I'm often asked what lessons I've learned as a writer, a networking, and communications professional. Now I've never claimed to be an expert in my field, but there is nothing fancy to the road I travel. I've taken some of life's most fundamental lessons and applied them to my career.
This listing is in no particular order, but I hope that this insight can perhaps assist professionals that are starting out, or perhaps the veteran that might need to refocus their efforts. Nevertheless reflect on this list and hopefully I can help someone out there who is in need.
1. Never be afraid to take risks. Taking risks is a part of what I do as a writer and networking professional. I'm always experimenting with writing methods and exercises. As a networking professional, I put myself out on a limb by approaching anyone and everyone; not for self serving agendas, but rather to meet new and interesting people. As an early adopter of as many social media networks available, I take a risk in what could perhaps be a defunct application, but I try, enjoy it, and learn from my experiences.
2. There is no such thing as a dumb question. I recently wrote a post titled, "Think Like A Child," and in that post I stated that too often as adults we refrain from being inquisitive. Whether it's because we are embarrassed, or because we think we can figure it out on our own, we negate our curious human nature. Rather, find someone whom you trust and ask that question, get the answers, develop more questions, and so on. So go ahead, ask away! There truly is no dumb question, just questions left unasked.
3. Honesty is always the best policy! If you learn nothing else form this list, heed this lesson. Too often because we are masked behind a computer screen and a computer handle, we may be tempted to embellish our profiles, or act differently towards the online community. This may work for some time, but ultimately when you are uncovered as a fake, your online support network will run in the other direction. To prevent this, be honest with yourself, be honest with your friends, and be honest in your work. Being exposed as a liar is a very humiliating experience.
4. There is wisdom in the saying, "two heads are better than one." In our modern global community, teamwork is almost inevitable. By working together with other like minded supporters, work can be done faster, answers derived in a shorter amount of time, and progress made effectively. By allowing your ideas to meld with those of another you are introduced to a point of view you would not have had otherwise working alone. Enjoy working with others and learn!
6. A leader leads by example. In the many odd jobs I held in college, and even immediately after, I learned that a leader is one that is willing to "get their hands dirty." A leader is not defined by how much they are paid, how many people they manage, or even how long they have manged, but rather the respect that others have for the leader. A solid leader understands that they do not stand outside or above those they manage, but rather with them.
7. Share the wealth. A quick way to find yourself an outcast is to take another person's idea and knowledge and claim it as your own. Not only does this completely fly against No. 3, but your credibility is greatly damaged by this action. While you should always take credit for hard work, if you worked as a team, share that success with others. Giving credit to those who supported you will in turn create a larger support network. By sharing the "wealth" you attract success, and with success comes good fortune. So make sure you've given credit where credit is due because if not, your fall from grace is not far behind.
8. Stand on the shoulders of giants. Nowadays you don't hear too much about apprenticeships, the new buzz word is internship, but the two are distinctly different. An internship is one where you get real work experience by being tossed into the fray with an expectation of prior knowledge to keep you afloat. An apprenticeship is one where a professional takes someone under their wing and truly works with them to hone their craft. I say bring the idea back and seek out a mentor, someone you trust and respect. You will be amazed and the number of industry professionals willing to assist those walking the same path as them. Learn from them, heed their advice, and avoid the pitfalls. You'll be surprised at how much further you can go in your career with the write person in your corner, providing the right advice to advance you.
9. Know your limitations. You cannot do everything. Let that sink in. Let me say it again, you can't do everything. Too often we try to involve ourselves in everything that interests us, but rather then achieve great success we find ourselves struggling to maintain a balance in our lives. Think back to high school extracurricular activities, and all they had to offer. Clubs, organizations, sports, but at some point you had to draw the line with your involvement. If you did not, your grades and personal performance across the board slipped. Life in the work world is no different. Know your limitations and avoid the traps along the way.
10 Keep your goals in sight. Start with the end in mind. A solid road map of your goals can keep you on track no matter where you plan on going. Each milestone you cross is further encouragement to strive for what you desire. Unfortunately there will be many detractors and road blocks along the way, but a solid plan will easily help you overcome these obstacles. The goal at the end of it all is worth it, so stick to it.
Photo Credit, Malenga, Scottish Libraries
1 comments:
Now that I am in retirement, at the age of 65, I can afford to look back and see how many of your do's and don'ts have applied to me and find that you have written a great post. I hope that you get a lot of visitors who will read it.
Incidentally, in my blog, I have used Rodin's the thinker as a graphic anchor!
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