The 3 Lessons I have Learned

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  • Originally posted on Linkedin Pulse

    What are the 3 lessons you have learned during your career? I had the opportunity to reflect back on the 3 biggest lessons I have learned to share with one of my Alma Maters this month. Here are the 3 that I wish I had known when I was starting out. Share yours using the hash tag #3lessonslearned

    1. Learn how to say 'no'

    During your career you will be presented frequently with a myriad of opportunities. However, just like any investment portfolio, only a very few of these will turn out to be profitable. 

    To be successful in business and in life, you need to be on the constant lookout for opportunities, wherever they are. Finding new opportunities is typically not the challenge. However, finding the ‘right’ opportunities can be!

    Carefully screen every opportunity that is presented to you and ask yourself three questions. 

    1. Is it aligned with your purpose? 
    2. Is it aligned with your values?
    3. Does it have growth potential?

    Opportunities that are not aligned with your purpose are a distraction and consume valuable time and resources. Those not aligned to values are likely to make you uncomfortable and those without growth potential, be it personal or career related, are likely to leave you unsatisfied and frustrated. 

    Every time we say yes to something, we are also saying no to something else that we could be doing with this time. Take the time to consider what that could be.

    Remember, there is always an opportunity cost associated with saying ‘yes’. Practice saying ‘no’.

    2. Always hitch your wagon to a star

    When selecting opportunities, make sure that you are always hitching your wagon to a star. This relates to both the people that you work for and the context that you work in.

    People : When it comes to people, I have found that as an A player (someone who sets the vision, gets things started and closes the big deals), I should always work for another A Player.

    An individual wanting to give 110% every day and smash both personal and company targets is likely to be frustrated working for leaders who are happy with the status quo. Unlike the C Player, someone who has no desire to progress in their career or climb the corporate ladder, who is happy to tread water in their job for the next decade, another A Player will not be threatened by your commitment and performance, rather they will typically respect it and reward it. For in their mind they have already planned their next career move – and if you prove your worth - you could either replace them or go with them! Be sure to hitch your wagon to that A Player star!  Also Beware – it’s the C Players that often fire the A Players!

    Context: As a top line contributor, it is clear that joining a declining industry is unlikely to deliver the maximum results. However, joining an exploding growth industry or company and giving your all, always delivers the strongest multiple. Why? Because it delivers the compounding effect of the growth of the industry or company multiplied with your own 110% contribution. 

    Growth + Effort, I have always found to be a formula for maximum success.

    3. Success = Being + Doing = Having

    Consider these three questions:

    1. What would I like to BE?
    2. What would I like to DO?
    3. What do I want to HAVE?

    I have learned that when you have clear answers to these questions, you will focus on those things that you are passionate about. Understand the best that you can achieve based on what you need to do and follow a path that is right for YOUR definition of success.

    Too often we can be misguided by another’s idea of success and focus on external factors such as money or status. This is not the recipe for personal fulfilment or happiness.

    When you understand who you are (to be), then you will know what to do and you shall have what you want.

    Also, once you articulate these answers, you activate your brains RAS - the Reticular Activating System. This is the component of the brain that tells you what to ignore and what to pay attention to. Given we live within a constant stream of incoming data, activating your RAS is critical to helping you stay on "purpose" for success. 

  • Leesa Soulodre
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