My first post is not an introduction to who I am or what I do. This post serves as an introduction to the lessons I learned in my career so far. I only have two and a half years of real world experience; however, I believe your first experiences – first job, first assignment, and first mistake – set the stage for how you will and won’t approach your entire career.
Lesson #1: It can wait until tomorrow.
It’s true. You don’t have to skip the gym because of the dreaded email you received at 5 pm. In fact, the endorphins you produce at the gym will help you tackle the email the next morning.
It took me three months to learn this lesson. After working ten hours days, I would come home to reconnect to the network to post one more job or to scan one more resume. It was highly unlikely something significant was going to occur overnight. Even if something happened, none of my colleagues would know until the next day.
New professionals should learn this lesson quickly. Your boss won’t think you’re a slacker because you don’t work until 7 pm every evening. Your boss will think you’re a slacker if you don’t work late when it counts.
Learn when going the extra mile adds value to your organization. Put in your time when those situations arise. Your boss will recognize your hard work. It will remind your boss why he or she hired you in the first place.
Did you learn this lesson yet? Share your story in the comments section.
Kristen, it is great to see you blogging and this post is terrific. You are a terrific writer who has a lot to offer the younger generation in the workplace…and all of us. Some have yet to learn this lesson! I look forward to future posts and hope you are doing well.
Kim, it’s great to hear from you! I hope all is well with you too. Thank you for your post and compliments. Stay tuned for more lessons learned.