A few weeks ago, Kari wrote a very thoughtful entry titled “Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20s“, which I linked to from this blog. Kenny left a comment on my blog that, as someone in his early twenties just entering the workforce, he had hoped there would be some career advice.
I’ve spent the past few weeks mulling over the lessons I’ve learned in twenty years of working and would like to share these things I wish I had known when I started working. Of course, I don’t claim that it is comprehensive. What things do you wish you had known when you started working?
Lessons About Myself
I am responsible for my own growth and development. My manager, the training organization and HR are all resources to help me, but ultimately I am the responsible party.
As such, I should always be learning. Learn from each situation: ask what went well and what could be done better next time and then apply the lessons.
Step up and volunteer for things. Timid and shy people who are afraid of new assignments and more work, are the ones who miss out on the opportunities.
Manage expectations. “Under-promise and over-deliver”, as they say. By setting realistic expectations with others, I avoid some of the the stress of trying to meet unrealistic deadlines. That doesn’t mean that I won’t have tough deadlines to meet, but at least they won’t be tough deadlines of my own making.
Lessons About Companies
Yes, it is my job and yes, I am paid to do that. My job is to help the company succeed and as long as I am not breaking any laws or violating company policies, then I’ll enjoy greater success by doing it, even if the task is outside my normal job description.
“Up” isn’t the only way to get ahead. Lateral moves and moves into other parts of the organization can sometimes be better for my long-term prospects than standard promotions. Consider alternate routes to get where I want.
Sometimes it is better to have to wait for a promotion. Each time I didn’t get a promotion, I took the opportunity to be much better prepared for it when it I did finally get it. As a result, I always performed very well in my new role. Had I been promoted before I was really ready, I would have struggled and possibly failed.
Lessons About Customers
Treat customers the way I want to be treated as a customer. I had a manager who was an expert at empathizing with customers. No matter how angry the customer, she won them over and made them feel that she was on their side. She did the by treating them with respect and caring and by truly listening to them.
Related to that, I wish I had known that I can’t “win” an argument with a customer. While there may be customers I choose not to do business with, feeling any sense of satisfaction after trouncing a customer in an argument is pointless. What have I won? I have lost their business and have sullied my company’s reputation.
Lessons About Managers
Offer solutions, not problems. If I notice a problem or opportunity, think of at least one possible solution before approaching my manager. That way, I am welcomed as someone who brings solutions rather than being someone my manager regrets seeing at her door.
Managing and doing aren’t the same thing. I was a great widget maker but when I became the manager of the widget makers, I discovered that it required a new set of skills. Remember this when criticizing a manager or “the big wigs in HQ”. Remember this also before gunning for a promotion to a management or supervisory position.
Make my manager look good. Even if my manager isn’t perfect or has major flaws, trying to make him look bad will only reflect poorly on me and my entire team. My first manager was a tremendous a**hole and I almost quit because of him. But I decided I wouldn’t leave on his account. Sure enough, a few months later he had been fired and I went on to enjoy a very good 15 years with the company.
Lessons About Coworkers and Vendors
Treat everyone as a customer. When I respond to people with a “How can I help you?” attitude, I don’t necessarily get any additional work, but I do get the appreciation of coworkers and vendors who feel like I am a nice person and someone who helps them rather than hinders them.
Related to that, success in business (and maybe life as a whole) is based on good relationships and strong networks. Treating people well – not bullying, intimidating, yelling, name-calling or back-stabbing them – paves the road to success. Because, sure enough, at some point in the future that “little person” I treated well will hold the key to a door through which I want to enter.
Lessons About Retirement
Start investing in my 401(k) or other retirement savings from day one. Even if I can only afford to invest a small amount – even $20 a month – it is better to get into the habit from the very beginning. The benefits of compound interest and time (forty or more years until retirement) can only accrue if I start saving. I’ve done well with this, but wish I had started much earlier.
Reviewing these, I feel like there are plenty more things I could share, but these are the most critical ones that, had I known them on March 17, 1987 when I entered the workforce, life would have been a whole lot easier and working a whole lot more enjoyable.
What additional advice would you give Kenny?
christao408 
Nice lessons to learn indeed.
I would add communication skills (i.e. writing and presentations)and interpersonal skills. Sometimes people focus too much on the technical component of their responsibilities and not the soft skills. Another skill that is more difficult to learn is the informal organization. They compliment all the formal rules and processes but are essential in getting things done (i.e. who you know). Nice entry.
btw – I just noticed we both recommended the same entries in the past day (Sheldon’s and Steve’s).
Thanks for the shout out, Chris. (:Your advice is dead on. Unfortunately, not too many people take stock in their career and just see it as a “job”. Thus, they don’t bother to put in the extra effort to do well and get noticed then they blame it on everyone else for not getting that promotion.Each and everyone of us is responsible for our own actions. I think that this is the best advice to give not only on the job but in life too.
You’ve covered everything I would have said. I would definately agree with what ElusiveWords added. It’s appalling the number of managers and executives I’ve encountered who have terrible writing skills… including basic grammar and composition. It seems that with spell-check and grammar-check many feel like it’s no longer a required skill.
I would like to add to your advice on contributing to a 401k plan. Even if your company doesn’t offer such a plan, start one on your own. I never worked for a company who offered a 401k until my current job and I wish I would have started something sooner.
Thanks for your kind words. Good luck!
“Lessons About Customers” – yes, I think all corporations should invite hookers to come over and give a seminar about why customers are always right… 🙂
Brilliant post! I especially like/agree with: “success in business (and maybe life as a whole) is based on good relationships and strong networks. Treating people well – not bullying, intimidating, yelling, name-calling or back-stabbing them – paves the road to success.” That is the secret.
I am older but not wiser than you. I will recommend this weblog entry.
@YNOTswim – What?!
@choyshinglin – Gosh, that’s a very kind thing to say. Thank you, but I’m sure it isn’t true.
@Francois – Thank you.
These are all great tips. Being relatively new to the professional world, I greatly appreciate them. Thank you!
Fantastic post Chris. I would like to send this to my son Sayeed who is branch manager for Wells Fargo. I hope you won’t mind my doing that.
I’ve been in the workforce for a while. One of the things I have learned is to take responsibility for your actions. IF you mess up, admit it and then do what you can to make it right. I remember in the past that once I made a pretty huge mistake…I took full responsibility for it which impressed my manager so much that when he got promoted, I did too!
Recommending your post for all those twenty somethings out there, including my son. Good work!
A lot of youngsters nowadays are not really keen or serious in life. I just wish a lot more could read your post. Thanks for sharing.
I concur wholeheartedly.
@La_dolce_vida – You’re welcome. Good point about viewing things as a job versus as a career. It seems that even if you are in a job right now, the things you can learn can contribute to longer-term success in a career.
good stuff. i’d also add in communication: you can’t get answers to questions not asked, and thus, no question is “stupid”. and the other thing i’d add would be to be energized… or at least fake it. nothing drags people internally, externally and the company as a whole, more than someone that’s weighing it all down. being upbeat and energized.. happy and excited.. for nothing at all.. like how a smile goes a long way.. that’s all it takes most of the time.. for anyone to go from grumpy to cheery… and to keep persisting on being upbeat, because there will be those grumps that will try to bring you down with them (that whole, “if i’m not happy, no one else should be either!” attitude) and you have to try to turn that frown upside down.
@ElusiveWords – You know what they say about great minds, right?
@ElusiveWords – Good points about the communication skills. I was going to add that, but purposely left it off because I wanted to keep the list focused just on what I would have liked to know when I first started working. In fact, for my employer I just created a training program (with the help of a very capable colleague who might read this blog, so I’ll give her credit!) called “Climbing the Ladder: Career Advancement”. It is an optional workshop for employees who want to figure out how to move ahead.
In the program, we identify five “Fundamental Requirements” that, regardless of the job you have or the job you want, you need to develop: Listening Skills, Writing Skills, Speaking Skills, Computer Skills, Ability to Handle Pressure, and Time Management.
@alextebow – Good points, Alex. Even if you do not have a 401(k) or equivalent available to you, just start saving and investing.
@euphorie – There is certainly a point to be made that having compassion and respect for others and acting on that compassion and respect is maybe the only lesson you need to learn in life.
@TheCheshireGrins – @socaltransplant – @ZSA_MD – @Norcani – Thank you and please feel free to share this with others. If anyone benefits from it, then all the better.
@LostSock21 – That’s an excellent suggestion that I should have included. “Take responsibility” is good advice for both work and life. Thanks for adding it to the discussion.
@J_Damask – Very good suggestions, thank you. I’ve long believed in the “fake it ’till you make it” approach, especially to mood and attitude. You may not feel upbeat, but try to act upbeat. You’ll find that the actions jump-start the reality. Thanks again.
401K max it out if you can!!!and don’t talk bad about other people behind their back. it’ll eventually get around back to you.7 Habits of Highly Effective People
You are welcome. @christao408 –
I’ve been considering writing such a post because there was a huge dearth of career-related advice on Xanga. Thank you so much for writing it instead, ha, because you did a much better job than I would have.
Thank you. Ugg…some of those are hard, but not as hard as facing the consequences of not doing them. Sigh. Alas I am still trying to get it together in many aspects of life. Thank God for good advice.
There’s one I’ve been trying to learn – managing your manager. btw – love the feedback you’re getting here.
You sound like you’re very responsible, optimistic, and have good work ethics (but it wasn’t so back in 1987, eh?). I guess w/ work, sometimes it’s hard to enjoy doing extra work (i.e. “That’s not a part of my job description!” “I’m not getting paid extra for doing this!” “Why can’t somebody else do it?!”) because we don’t think about the long-term benefits (gaining more experience, new opportunities).
@doraemonxo – Very good suggestions. I’ve found that a lot of younger friends who are starting out feel that they can’t afford to save anything, let along maxing out at 20-25% of their earnings. But certainly, saving at least as much as your employer will match is a good first step.
@GreekPhysique – Thanks for the nice words. I’m sure you have some additional lessons that you have learned from your experience. Would you like to share them?
@charlottegeely – Thanks for your comments. It is always easier to sit down and spout advice than to always follow it – a lesson I’m still learning!
@themongooseblogs – Thanks for the thoughtful comments and kind words. I think I had good work ethics when I started (thanks to my parents) but there were certainly many lessons about the reality of work life that I had to learn and wish I had known. As for the challenge of seeing the long-term benefits, you’re absolutely right. Maybe this is just human nature or maybe just a product of how our cultures have developed in the modern age, but we seem to seek out the immediate gratification rather than the long term payoff.
@ElusiveWords – Yes, there is some really nice feedback and comments coming in. Managing your manager is a whole other post, I think! Certainly, it is a matter of understanding how you can use your strengths to complement your manager’s weaknesses, as well as how to communicate effectively to set clear expectations – both ways.
Very comprehensive indeed! Thank you for the advice Chris, especially at a time when I am entering the work life.PS: I was born less than 2 months after you started working! I feel like a kid! lol
@Dezinerdreams – Okay, thanks for making me feel REALLY old. =P Seriously, though, I hope you can learn some of these lessons the easy way. It will make work much more enjoyable and much more successful.
Brilliant! Should be required reading. 🙂
Stopped by on a rec…those were great lessons. I wish I had learned them earlier~especially the can’t win an argument with a customer and the vendor ones.
@buckeyegirl31 – Glad you enjoyed them. Sadly (and I’m living proof of this) people seem much more likely to have to learn a lesson the hard way rather than take some advice from someone else. Human nature, I suppose!
@jojobaDESIGNS – So glad you liked it!
You ‘work’ very hard at what you want to say. I can see that you also respect traditional values like you would respect a tool on your job-very impressive. From what else I can see, you would be the kind of guy that young men would want to model themselves after; the pinnacle of life’s achievement, in my opinion.
Your a stand-up guy, Christao, ‘keep that weather vane pointing west’.
@ForceMeToThink – Wow, thanks for the compliments. Not sure that I’d recommend anyone to model themselves on me, though. Just sharing my thoughts and experiences, that’s all.
@christao408 – Awww. To be honest, I have always been aware of these for a long time now, even though I have never worked before. When I think of it- I don’t know how I know these! lol I guess my parents brought me up good! lol
what a timely post! i’m a recent graduate and currently looking for a job.. thanks a bunch!
Hey ~ excellent post!!
i will have to keep these in mind 🙂