There are things that work and many more that don't. Let's discuss what we've experienced . . . not our opinions . . . but actually what our days and nights as marketers, business leaders, parents, people are teaching us. Please give us a hand. Tell us about your experience with this stuff.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Want an easier professional ride? Know Thyself

Make it easy for yourself. Be clear on what you bring to the table and what you have yet to develop.

You have some very specific experiences that make you a valuable contributor. Do enough thinking, talking to someone who knows you, writing your list of accomplishments (real things; not puffery) and then use these as your filter to understand where you fit.

Doesn't mean you won't be learning new things and having new experiences. (For most of my career I defined that equation as growth and used it to measure the value of my current job.)

But the point is to know when to be aggressive with your opinions (based on your experience; and please express it that way) and when to listen, observe and learn.

The math here is to always be aggressive with your efforts; just know when you have something to say and when you don't. Check your experience list and you'll know.