What Advice Would You Give Your Friends and Family From your Career Experiences?

 

A friend had a very trying day at work and posted some advice based on what she had seen. I got to thinking about it, and while my professions and careers are hardly matters of life and death, I realized that I had similar advice for people. I am sure we all do, whatever our profession or job. I am not seeking the level of information in some of our posts like Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Concrete* (But Were Afraid To Ask). It’s simply a request for pithy advice from the front lines of working.

I used to program computers, and when I started my first consulting firm I offered some computer-related services. Advice I rapidly found had to be given was, “Don’t go on the Internet if you don’t have anti-virus software.”

As a process management guy, my advice is, “Don’t bother documenting them if you don’t know how you’re going to use that documentation to change things.” Also, “Don’t expect most of your people to have any idea what those diagrams mean unless they are engineers and you have given a class in reading them.”

So, what do you have, Ricochet?

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  1. Mike Rapkoch Member
    Mike Rapkoch
    @MikeRapkoch

    If you want to avoid a harassment lawsuit never, eve, compliment a co-worker. That’s harsh and had it been followed I would be a poorer man today–but less cynical.

    • #1
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Mike Rapkoch:If you want to avoid a harassment lawsuit never, eve, compliment a co-worker. That’s harsh and had it been followed I would be a poorer man today–but less cynical.

    Sad, but true. We live in a strange world.

    • #2
  3. Claire Berlinski, Ed. Member
    Claire Berlinski, Ed.
    @Claire

    If you earn a living by writing, your talent — over time — is much less important than your ability consistently to write pieces that are roughly what the client requested by the client’s deadline. Professional writing is no place for those whose talent is buffeted about by the fickle whims of a creative muse. What separates “talented writers” from `’people who can support themselves by writing” is the latter’s ability to say something coherent and readable every single day — even when they don’t feel like saying anything at all, or indeed have nothing all that interesting to say on any given day.

    • #3
  4. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Mine is a more generalized version of what Claire is saying.  Work time is work time, not play time.  Be the one known for getting the job done.

    • #4
  5. MikeHs Inactive
    MikeHs
    @MikeHs

    There is no shortcut for honesty and integrity, but also for listening and respect, when dealing with and advocating on behalf of clients. It’s best that your client, and their adversaries, know that you are a straight shooter.

    • #5
  6. Freeven Member
    Freeven
    @Freeven

    On day one, make friends with the custodial staff.

    • #6
  7. Tedley Member
    Tedley
    @Tedley

    Mike Rapkoch:If you want to avoid a harassment lawsuit never, eve, compliment a co-worker. That’s harsh and had it been followed I would be a poorer man today–but less cynical.

    Could you provide some background regarding the “compliment”?

    • #7
  8. Hank Rhody Contributor
    Hank Rhody
    @HankRhody

    The most important part of any machine is the guy who’s running it.

    • #8
  9. Son of Spengler Member
    Son of Spengler
    @SonofSpengler

    There is an inherent tradeoff between reward and risk. Reducing any risk requires some sacrifice, and on the flip side, higher returns don’t come “free” — they mean that you are assuming greater risk somewhere.

    • #9
  10. Pony Convertible Inactive
    Pony Convertible
    @PonyConvertible

    Those, that, talk, smile and laugh but have marginal performance will get more recognition than the quiet, but excellent, performer.  You have to toot your own horn.

    • #10
  11. Pony Convertible Inactive
    Pony Convertible
    @PonyConvertible

    Mike Rapkoch:If you want to avoid a harassment lawsuit never, eve, compliment a co-worker. That’s harsh and had it been followed I would be a poorer man today–but less cynical.

    I agree with this except for compliments about how they did their job.

    • #11
  12. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    Nobody fires the fun guy.

    • #12
  13. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    If you want to start your own business, do it with all your heart. Be prepared to screw up a couple of times, but don’t let fear or other people’s expectations stop you. It may not seem logical to take the leap into uncertain income when your stay-at-home wife is expecting your fifth child, but success is not entirely a matter of logic.

    • #13
  14. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    CB Toder aka Mama Toad: If you want to start your own business, do it with all your heart. Be prepared to screw up a couple of times, but don’t let fear or other people’s expectations stop you.

    Very true. As with so many things, waiting seldom makes it better.

    • #14
  15. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    You can be the smartest guy you know, and the hardest working. But unless you are willing to take risks, that just means you will be the sharpest tool in someone else’s shed.

    People make very irrational decisions when risk is involved.

    • #15
  16. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    You’re a prostitute. You sell yourself for money. Don’t make more of it than it really is.

    • #16
  17. Nick Stuart Inactive
    Nick Stuart
    @NickStuart

    Work hard, keep your head down, keep your mouth shut, and don’t f*** it up.

    • #17
  18. Claire Berlinski, Ed. Member
    Claire Berlinski, Ed.
    @Claire

    iWe:You can be the smartest guy you know, and the hardest working. But unless you are willing to take risks, that just means you will be the sharpest tool in someone else’s shed.

    People make very irrational decisions when risk is involved.

    I would certainly read with great interest a post from you about your career has taught you about how and when to take risk wisely. Wouldn’t everyone here?

    • #18
  19. Claire Berlinski, Ed. Member
    Claire Berlinski, Ed.
    @Claire

    Casey:You’re a prostitute. You sell yourself for money. Don’t make more of it than it really is.

    Speak for yourself.

    • #19
  20. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Casey:You’re a prostitute. You sell yourself for money. Don’t make more of it than it really is.

    I was never a prostitute in any job. I reject this analogy completely.

    • #20
  21. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    Claire Berlinski, Ed.:

    Casey:You’re a prostitute. You sell yourself for money. Don’t make more of it than it really is.

    Speak for yourself.

    CB Toder aka Mama Toad:

    Casey:You’re a prostitute. You sell yourself for money. Don’t make more of it than it really is.

    I was never a prostitute in any job. I reject this analogy completely.

    If they took away the money, would you do the job?

    • #21
  22. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    Nick Stuart:Work hard, keep your head down, keep your mouth shut, and don’t f*** it up.

    Nobody cares about the hard work it took to get their burger to the table.  They only care about the experience of eating the burger.  Don’t screw that part up.

    • #22
  23. Vectorman Inactive
    Vectorman
    @Vectorman

    For a new product, write the Programming / User Manual first, then decide what features to include within the time/budget.  Make sure non-engineers can understand and read the Manual. Add rejected features and other improvements later if your product is a success.

    • #23
  24. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Casey: If they took away the money, would you do the job?

    In my case, so long as I have means, yes. I enjoy the things I do.

    • #24
  25. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Working for money is not the same as being pimped.

    • #25
  26. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    If you are fighting corruption, don’t “call the hotline”.  That’s how you get fired.  Instead, isolate a couple of likely people (the lawyer, the ethics guy, the personnel guy) and load them up with enough information to do the right thing.  And document that you have given it to them. And gently deflect their reminders that you are free to “call the hotline”.

    I could write a thriller about this stuff.  Ball Diamond Brockovich.

    • #26
  27. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    Quit any job you don’t enjoy, as soon as you can.  Sooner, depending upon how much you don’t enjoy it.

    • #27
  28. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    Condensed version of my patented four-point “getting out of the military” speech:

    1. Go to school.  Just go.  The money will come.  I had a girlfriend who told me this when I was a very poor very young very junior enlisted guy.  I pooh-poohed her advice, but you know what?  She was right.  If not, you can always go back later.
    2. Go to school.  See all those idiots?  No two of them can pass each other in an eight foot wide hallway without bumping into each other for sheer idiocy.  They’re doing fine.  You can do college standing on your head.  The challenge is refraining from strangling the idiots.  Endeavor to persevere.
    3. “Hiring hookups” is not a bad thing — it’s the way the real world works, and to everybody’s benefit.  It’s only a bad term in the military, also to everybody’s benefit.  If I know you and I know the job, then my recommendation works for everybody.
    4. The want ad describes a person who will NEVER walk through the door.  Look around.  See all these idiots?  That’s your competition.  Put on a tie, walk in there, and tell the guy that you’re not sure what all that stuff is, but you know how to stick to a tough job and you’ve proven that you can be trained.

    Nobody believes this until they try it.  They thank me years later.

    • #28
  29. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    Claire Berlinski, Ed.:

    iWe:You can be the smartest guy you know, and the hardest working. But unless you are willing to take risks, that just means you will be the sharpest tool in someone else’s shed.

    People make very irrational decisions when risk is involved.

    I would certainly read with great interest a post from you about your career has taught you about how and when to take risk wisely. Wouldn’t everyone here?

    OK. On my list.

    • #29
  30. Casey Inactive
    Casey
    @Casey

    CB Toder aka Mama Toad:Working for money is not the same as being pimped.

    Very true.  That’s why I didn’t say pimped

    • #30
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