Choice

Every day, we make many choices: what to wear, what to eat, should we shave, when to go for a walk, should I exercise. Most of these are small choices that we never give much thought to, but there are also many major choices in life. Things that require significant contemplation and often agony: which college should I go to, is he or she “the one”, or which house should I buy. As professionals, the one we probably agonize over the most is “is this the right job for me” or “which job should I choose.”

Having made a choice on a job last year which I ended up leaving a week after I joined, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the event and my “choice.” Having had much time to reflect, I do not regret leaving, but I have spent a lot of time thinking about why I chose that opportunity over others. While I will not delve into my analysis of that particular choice, I will share what I’ve learned coming out of that choice about the things I will consider most highly as I make my next professional choice.

I am a passionate person at the core. I thrive off the energy of organizations, people, and mission. I bring my full self and give it my best every day because I want to believe that my efforts will make a difference to the company, the team, the world. This understanding of myself has helped me recognize that the three biggest attributes in my choice are: purpose, people, and culture. 

Purpose - I was incredibly passionate about the purpose of TD Ameritrade “To transform investing and lives for the better.” As a senior leader, it is so motivating to know that you are aligned to an organization that is trying to make a difference in the world. When you know that the work you and your teams perform are aligned to a higher purpose, it makes you strive even harder for excellence. It also motivates your team because they understand that there is a direct connection between what they do and how it might change the world. For me, choosing an opportunity based on the purpose of the company is a critical selection factor.

People – We spend so much time at work that the people who you work with make all the difference in the world in terms of the experience you have. They are the ones who make you laugh; they are the ones you climb mountains with; they are the ones you have beers with at the end of a tough week. For me, enjoying the camaraderie of colleagues is everything. At TD Ameritrade, I can unequivocally say that I worked with great people. They were fun, wanted to win, and supported each other during challenging times. In terms of people, there are three key constituencies that need to be considered: 1) your boss 2) your peers and 3) your team. The relationship with your boss is incredibly important. For me, a boss who I can trust and trusts me, who is transparent, is a good listener, gives me autonomy, and provides inspiration to be better is paramount. Your peers are your partners in advancing common goals. You should feel comfortable with your peers – able to be transparent, able to vent, be collegial, and not political. Finally, the team is the wind beneath your wings. You should strive to love them and them you and feel like you are the leader of the team and at the same time a member of the team. You should have fun with them and yet lead them purposefully and they know that your feedback and corrective actions comes from a place of common understanding. Think carefully about the people you will be working with and whether they are the right fit in terms of what you are looking for.

Culture – The culture of the organization that you work in has a large impact in terms of how you feel every day in terms of coming to work. Attributes like high empowerment, agility, low meetings threshold and bureaucracy, entrepreneurial spirit, growth mindset, collegiality, flexibility, innovation, and a learning-orientation have such a positive vibe in any organization. As you select your next opportunity, make sure the culture fits the type of environment that motivates you.

There are other factors that are important, but many prioritize them as one of the critical factors and end up making the wrong choice. The three that most often come to mind are compensation, the size/scope of the role, and who you are reporting to. Compensation is important and being in the ballpark of what you think is your market value is a necessity in terms of selecting the right opportunity, but it should not be the driving factor of your selection. You should be happy with all the other attributes that are priorities for you and then make sure you feel good about the compensation. Second, you shouldn’t get too caught up in terms of the size and scope of the role. Those things change over time based upon the needs of the organization and who cares if you have 10 people or 10,000 people as long as you’re doing meaningful work for a great organization. Try to get clarity on what the role is and possibilities for growth over time but don’t focus too much on exactly what it is on Day 1. Finally, many people focus on where they report in the organization as a priority factor. At TD Ameritrade, I went from leading a 4500-person organization at Ford reporting to the CIO to essentially having 6 direct reports reporting a few levels down, but I was passionate about the opportunity to be in a new industry, start a new office in Ann Arbor, and help foster innovation – ultimately, I was happier. 

As you go through this decision-making process, sounding boards are incredibly important. These are people who can always challenge your thinking, provide you with different perspectives, and will always stand by your side even if you make the wrong choice. For me, my wife, Anuja Rajendra, is my primary sounding board and rock. As I’ve gone through several transitions this year including some painful ones, Anuja has always patiently listened and provided me thoughtful guidance, even sometimes challenging me, but helped me navigate often treacherous straights and providing me with perspective when things felt bleak. Her empathy for me is unwavering. I always count my blessings and am so grateful to have her in my life. As you make these decisions, make sure you find your own sounding board(s) to help you navigate tough choices.

Professional choice is one of the toughest things we go through as adults but always remember, if you make a mistake, you always have the power to change it and changing is better than not, especially when you know you made the wrong choice. Learnings from this experience abound and new and inspiring opportunities may often be ahead!