While the COVID-19 pandemic has upended most every aspect of life for all of us, I have been thinking a great deal about one situation in particular — college students getting ready to secure their first career-related full-time job.
Many may be interviewing and onboarding via videoconference, starting their work remotely, missing out on the informal cultural cues they would have gotten under the old normal circumstances. Thinking about the world of work in the current context has also made me reflect on the core principles I’ve embraced throughout my career that guide me to this day. I share them here with the hope that they might be helpful to new college graduates starting out, as well as individuals further along in their careers who can compare and contrast them with their own guiding principles for success.
You Can Never Get Lost on the High Road
Roughly 20 years ago a colleague of mine (who was 20 years my elder) and I found ourselves in a difficult situation with no clear solution. Our only options were choices that neither of us wanted to make. After much discussion, he said, “Well, Randy — I always say, you can’t get lost on the high road.” And with that, our choice became very clear. Since then, I repeat this phrase whenever I am faced with a difficult decision. People often speak of integrity as something you must constantly nurture and never want to lose. This phrase helps keep integrity intact.
Under-promise and Over-deliver
Building your personal brand is more important than ever these days and having dependability at the core of your reputation is a great asset. I learned early on that making a habit of under-promising and over-delivering goes a long way to building your personal brand. I started my career in institutional research, which had me constantly responding to requests for data. Managing expectations is critical, so I’d always ask for a deadline on the request. If they said Wednesday, I’d ask if Friday was okay. More often than not, they’d say “sure” or “whenever.” I’d tell them they’d have it by Friday. When I gave it to them on Wednesday, they were surprised and very thankful. Under-promising and over-delivering whenever possible infuses positive energy into the workplace and strengthens interpersonal relationships with others.
Add Value Wherever You Can
I played a lot of sports growing up, and my parents always reinforced the notion that it wasn’t about me and my individual performance, but rather about the overall team effort and my individual contribution to the larger outcome. I was just happy to be on the field or court, adding value wherever I could. The same applies to the workplace. We all have our assigned jobs, but no task should be beneath anyone. I still take notes in small group discussions and pick up wind-blown trash as I walk across campus — whatever it takes — because I’m part of a team and just happy to be in the game. It’s about having a “give first without expecting anything in return” mentality that somehow pays dividends beyond whatever you give. I’ve kept this notion top of mind throughout my career and have found it to be a differentiator.
Listen More Than You Speak
Politicians, philosophers, and celebrities have all been quoted referencing the fact that we have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak. A related sentiment from these often-quoted individuals is how no one can learn anything when they are the one talking. It sounds simple, but it’s not easy to do. However, if you can apply it — particularly early in your career — you will accelerate your learning and influence through the knowledge you gain by simply giving others space to talk. If you focus on the quality of your words rather than the quantity, people will come to value your opinion and contributions.
Avoid the Rumor Mill
One thing that isn’t talked about enough in career advice is the rumor mill. I had a mentor early in my career who quoted Eleanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” Fortunately, she was the kind of supervisor who encouraged me to ask her questions and, rather than feed the rumor mill, would help me reframe and recognize that there are multiple sides to every story and that all organizations are complex. By encouraging me to focus on my own locus of control and what I could influence, I’ve always been able to stay centered on my own work and responsibilities without getting distracted by gossip and rumors. People know who feeds into the rumor mill and it usually works against the reputation of those whose names are always in the mix.
See Yourself as the Hero in Your Own Journey
And finally, embracing Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” and applying it to yourself — you are the hero in your own journey — is a concept that I rely on to this day. I liked this brief video so much that I watched the entire short film. While the film is a little quirky, the messages are useful and increased my understanding of how each of us has gifts and potential that, when nurtured through the lens of the hero’s journey, allow us to commit to the challenges before us, helped by mentors and guides that appear along the way to help us secure the success and treasure we all seek.
What are the principles that guide you for your own success?
If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me directly at presblog@mvcc.edu.
