Swag Is Not Enough

As a card carrying AARP member for many years now, so many of the ideas, terminology and logic of the millennial world is foreign to me. I pay someone to manage my social media. I don’t tweet, instant message or use the “cloud”. I’m still using email, I send text messages only when my kids don’t answer my call, and yes, I still check voicemail. However, I was honored when my daughter asked me to use the last chapter to share my philosophies on career management and advancement. She got the idea of me sharing my thoughts, looking at a picture of me in my late twenties. Her initial reaction was shock, as she noticed I had hair back then. But once the humor subsided, she asked me a very intriguing question. “Dad, if you could go back in time and speak to your twenty-something self, what advice would you give yourself?” It was a question that I had given thought to over the years, but had never really sat down to give it meaningful consideration. As I pondered this question my mind took twists and turns to all of the challenges I had to overcome. To the failures and successes of my career, the highs and lows, the tears and the smiles. The first thing I realized is something that I didn’t expect. I realized that in my life, I learned more from my failures than I did from my successes. Make no mistake, my successes inspired me, but it was my failures and the lessons they provided that paved the way for real growth, wisdom and learning. My failed projects forced me to look for alternative answers. My failed presentations forced me to work on my communications skills. My failed relationships ships forced me to look in the mirror. My failure to get that raise, win that sale, or earn that promotion provided the inspiration and motivation to be the best that I could be. My second realization was another eye-opener. At the end of the day, it’s all about the people! For years as a leader in the corporate world, the end all be all was creating “Shareholder Value.” It was the idea that as long as we focused on providing those institutions and individuals who owned our stock, the highest possible return on their investment, all would be well with the world. Now to be clear, I am still a big advocate for creating shareholder value. However, what I’ve come to realize is that the way to create that value is not by focusing on cutting costs, or making the quarterly goals. Rather by taking care of the people who do the work! By providing them with direction. By treating them with respect and dignity. By helping them understand how they fit in the bigger picture, no matter how insignificant they might feel their role is. Empowering them to be innovative and giving them a voice. Doing so you’ll create an engaged and energized workforce. People who take pride in their work, who take great care of the customer and who ultimately drive revenue and profit. The best way to drive share price and create shareholder value is by taking care of the people! My third and final observation however, is the one that regardless your industry, job function or pay grade, will be one that every reader will have to address. Namely, the ability to overcome adversity! I have found that it wasn’t the failures, the disappointments and the discouragements that determined my effectiveness. It was my ability to “overcome” adversity, setbacks and disappointments that proved most valuable. My personal recipe for overcoming adversity, I have summed up in what I call the “Four F’s of Life.” Namely, Faith, Focus, Fortitude, and Fearlessness! • Faith: It has been my experience that to accomplish anything in life requires faith. Faith, first and foremost in yourself. In your abilities, in your potential and in your right to be where you are. As a spiritual person, I have also had to summon my faith in a higher power! When I have come to the end of myself, and what I can do, I have had to call on a power greater than I, to see me through. Some call it a Higher Power, others refer to it as the Universe, or in my case, God Almighty. Regardless of the name, your faith will be tested on this journey, and you’ll need to draw strength from someone bigger than you and I! • Focus: One of the secrets of my success in both college and professionally has been my ability to stay focused on the goal. To keep my eye on the prize, regardless of the distractions and naysayers in my path. In a world that has allowed technology to create distractions 24/7, with social media, streaming video, unlimited talk and text, and automobiles enabled with internet connectivity, it is easy to lose focus. Those who will be most effective will be those who can maintain focus, in spite of the distractions of twenty first century life! • Fortitude: While there may be many definitions for the word, fortitude, the common denominator lies in the ability to courageously endure adversity. In your career as in life, there will be times that you will want to give up and give in. Perhaps your organization is going through a downsizing and you are impacted? Maybe you find yourself in an organization that devalues you and causes you to lose confidence in yourself? Whatever the reason for the dilemma hardship or adversity, it’s important to cultivate the mental and emotional stamina to endure. Life is about seasons, and just as Spring follows Winter, seasons do change. On this journey you must learn to press on, in spite of. • Fearlessness: There have been many seminal moments in my career, that had I chosen the “safe” option, would have never prepared me for greater responsibility. I was never afraid to relocate to a part of the country that I was unfamiliar with. I didn’t fear taking over the under-performing division or department. I refused to be afraid of embracing new technology, a difficult boss or even joining an organization undergoing transformation. Too often, we allow fear to rob us of experiences that would stretch us. We get into a comfort zone, staying with the familiar as opposed to taking on new experiences. During your journey resist the urge to “play it safe” when faced with an opportunity. You may discover that such opportunities serve to enhance your life, personally and professionally!