"It Is Easier To Build Strong Children Than To Repair Broken Men"
"It Is Easier To Build Strong Children Than To Repair Broken Men" As I was tossing and turning in bed during one of those sleepless nights I found myself thinking about my sons and their careers.
What will they accomplish and how will they run their race? What do they need to know they'll never find in a book or classroom? What have I mentored and coached that I have forgotten to tell them? In the end, I got out of bed and started typing. This is the advice for the two Millennial men that are my sons.......
What you do with what you know is more important than what you know. Your credentials and skills aren't entitlement, you still have to 'do'.
If you believe you can, you will. The size of your faith and belief in yourself will define your capacity. Doubt and the frames we create for ourselves are the biggest killer of dreams you'll ever encounter.
Your next job isn't your last job, it's just your next job. Career are pyramids. If you build a strong, solid, wide base you'll go much further and higher in the end.
Cultural fit is more important than how your skills and experience align. As a manager it's our job to 'instill the will without killing the spirit'. If you find yourself somewhere where your spirit is being killed, you should build your exit strategy.
It will be necessary to move laterally or step back to get ahead at least once in your career. There is no shame in doing this. This is mission, it takes courage not ego.
It's always important to remember that everyone has a different dream. The very best leaders are those that enable people's dreams.
Leadership is not a popularity contest or a democracy. Budgets get cut. Companies are downsized or sold. Leaders don't count votes, they make difficult decisions. The loneliest job I ever had was CEO.
There is nothing like a first impression and you don't get a second chance. Always having a compelling elevator pitch.
The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack. Some leaders move quickly and some continue to just kick the can down the road. Always understand the speed of the pack and stay out at the front.
Never, ever, talk badly about a client or your audience regardless of what they do. Others are watching you and will define your character based on what you do and say.
You must be able to ignore what's in your rear view mirror. When you leave a dept. or a company there will be those that feel compelled to 'pee on your grave'. This happens in every move you will make throughout your career. Anticipate it. It's dirt off your shoulder.
In summary, there is no summary on this topic. Having enjoyed (and still enjoying) a long career across seven different industries, I'm still learning and this article isn't complete. If I'm able to heed my own advice, it will thankfully never be finished or complete.
#TBT Quote: Frederick Douglass
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