One thing I noticed early on was that people accelerate at different rates early in their careers. Some come out of the gate on a tear, only to peter out and plateau after a few years. Others start at what seems to be a very slow pace until they pick up the acceleration rate later on in their career as if some catalyst were added to their efforts which boosts them higher. Then there is the crowd that follows the normal, expected career path, building methodically on their past experiences and being promoted accordingly. It seems to me that at some point mid-career many of these plateau and make themselves useful as specialists for the remainder of their careers.
Now, I don't mean to demean any of these categories, or to point fingers and suggest that one is desirable above another. I certainly don't know why some career progressions are fast, slow, steady or some combination of those. It would be easy to point to who they know, who they golf with, where they went to school or even absolute intellect as an explanation for these results. I believe, personally, that these can be factors, but hardly cover the reasons for the overall phenomenon.
That analysis is not my intent. My intent is to observe the effects of others' decisions and to glean enough from their experience so I can build a framework to keep myself from stagnating on a plateau in my own career. I think half of the battle is recognition of where I am. The other half is knowing what to do about it. It is that latter half that I have made the subject of consideration lately.
Benjamin
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
The impetus for the Quest
I will first introduce myself as a typical participant of corporate America. I attended business school from 1998 to 2000 and, upon graduation, did what all good business school grads are supposed to do...I secured a position with a large multinational company and I began the trek up the corporate ladder.
A lot happened in those first couple of years. The first excitement was that the stock market had deflated from the internet bubble of the late 1990's. Then, as business continued to slow in my new industry (aerospace-related), the attacks of 9/11/01 occured. These events put further pressure on an aviation industry that was already in decline with the overall economy and business cycle. The result was that the company I worked for went through round after round of layoffs over the next two years, affecting ~15% of the workforce.
I watched these layoffs with interest in an effort to understand what it was about a person that determined whether they would be part of the ongoing employed or whether they would be looking for the next 'opportunity' in their life. Even though the intent was to be merit-based, it didn't always seem logical to me how the selections were made.
About this time, our second son was born. In the midst of all this turmoil, I determined that if I did anything in my career, it would be to help my boys understand what I felt was their personal accountability. The point of that desire being that they would proactively manage their education and career progression so they wouldn't become 'victims' should unexpected adjustments ever be thrust upon them.
A few years later, in a different organization, as I worked to train and develop a broad group of finance and accounting personnel, the outline for an illustrative story came to mind. This story, fable, fairy tale (whatever you'd like to call it) I could use to explain my view of the world to my boys and my employees or any future employees I would have.
The idea laid dormant for another 2 years until I, again, felt the tug to put it down on paper. By the end of 2009, I hope to have the first draft complete. By writing here, I don't intend to compare my feeble attempt at literature with the ample supply of well researched and well reasoned business books (this is neither) available today. But, I have learned quite a few things for myself in the process which I don't mind sharing if anyone happens to be interested in reading. I'll try not to be your cure for insomnia.
Benjamin
A lot happened in those first couple of years. The first excitement was that the stock market had deflated from the internet bubble of the late 1990's. Then, as business continued to slow in my new industry (aerospace-related), the attacks of 9/11/01 occured. These events put further pressure on an aviation industry that was already in decline with the overall economy and business cycle. The result was that the company I worked for went through round after round of layoffs over the next two years, affecting ~15% of the workforce.
I watched these layoffs with interest in an effort to understand what it was about a person that determined whether they would be part of the ongoing employed or whether they would be looking for the next 'opportunity' in their life. Even though the intent was to be merit-based, it didn't always seem logical to me how the selections were made.
About this time, our second son was born. In the midst of all this turmoil, I determined that if I did anything in my career, it would be to help my boys understand what I felt was their personal accountability. The point of that desire being that they would proactively manage their education and career progression so they wouldn't become 'victims' should unexpected adjustments ever be thrust upon them.
A few years later, in a different organization, as I worked to train and develop a broad group of finance and accounting personnel, the outline for an illustrative story came to mind. This story, fable, fairy tale (whatever you'd like to call it) I could use to explain my view of the world to my boys and my employees or any future employees I would have.
The idea laid dormant for another 2 years until I, again, felt the tug to put it down on paper. By the end of 2009, I hope to have the first draft complete. By writing here, I don't intend to compare my feeble attempt at literature with the ample supply of well researched and well reasoned business books (this is neither) available today. But, I have learned quite a few things for myself in the process which I don't mind sharing if anyone happens to be interested in reading. I'll try not to be your cure for insomnia.
Benjamin
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