick to them in the corporate world. Sometimes you have to lead from where you are and the organization will either get inspired by you or they may let you down. Either way, it tells you a lot about the company and how they value their employees. That in turn, will help you decide your next career move.
Oh this is a good one. So true
Mind if I add an 8th one? 8. Take the time to read and think about thoughtful pieces written by smart people -- they may change your life! Or give you something useful to think about -- we can always use more thinking.
All additional advice is welcome. I like your 8th.
Abdullah-
It's 11:30 AM, I just got into the office after a hard 2-hour session at the gym, and I am procrastinating from grading Presentations from my summer 3-week Mini. You gave me a perfect framework for reactive rumination -- my favorite activity.
1. You can't find your passion without experimenting. I was the Information Officer in an Investment Bank in Bahrain, a consultant for UNDP, international sales manager for a small manufacturer of cooling equipment, ran my own international sales company for industrial equipment, and for the last 18 years have been teaching Economics at a Community College. In the last few years I have started to really love what I do. It happens.
2. Don't focus on the outcome, focus on the journey. My journey has been pretty fun and interesting. Go for fun and interesting -- lucrative, it turns out, can kill the soul.
3. Build in public, letting the world know your goals and the steps you're taking to achieve them. I am going to take this as meaning "make friends among colleagues. And others." I cannot recommend it more. It is not to brag -- all these people are potential collaborators and co-workers. And... making friends is so much better than not doing so... some of them are just good people -- and being friends with good people is a blessing.
4. Success and failure are both way overrated. Success because... well, if you define it by income, it can kill your soul -- not necessarily, because money can be used to make the world a better place. But focusing on making the world a better place is what makes the soul grow. And trying to make the world a better place is a Good Thing, even if you fail. Fail gloriously, attempting something Great. Or fail in a small way, because it didn't work out. But for Heaven's sake, try.
5. When starting a job, learn as much about the industry as possible. Podcasts, YouTube, and the internet make it easier than ever to do this. Ok -- those things. I read The Chronicle of Higher Education, which is pretty depressing these days. Probably the best way to learn about the industry is to attend conferences and fairs and talk to people. Lots of people. People you don't agree with. Listen deeply. You never know -- honestly, and in my personal experience YOU NEVER KNOW where a good idea, or a snippet of a good idea, or a stray word that sparks a train of thought that leads to a good idea will come from -- talking to bright thoughtful people who know the industry well is a great place to get it. Not just CEOs -- that is a mistake. Many of the brightest and most thoughtful took a different path for their own reasons. If you find one of these, cultivate them and talk about everything with them -- it is very well worth it.
6. Always buy the book. Of course. Science fiction is really good for this -- quite a lot of Econ folks are closet sci-fi fans, but why in the closet? Asimov is of course super good. Heinlein is uneven but sometimes great. Ian Banks is super. Ursula LeGuin is wonderful. But ALWAYS read, to understand our modern age, Franz Kafka -- no one understood it better. Not comforting, but very enlightening.
7. Some people will disappoint you, but more will inspire you. I dunno about more... but many -- you just ignore the rest. And in our line of work, there are seriously inspiring people. It's the main reason I left business. And not only professors, mind you -- I am quite literally frequently inspired by students.
Thank you for an enjoyable half hour! Back to grading...
I truly appreciate you adding your reflection. I especially liked the success and failure are overrated. They are.
Glad to have contributed to your procrastination today. Mission accomplished.
Excellent advice!!! All 7 tips are timeless. I have found that when I get the job titles I want they still feel hollow. True change comes from using these tips and leveraging the cards into a fulfilling life