It's ALL About You

A Sales executive called me for advice. His company is restructuring.

“Craig, I’m a company guy and I’ll do what’s best for the company, but…”

It was there that I cut him off.

“Joe, with or without you the company will either be fine, or it won’t. You don’t have that much power to change a whole lot. But what about you? What happens to you and your family if you’re forced to move, take a job you don’t want, or you lose your job altogether?”

Taking Care of Number 1!

Now that I’m firmly implanted into middle age I can reflect on my career. 

In every job I had I was a company guy, too. All the way up until:

-         The Navy wanted to send me to sea for 5 straight years;

-         I got really bored and impatient;

-         The Sales job I loved went ‘Poof!’ …

-         Company leaders decided to unilaterally “adjust” commissions (downward)

It was then that I became a “Craig” guy. Maybe it was just easier to become “The VP of ME.”

Today I work hard to delight my customers and when I take on a project it is ALWAYS about them. But, in the best interest of “Craig,” I don’t take on stuff I don’t want and I won’t work on terms that aren’t to my liking. I have a business and family to support, too.

WHAT I LEARNED THRU IT ALL

And with all that said, here is what I learned over the years:

• Nothing lasts forever. Even the most successful military careers only last 20 or 25 years and someday your job may go “Poof!” Jobs are nothing more than temporary opportunities.
• The Navy gives you five straight years of sea duty because the Navy needs you at sea, not because you want to be there. Companies will do what is best for the company, not individual employees. They always reserve the right to move you to Cleveland, or your job to Mexico.
•  If you’re stagnant, you’re dead. Boredom kills the soul.
• Whether you stay, or you go the company WILL or WILL NOT be fine. You don’t have that much power to change a lot. Great companies will be great. Crummy ones will usually stay crummy.
• Great leadership is prolific. Finding leadership that takes you in a direction YOU want (or need) to go is challenging. Don’t be a lemming.
• Your boss is thinking about his bonus. If you can’t help him get it by making or saving money, then you’re overhead.
•  “Adjustments” to commissions = pay cut.
• I should have kept the head-hunter’s number.
•  It’s OKAY to be selfish.

TAKE CONTROL

Your career is YOURS and YOURS ONLY to develop. If you’re always going where guy in the corner office tells you to go versus where you want to be, then there is a problem.  

Take control and place a vote for yourself. Perhaps it's time to become "The VP of ME..."