3 Mistakes I Made In My First Job That I Hope Others Don't Make
When I first thought of this topic, it sounded a lot like Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Three Mistakes of My Life’. But in retrospective, I thought, why not? If speaking about the mistakes that I made during my professional journey can prevent someone else from doing the same, then what’s the harm? We all learn through trial and error. And some of the biggest lessons we learn in life are through mistakes.
What I share ahead are takeaways or learning from my first job – a lesson I learned after accepting it was a mistake.
Being Unprepared - The Art of Crisis Management
The earlier you learn the ropes, the better. A crisis can be something as small as a team member falling ill on the day that a pitch needs to be presented or something as trivial as a last-minute power shut down when you have a potential HNI client coming over to discuss future associations.
The bottom line of a crisis, or rather the antidote to a tricky situation lies in inculcating a result-oriented attitude. The corporate world is dynamic and volatile, and every industry today strives to adapt to the evolving digital transformations.
The key to be a step ahead is being prepared with a solution even before the problem can be stated.
Burning the Midnight Oil - Never Neglect Your Personal Well-Being
According to the World Health Organization, mental illness has cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity, with more than 300 million people reportedly suffering from depression.
There always comes a phase at work when the pressure begins to build. Too many overlapping deadlines, decreasing or negligent turnaround time, sleepless nights and the impulse to skip meals. Avoiding that morning jog, giving in to binge eating, pushing yourself to stare at a screen for more than 10 hours a day. This eventually leads to work fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety, and eventually depression that goes unnoticed and unaddressed.
Back then, I was an employee. But today, as a leader, it has become even more crucial to ensure that I experience a healthy well-being state of mind before mentoring, leading, or making any game-changing decisions. Because a decision made in a troubled state of mind is bound to be subjective.
It’s time to speak up and seek help, because imbibing positive thinking goes a long way.
But to get there eventually, we must overthrow the stigma initially.
Prioritizing Professional over Personal - Family Comes First, Always
There have been countless occasions when I have tried convincing myself that work is worship and if duty calls, you oblige. But the very next moment I have contemplated my choice of prioritizing work over spending quality time with my loved ones. Often, in a chase to achieve excellence, we unintentionally abandon that what gives us the most amount of joy. We immerse ourselves so much in our work lives, that taking time off means having a pile of work at your desk upon return. And that is what leads us to cancel planned vacations at times.
Take an unpaid leave if it comes to that but be there to watch your child perform at the annual day. It’s alright if you cannot make Switzerland happen with your spouse. A weekend getaway with a 4-5-hour drive will be equally worth it.
Celebrate the smaller joys instead of waiting for the bigger occasions. Because for a majority of us, family is what we all work for.
Mistakes happen. Once, it’s alright. Twice, understandable to an extent. But knowing that you are making the same mistake all over again, and still go ahead, you are surely bound to regret it later. First jobs are what can make or break your career. It will set the pace, decorum, and to a certain extent discipline you for the rest of your aspirational career. Make the smart choice. Make mistakes, for that takes you to success. Take risks, for that makes you stronger and more confident. Aim to enjoy the best of all worlds while you still can.