Chapter Content
Okay, so I wanted to talk a little bit about career advice. You know, it's something that's always being thrown around, but honestly, a lot of it just... doesn't really hit the mark. It's like, everyone's situation is so different that what works for one person might be totally useless for another. So, it's tricky, right?
Like, the best advice, in my opinion, are those general principles that you can actually adapt to your own situation. Things you can mold and leverage in your own way. So, I was thinking about this the other day, and I came up with seven pieces of career advice that I really wish I had known earlier on. Or, you know, things I'd tell my own kid if they were just starting out. And the cool thing is, these are pretty applicable no matter what you're doing or what stage you're at.
So, here we go. Number one: Create value, then receive value. Basically, financial success is a *result* of how much value you bring to the people around you. The really, really rich folks? Yeah, they've made billions, but they've also created *way* more value than that. If you want to make good money, stop obsessing over investments and your plan, and start figuring out how to create massive value for everyone around you. I promise, the money will follow.
Okay, number two: Swallow the frog. You might have heard this one. There's this Mark Twain quote, "If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first." So the frog is that thing you're dreading, right? That task you really don't want to do. If you get it done first, you build momentum. And a super useful hack, especially early in your career, is to swallow the frog *for your boss*. Figure out what they hate doing, learn how to do it, and take it off their plate. Total win-win.
Number three: Do the old-fashioned things well. In this day and age, sometimes just the basics stand out. Simple stuff. Looking people in the eye, doing what you said you were going to do, being on time, having good posture, a firm handshake, holding the door open, you know, being kind... and never, ever gossip! It might sound a little cheesy, but it's free, it's totally within your control, and it'll never go out of style. Trust me.
Alright, number four: Work hard first, *then* work smart. Lately, it's trendy to say hard work is overrated and working smart is all that matters. I disagree, strongly. If you want to achieve anything worthwhile, you have to start by working hard. Build that reputation, take pride in it. Then, *then* you can start thinking about leverage and working smarter. Leverage is earned, not found, especially when you are starting out. Earn it!
Number five: Build storytelling skills. I've been lucky enough to spend time with some pretty amazing leaders, and one thing I noticed is that the really world-changing CEOs aren't necessarily the smartest people in their organizations. But what they *are* exceptional at is taking all that data and communicating it in a simple, effective way. Data in, story out. If you can build that skill, you'll always be valuable.
Number six: Build a reputation for figuring it out. In pretty much any job, you're gonna get tasks you have absolutely no clue how to do. Imposter syndrome is going to kick in, you know, you'll wonder how you can possibly do this thing you've never done before. But there's nothing, *nothing*, more valuable than someone who can just figure it out. Ask the right questions, do the work, get it done. If you can consistently do that, people will fight to have you on their team.
And finally, number seven: Dive through every cracked-open door. If someone opens a door that *might* be an opportunity, just go for it! Even if it's not exactly what you were looking for. Become useful now, and the opportunities you *really* want will show up later. Every great story starts with a tiny crack, you know? Spot it, dive through it!
So, those are the seven pieces of advice. And I think, look, there's always going to be stuff in your career that feels out of your control. But if you focus on what you *can* control, you'll be better off. No matter where you are in your journey, if you embrace these ideas, you're focusing on the things that actually matter. And if you do that, I really believe you'll find a way to succeed.