45-years-ago, on April 10th, ?a day later than expected, I started my full-time post-university career (see yesterday’s post).
Since then, I witnessed the introduction of PC's, email, voicemail, cell phones, Internet, Cloud & SaaS, electronic collaboration technology, audio & video conferencing, and social media. They changed the way we work, allowing globalization & offshoring; remote work & virtual offices; expert & machine learning systems; and industrial & knowledge worker automation. They have created new business sectors, caused others to vanish and have changed our business & social fabric.
So now, as we sit on the cusp of the AI revolution, are we about to experience changes of the order of magnitude not seen before? If so, what can we learn from the past and how should you think about your career in the future?
My career has been about navigating change. Disrupting homeostasis is scary because it disrupts hierarchy & power structures; it takes personal energy & effort to learn new skills; and outcomes may be uncertain. What is often overlooked is the status quo can also be dangerous. Ask any dinosaur. ?
Recently, I was asked how I had successfully navigated my career thru these changes but didn’t have a good answer. On further reflection, I came up with a few points to share:
- Luck had a lot to do with it. There were significant forks on my path. My emotions/ego often suggested one way (which would have been disastrous) but my logic, risk aversion, or just fate caused me to stick to a safer, but longer route. 45 years on, it is easy to see a career is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Mentors were a huge factor. I was smart but not wise. Mentors filled that gap. Surround yourself with great mentors & your path will be easier.
- Everything I undertook was done with energy, enthusiasm, or and a desire to win. People like to be on the winning team so they pushed or helped me to succeed.
- Change requires top-down vision & leadership but also bottom-up buy-in. Change leaders will emerge to lead, but these may not be the same leaders from the pre-change world. At IBM of the 1980’s, I was a square peg in a round hole.? Change creates opportunity and in the 1990’s, I found my groove in the new IBM. Change can be a great equalizer because old rules are gone & everyone is starting scratch.
- Careers can look a lot like a triangle. Some are isosceles, narrow at the base with steep sides as people are promoted quickly, but may not have a broad skills foundation to sustain their promotions. Mine was an equilateral triangle, wide at the base, where I spent the first 14 years as an individual contributor in many different roles, and then shallower sides of the triangle to the peak. It is a heck of a lot harder to push over an equilateral triangle than an isosceles one.
- Know what you are good at and where you’re not. Stick with your superpowers and surround yourself with those who are great where you aren’t.
Don't fear change. Be open and curious. Explore and leverage the opportunities it creates and have a great career.
