What Success Really Looks Like and Do You Actually Want It?
We all want to be successful, but what does that mean, and what does it look like once you’ve achieved it? On Episode 1 of the Start Fast Podcast we met with Tanuj Goyal, Associate Vice President of IMI Mobile, to discuss how he made the transition from software engineering to product marketing leadership. In this episode, Tanuj also shared how he defines success, and I completely agree with him.
Many people define success by how far up the ladder you can move or how much money you make. In reality, those are the outcomes of success but not success in and of itself. The way Tanuj defines success is by doing good work. This philosophy of success was shaped by one of his former CEOs who would always say, “the only reward for turning in good work is more work.”
So if you’re lazy, you don’t want to be successful. Because when you’re successful, you’ll be given more work and responsibility, and there will be greater visibility on your work. However, if you have the right attitude and are more focused on the outcomes of the work in front of you, then you’re more likely to find those positive outcomes in your career.
The natural next question is, “Well, how will I know if I’m doing good work or not?” If you’re struggling to find the success you desire, then there’s two possible reasons. The first is that your best efforts might not be good enough, and you might not be a fit for the role you’re in. The second possibility is that you are in the right role, but you’re just not turning in work at the level that is expected. In many cases, your work isn’t solely judged by your direct manager, and this can make the equation all the more complicated. So, how can you be sure you’re turning in good work and on the path to success?
As Tanuj puts it, “More work will only come your way when you have delivered previously assigned work up to the satisfaction of the stakeholders.” So the first step is to identify who the stakeholders are of the work you’re responsible for. A stakeholder is simply someone who has a stake in the work you’re doing. If the work directly or indirectly impacts an individual inside or outside of your organization, then they’re a stakeholder.
To mitigate the risk of turning in bad work, you should involve your stakeholders early and often in the process. Ask thoughtful questions, empathize with their needs, and incorporate their feedback into your work. It will not only help you produce high-quality work, but your stakeholders will already have a positive bias towards your work, knowing that they were heard and their input was valued and acted upon.
But as Marshall Goldsmith has told us, “What got you here, won’t get you there.” If turning in great work is what leads to success and the career opportunities you want, then there’s a second step you need to take to ensure you’re ready for those opportunities and increased responsibilities. Tanuj explained how the second part of the success equation is preparing for the outcomes of it, and continuous learning is the key to preparation.
There’s no way to be fully prepared for any new role. Regardless of how much experience you have, there will always be a learning curve. The best way to shorten that curve is to learn something new every day in preparation for your next assignment. Complacency is the quickest way to stunt your professional growth. As is the mantra of Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, we need to be “learn-it-alls” rather than “know-it-alls.”
To hear the full episode, click the link below for the Start Fast podcast on Google, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes as we release new content every week!
John Fontenot | Founder and CEO of JobReadi | Host of The Start Fast Podcast